“I need my side yard back for tomato plants this spring,” the caller told me. That was early February in Novi, Michigan, and his 1990 welded aluminum fishing boat was sitting at the end of a long, snowy dirt driveway. The sixteen-foot vessel had taken some heavy beatings over thirty years. Down along the keel, the corrosion was thick, and someone had punched a fist-sized hole through the metal near the stern. It sat on an old single-axle trailer that had not moved since the late nineties.
When our crew backed up to it, we found both trailer tires split wide open and the wheel bearings locked solid from rust and ice. A regular winch drag would have chewed up the driveway, so we brought out heavy dollies to get under the frame. Before any winch cable hooked on, our crew checked the hull for trapped fuel, motor oil, or bilge sludge. Once we knew no hazardous fluids were left, we pulled the rig onto our trailer and hauled it out. The owner signed the release of liability when he booked the job, keeping his paperwork clear.
At the yard, we stripped the usable hardware off the boat. The aluminum hull was delivered for metal recycling, and what remained went to proper disposal. If you have non-running boats or old junk boat trailers taking up space in Novi or Oakland County, call us at 866-994-1769 for your boat removal.
What a trailer says about the boat on it
Usually, we expect deep cold to freeze whatever standing water sits in an abandoned vessel, adding hundreds of pounds of hidden ice. A frozen hull will also glop onto dirt or stick fast to rusted trailer rollers. When you call for an estimate, clear photos of the hull, the trailer, and the path to the street help us give an honest price up front before our crew rolls out.
Boat disposal services in Novi: how it went
| Job | Boat and trailer pickup |
|---|---|
| Boat | 1990 welded aluminum fishing boat, about 16 feet |
| Where it sat | On a trailer at the end of a long dirt driveway |
| Who called | A homeowner who wanted the side yard back for a garden |
| What was wrong | Corrosion along the keel and a hole the size of a fist near the stern |
| Estimate | Estimate agreed before booking |
| Paperwork | Paperwork sorted first, release of liability signed |
| Area | Oakland County, MI |
Illustrative case from Oakland County. It does not describe a particular customer, and the photos are examples.
Boat owners in Novi, MI often ask
Can I get rid of a boat without title?
We need clear proof that you own the vessel or the land where it sits. If the title is missing, the property owners sign our release of liability form to confirm they have the right to dispose of the boat before our crew loads it.
How do I get rid of my boat?
Call us at 866-994-1769 with the location and details. We give a free upfront estimate from your photos. Once booked, our crew arrives with our trailer, checks for hazardous fluids, handles the boat removal process, and takes the vessel for recycling or disposal.
Where we remove boats near Novi, MI
We pick up boats across Oakland County, in Troy, Farmington Hills, Rochester Hills and Southfield. Sub-zero winters hit every waterfront yard hard. Snow buries rusted frames, water freezes inside fiberglass layers or metal hulls, and locked trailer brakes make winter boat removal a job that takes extra gear to pull off safely.
For boat removal and disposal in Novi, call 866-994-1769 or ask for an estimate online.