The first thing I looked for was the drain plug, or what was left of it, because an inverted hull in a wet field holds hundreds of pounds of hidden mud. A farmer in Pittsburg called us after he cleared back a blackberry fence line and found a 22-foot sloop sitting on its cabin house behind his barn. The vessel had been there long enough for grass to grow over the keel, the mast was lashed to the deck, and the fuel line on the small outboard was split wide open.
Getting our trailer to it meant crossing a farm track in January that had turned to soup near the creek. Our crew checked for fuel leaks first, drained the remaining hazardous fluids into cans, and worked heavy straps under the bow and stern. The owner signed the release of liability at booking, and we cleared the missing title paperwork through a bill of sale and registration verification before turning a tire. We flipped the hull right side up with hand winches, placed wooden blocks underneath, and backed our trailer straight beneath the hull without relying on third parties.
We hauled the sloop off the property and brought it to a yard where metal fittings were recycled and usable salvage parts were removed. The rest of the fiberglass went to a licensed facility that takes old vessels. If you have an unwanted vessel sitting on your land, call 925-304-3905 for a free estimate.
What a trailer says about the boat on it
Typically, we see derelict hulls collect rainwater during sudden California winter storms, turning a light hull into a heavy tank that sinks deeper into the soil. That extra weight can double the effort needed to winch a vessel onto a trailer. Having property owners sign the release of liability before we roll out protects them from claims related to pre-existing ground damage or old fuel spills left behind by abandoned vessels.
Boat disposal services in Pittsburg: how it went
| Job | Boat and trailer pickup |
|---|---|
| Boat | 2002 sloop, about 22 feet |
| Where it sat | Upside down in a field behind a barn |
| Who called | A farmer who found it when he cleared the fence line |
| What was wrong | An engine that had not turned over in years and a fuel line cracked through |
| Estimate | Free estimate from the caller’s photos |
| Paperwork | Signed release of liability |
| Area | Contra Costa County, CA |
Representative example of boat removal in Contra Costa County, not a record of a single client. Pictures are illustrative.
Pittsburg owners ask about boat removal
Can I get rid of a boat without title?
Yes, we can handle boat removal even if the original title is lost. Our team works with you to confirm ownership through registration searches or a bill of sale so the haul out moves forward legally.
Can you remove a boat that is in the water?
Yes, our crew pulls boats directly from docks, marinas, and waterfront berths. We handle sunken or partially submerged vessels, secure the hull, drain any trapped water or fluids, and transport them away on our trailer.
Our boat removal service areas in Contra Costa County
We pick up boats across Contra Costa County, in Concord, Richmond, Antioch and San Ramon. Winter rain in this part of the state turns dirt access roads into deep clay, making it harder to move a heavy fiberglass hull without the right equipment.
Boat sitting in Pittsburg with nowhere to go? Call 925-304-3905.