The first thing I looked for was the stepped mast lying down the deck of that 23 foot sailboat. It sat on four jack stands in a tight back corner of an Arlington, VA yard. The caller bought it cheap fifteen years ago, parked it on his grass, and never got it running. Rain water had pooled in the bilges until the transom pulled away from the stringers, leaving soft spots clear across the cabin floor.
He wanted the junk boat gone before spring, but the real obstacle was sixty feet of lawn soaked from a leaking sprinkler line. Before our crew backed in, we sorted out the ownership paper to confirm who had the right to let the derelict vessel go, and the owner signed a release of liability. We checked for hazardous fluids in the bilge, hooked up winches, and rolled the sailboat upright. Our crew blocked the hull, slid our trailer straight underneath, and guided the load out over heavy mats so we left no ruts in his grass.
At the facility, metal hardware and usable fittings were salvaged and recycled, while the fiberglass hull went to an approved disposal site. The owner got a clean yard corner back with no heavy equipment tracks left behind. For boat removal services anywhere in Arlington County, call 866-994-1769.
Why we look for leaks before anything else
Typically, we ask for one photo of the way out. Usually, winter boat removal in Arlington means dealing with ice trapped inside the hull and trailer tires frozen fast to the dirt. Cold weather makes fiberglass brittle, which changes how we hoist a non-running vessel safely. Before our trailer arrives, property owners can speed up the boat removal process by clearing a six foot path through any side gates and gathering all loose gear, cushions, and lines out of the cabin.
The facts of the Arlington job
| Job | Boat and trailer pickup |
|---|---|
| Boat | 2005 sloop, about 23 feet |
| Where it sat | On jack stands in a back corner of the yard, no trailer under it |
| 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 | Release of liability signed at booking |
| Area | Arlington County, VA |
Illustrative case from Arlington County. It does not describe a particular customer, and the photos are examples.
Questions about boat disposal in Arlington, VA
Do you handle hurricane-damaged boats?
Yes, we do boat removal for storm-damaged, sunken, or partially submerged vessels at a dock, marina, or private waterfront property. Our crew brings heavy gear to secure cracked hulls and haul out broken pontoons or powerboats safely. Send photos first for an upfront estimate on your project.
Do you take the trailer too?
Yes, boat trailers go right along with the vessel whenever you want them taken away. We haul out junked trailers, rusted frames, and abandoned jet ski carts. When we evaluate your job for pricing, the trailer is included in that total fee, starting from our $400 minimum service charge.
From storage lots to docks in Arlington County
We pick up boats across Arlington County and out to Alexandria, Fairfax, Vienna and Falls Church. Winter cold freezes standing water in an old bilge, turning an unwanted vessel into a solid block of ice that adds hundreds of pounds before boat removal can even start.
Boat sitting in Arlington with nowhere to go? Call 866-994-1769.