A rickety wooden walkway with missing planks was all that stood between the boat and the street. The owner called us from Chicago because the 17-foot open-bow runabout he bought cheap fifteen years ago was sitting low in the water at a shared community dock. He never got the engine running, and after years of rain and winter snow, the hull was taking on water fast.
The dock had loose boards and nowhere for a full crew to stand, let alone work heavy tools. Soft spots ran across the floor, and the transom had completely pulled away from the fiberglass stringers. Before we moved the vessel, we checked for hazardous fluids in the engine and tank to prevent leaks. The owner had his title ready, and he signed the release of liability when he booked the job. Our crew set up a trash pump, cleared enough water to get the hull riding higher, and gently worked it along the dock to the public ramp. I took one look at the trailer bearings on the old unit left in his yard and knew they were seized tight, so we winched the hull straight onto our trailer instead.
Usable metal and hardware were salvaged for recycling, and the rest went to a facility that takes old boats. The owner walked away with his signed release of liability and a clear spot at the dock. If you have non-running unwanted vessels sitting around Cook County, call 866-994-1769.
What fifteen years of boat storage taught me
Typically, we see hulls crack wide open when deep cold hits and trapped water freezes inside the bilge. Bearings lock up in the winter slush, and boat trailers get buried under snowbanks before property owners decide to clear them out. When you call for boat removal services, sending clear pictures of the hull, the boat trailers, and the path out helps us give you an upfront price without any surprises.
Our Chicago boat job on one page
| Job | Junk boat removal |
|---|---|
| Boat | 1970 open-bow runabout, about 17 feet |
| Where it sat | Tied off at a shared community dock, low in the water |
| Who called | A man who bought it cheap fifteen years ago and never got it running |
| What was wrong | Soft spots across the floor and a transom that had pulled away from the stringers |
| Estimate | Free estimate, photos helped |
| Paperwork | Paperwork sorted first, release of liability signed |
| Area | Cook County, IL |
Illustrative case from Cook County. It does not describe a particular customer, and the photos are examples.
Common boat removal questions in Chicago, IL
Can I get rid of a boat without title?
We need proof of ownership before our crew can move any vessel. Property owners or title holders must show legal right to the craft so we can process the paperwork and take care of the boat removal process legally.
Can you take a boat to a junkyard or salvage yard?
We take unwanted boats straight to specialized transfer stations and recycling centers. Useful metal gets set aside for scrap salvage, while the leftover fiberglass hull and unusable components go through proper disposal according to local environmental rules.
Boats we pick up across Cook County, IL
We pick up boats across Cook County, in Arlington Heights, Glenview, Des Plaines and Palatine. Late winter weather in Illinois makes every boat removal tough when ice forms inside the floorboards and heavy snow blankets the waterfront. Cold water slows down the work, but our boat removal crew brings the right gear to haul derelict craft out before spring rains set in.
Got a boat that needs to leave Chicago? Call 866-994-1769 for a free estimate.