The first thing I looked for was water standing inside the stern. In a Grand Rapids January, any pooled rain turns into a solid ice block that glues the hull down and adds hundreds of pounds you do not want to lift. This 20 foot wakeboard boat was sitting in snow in a back yard while a daughter worked to clear her late parents’ estate. The red gelcoat was completely dull, the seats were split open from old summer sun, and the windshield had a long crack down the center.
She wanted the yard cleared before the house went on the market. The real headache was underneath. Both tires on the boat trailer were rotted through, and when I tried to nudge it, the hub bearings were locked tight. Years of sitting outside will freeze those rollers right up. We checked for hazardous fluids and found no fuel or oil leaks to worry about, so our crew brought in our own lowboy trailer. We winched the non-running boat and its trailer right onto our bed together and strapped the whole rig down. The daughter signed the release of liability before we pulled away, keeping her clear of the vessel once it left the dirt.
We hauled it straight to our yard to dismantle it. All the metal hardware, cleats, and aluminum frame pieces were removed so the metal was recycled, while the fiberglass hull went to a disposal facility that handles bulk vessel waste. If you have an unwanted vessel taking up space in Grand Rapids or anywhere in Kent County, give us a call at 866-994-1769.
How the boat removal process works on our jobs
Typically, we expect cold weather to hide structural damage until we start moving a vessel. Water trapped in a hull freezes, expands, and snaps internal stringers or seals hulls to the ground. Having the owner sign a release of liability before our trailer rolls out protects property owners from any future claims or municipal fines after the vessel leaves their land.
Job summary: boat removal in Grand Rapids
| Job | Junk boat removal |
|---|---|
| Boat | 1990 wakeboard boat, about 20 feet |
| Where it sat | On a trailer in the yard of an estate the family was settling |
| Who called | A daughter settling her parents’ estate |
| What was wrong | Faded gelcoat, sun-split seats and a cracked windshield |
| Estimate | Free estimate before the date was set |
| Paperwork | Paperwork sorted first, release of liability signed |
| Area | Kent County, MI |
This story is an illustrative example of boat removal in Kent County, not a record of one customer’s job. Photos are illustrative.
Boat removal pricing questions in Grand Rapids
Are your haulers in Grand Rapids licensed and insured?
Yes, our crew is fully licensed and insured for every boat removal job we handle. We bring our own gear to lift, load, and transport unwanted vessels safely from residential yards, storage spaces, docks, and local marina sites without putting the property owner at risk.
How much does boat removal cost in Grand Rapids?
Every job gets a free estimate based on the boat size, its condition, where it sits, and how hard it is to reach. If we have to dismantle or cut up the hull, that affects the work needed. Our pricing starts at a $400 minimum service charge for junk boat removal and disposal.
From storage lots to docks in Kent County
We pick up boats across Kent County, in Wyoming, Walker, Kentwood and Grandville. Midwest winter storms bring heavy snow and deep freezes that lock up boat trailer hubs and trap water inside abandoned fiberglass hulls. That extra ice weight means we have to adjust how we winch and load a derelict vessel off a snowy waterfront or driveway.
Send a few photos or call 866-994-1769, and we will price your boat removal in Grand Rapids.