You can tell how long a vessel has been sitting just by looking at the boat trailers underneath them. In February, an HOA board member in Germantown called us about a 2005 pontoon boat that had been taking up a spot in their overflow lot for three seasons. The tires were sunk three inches into frozen mud, and the carpet on the bunk boards was dry-rotted down to the bare wood. He had sent three registered letters to the registered owner with no reply, so we helped him get the paperwork cleared up.
The pontoon had a faded bimini top, loose fence rails, and a seam split along the port side pontoon tube that had let water freeze inside the chamber. Since the boat belonged to the property, the board signed our release of liability before our crew touched a strap. HOA rules only allowed big trucks in the lot between ten in the morning and two in the afternoon, so we had to move fast. Our crew checked for fuel and oil leaks first, popped the frozen tires free from the mud, and pulled the unit onto our trailer.
We took the pontoon back to our facility for dismantling. Salvaged parts like the clean cleats and aluminum railing were set aside for reuse, the aluminum tubes were hauled off for recycling, and the rest was disposed of properly at the waste transfer station. The board got their parking space back before lunch. If you have non-running or derelict unwanted vessels sitting on your property in Germantown or Montgomery County, call us at 937-507-3139 to get them gone.
What fifteen years of boat storage taught me
Typically, we see extra labor added to a boat removal process when water sits inside a hull and freezes solid, adding hundreds of pounds of dead weight. Removing a frozen vessel from a tight lot takes careful positioning so we do not damage nearby vehicles. When we take apart a junk boat, the fiberglass hull usually goes directly to land disposal because it cannot be melted down, while the steel, brass fittings, and aluminum framework go to scrap metal processors.
Removal and disposal in Germantown, MD: the details
| Job | Junk boat removal |
|---|---|
| Boat | 2005 pontoon boat, about 22 feet |
| Where it sat | On a trailer in an HOA overflow lot |
| Who called | An HOA board member who had sent three letters already |
| What was wrong | A pontoon tube leaking at the seam and the fence rails loose |
| Estimate | Estimate first, free |
| Paperwork | Release of liability with the deposit |
| Area | Montgomery County, MD |
Illustrative case from Montgomery County. It does not describe a particular customer, and the photos are examples.
Questions about boat disposal in Germantown, MD
Are your haulers in Germantown licensed and insured?
Yes, our crew is fully licensed and insured for all junk removal and boat removal services. We handle the heavy lifting, winch work, and transport safely so property owners do not have to worry about damage or liability while we are working on site.
Do you handle hurricane-damaged boats?
Yes, we handle storm-damaged and crushed vessels, including boats left on blocks or thrown off their trailers. Send us photos of the boat and where it sits, and we will take a look at the situation and send you a free estimate for the job.
Boats we pick up across Montgomery County, MD
We pick up boats across Montgomery County, in Rockville, Gaithersburg, Poolesville and Takoma Park. February weather in Maryland turns rainwater inside open hulls into heavy ice, making a non-running pontoon much heavier to lift. Cold air also weakens old fiberglass and makes metal fittings brittle, so our crew plans the load carefully before moving anything off the lot.
Want the yard or the slip back in Germantown? Call 937-507-3139 and our crew will plan the pickup.