The photos the marina manager sent from Gilroy looked tame enough until we pulled up to the slip. A 20-foot open-bow runabout sat heavy in the water, behind on its dock fees and full of January rain. The camera missed the rot along the floorboards and a transom that had separated from the internal stringers under years of strain.
Working in a marina means staying out of the way of paying boaters, so our crew got there early. After checking the engine for oil and hazardous fluids to pump out before moving anything, we backed our trailer down the ramp. A trailer sitting under an old boat gets rusted fast, but our own rig held fine. We floated the vessel toward the concrete, lined up the hull, and winched it onto the bunks before the ramp got busy.
The property owners had signed the release of liability when they booked, and we cleared up the registration and bill of sale paper trail for them. Salvaged metal and usable hardware went to local recycling, while the cracked fiberglass hull was hauled to an approved facility for final disposal. If you have non-running or unwanted vessels in Santa Clara County, call 866-994-1769.
When we take a boat apart and when we don’t
Typically, we check a vessel after winter rainstorms in California, because two feet of water inside an open cockpit turns a simple winching job into a haul that breaks winches. Our crew looks straight at the trailer tires and wheel hubs before backing up to a rig. Dry-rotted rubber or rusty grease caps tell us the trailer cannot take highway speeds, so we load the whole setup onto our flatbed instead.
Removal and disposal in Gilroy, CA: the details
| Job | Junk boat removal |
|---|---|
| Boat | 1987 open-bow runabout, about 20 feet |
| Where it sat | In a marina space with a stack of overdue bills |
| Who called | A marina office that needed the space for the season |
| What was wrong | Soft spots across the floor and a transom that had pulled away from the stringers |
| Estimate | Free estimate from the caller’s photos |
| Paperwork | Paperwork sorted first, release of liability signed |
| Area | Santa Clara County, CA |
Representative example of boat removal in Santa Clara County, not a record of a single client. Pictures are illustrative.
How pricing works for boat removal in Gilroy
How much does boat removal cost in Gilroy?
Boat removal pricing starts at our $400 minimum service charge. The total cost depends on the size of the boat, where it sits, its physical condition, and if we must dismantle it on site. We give a free estimate upfront, but the removal and disposal work is paid.
Can you remove a boat that is in the water?
Yes, we handle boat removal directly from waterfront slips and docks. Our crew pumps out standing water, secures the vessel, and guides it safely to a nearby launch ramp where our trailer can haul it out for proper disposal.
Boats we pick up across Santa Clara County, CA
We pick up boats across Santa Clara County, in San Jose, Palo Alto, Sunnyvale and Santa Clara. Winter storms down here quickly flood open bow boats sitting on land or at a dock. Water weight weakens damaged hulls, making prompt boat removal services the best choice before a vessel sinks or splits.
Got a boat that needs to leave Gilroy? Call 866-994-1769 for a free estimate.