What paperwork do I need if the guy who rented the bay vanished six months ago? That was the first thing the storage facility manager in Chattanooga asked me when he called about a 17-foot open-bow runabout. The vessel had been sitting indoors, but the bill was way past due. The fiberglass floor had soft spots you could step right through, and the transom had pulled away from the inner stringers. That happens when water sits in the bilge for years and rot sets in from the inside out.
Getting a dead boat out of a tight storage unit takes a little patience. The aisle between the building rows was barely wider than our trailer, leaving almost no room to swing a truck around. Before we hooked up, our crew checked the engine bay and tank for hazardous fluids like old gasoline or oil so nothing leaked onto the concrete floor. The paperwork was sorted ahead of time with a release of liability signed by the property owner when he booked the job. The boat trailer under the hull was shot, so we hauled the whole rig out using our own gear, winched it up, and strapped it down tight.
The steel and aluminum parts were recycled, while the damaged hull went to a disposal facility in Hamilton County that accepts raw fiberglass. The facility owner got his storage space back, completely clear and ready for a paying customer. If you have non-running or unwanted vessels taking up space at your yard, dock, or marina, call 866-994-1769 for reliable boat removal services.
Why we look for leaks before anything else
Typically, we see a lot of winter cold damage on boats stored in Tennessee around March, where trapped rain turns to ice inside the hull and locks the tires right to the dirt. Having the property owner sign the release of liability before our trailer rolls off the lot protects everyone from past storage debts or old code violations tied to the vessel. That simple step clears the way so our boat removal process moves forward without legal delays.
Chattanooga boat pickup, the short version
| Job | Junk boat removal |
|---|---|
| Boat | 1996 open-bow runabout, about 17 feet |
| Where it sat | In a covered storage space whose renter had stopped paying |
| Who called | A storage facility owner tired of chasing a renter |
| What was wrong | Soft spots across the floor and a transom that had pulled away from the stringers |
| Estimate | Estimate up front, no charge |
| Paperwork | Paperwork sorted first, release of liability signed |
| Area | Hamilton County, TN |
This is how a job like this usually runs in Hamilton County. It is an example, not a customer file, and the photos are illustrative.
Boat removal in Chattanooga: questions and answers
How do I get rid of my boat?
You start by sending us a few photos so we can look at the vessel, where it sits, and what condition it is in. We provide a clear estimate up front, free of charge. Once you accept, our crew handles the loading, hauling, and proper disposal.
Do you take the trailer too?
Yes, we haul away boat trailers along with the vessel whenever you need them gone. If the tires are rotted or the axle is frozen, our crew loads the trailer and boat together onto our equipment so your waterfront or driveway ends up completely clear.
From storage lots to docks in Hamilton County
We pick up boats across Hamilton County, in Soddy-Daisy, Collegedale, Signal Mountain and East Ridge. Late winter freezing temperatures can freeze standing water inside an open hull, making a junk boat much heavier to lift and harder to haul away safely from a site.
Boat sitting in Chattanooga with nowhere to go? Call 866-994-1769.