Insanely Beautiful And Creative Ways To Reuse Old Boats In Design
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An old boat is not an easy item to come by these days but just in case you will we have showcased 15 insanely beautiful and creative ways to reuse old boats in design lines, all unique, all authentic, all able to motivate you to start hunting old boats.
Cast a glance at the gallery below and notice how these can be used as doorway decorations, outdoor kitchens, swing beds indoor or outdoors alike and even coffee tables or fishing ponds.
What Does One Do If They Have Found An Abandoned Boat
First, determine who needs to know. This is dependent on whether the boat is causing a threat to public safety, the environment or navigation. In order to determine the correct reporting path for the abandoned boat or wreck. Follow these tips from Transport Canada.
How does one know when their boat has reached the end of life?
Your boat has reached its end of life when:
- the essential repairs to keep your boat operational exceed the monetary or emotional value of the boat.
- It is no longer seaworthy.
- It can no longer safely be operated.
How much does boat disposal cost?
The cost of boat disposal can vary greatly depending on a number of factors
- Size
- Composition
- Method of intake charge
We would recommend contacting one or two local businesses that offer boat disposal services and ask for an estimate. Make sure to consider all steps in the process of disposal .
Can all or part of my boat be recycled or sold?
Some parts of a boat can be repurposed: engines, propane tanks, electronics, and metal hulls, etc. These would be removed as part of the disposal process and can be recycled, sold or disposed of appropriately. Wood and fiberglass hulls are not currently recyclable.
Will someone transport my boat for me?
Yes, we have included in our business listing boat transportation services available to move your boat to its final resting site.
What is the most environmentally responsible way of disposing of a boat?
Within the letter, please include:
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How To Spot Aging Signs On Used Fiberglass Boats
When buying an old fiberglass boat, especially a fixer-upper, there are some things to keep in mind.
Unlike wooden trim items, fiberglass boat structural issues are more difficult to repair or restore.
Restoring a fiberglass hull can be almost impossible, depending on the wear accrued. Because these hulls are made all at once, patching them is your only option if the problem is that simple.
Wooden boats are more maintenance and more difficult to maintain, but they do allow for the replacement of parts by competent and qualified artisans.
When purchasing a used fiberglass boat, you will want to look out for the signs listed above. You will need to know if you are looking at any structural issues.
Make sure to check for cracks, fading, wear, growth, or damage. Look at the high-stress areas for cracks, wear down, or other signs of damage.
The pressure created in the fiberglass can cause issues for you later.
As well as fiberglass wear, you will want to make sure that your hull is not chipped, blistered, or starting to flex excessively.
Stress on a fiberglass hull can cause flexing as degradation occurs. This can cause major cracks and severe hull issues.
If everything is intact with the boat, and you do not see any cracks, warping, mechanical failure, or other issues, it would be safe to purchase the used fiberglass boat.
If you keep up with the proper maintenance, a used older fiberglass boat could last you many years to come.
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Boat Salvage Yards Guide
Maybe you had a seamanship disaster and your boat sunk, maybe you ran E15 fuel through the engine and ruined it forever, or maybe the years have taken a toll and your boats simply all worn out. If it doesnt have enough value to sell on the open market, it might be time to contact your local boat salvage yard and find an environmentally friendly way to dispose of it. We mention the environmentally friendly part right up front, because the idea of abandoning or sinking a boat doesnt just run afoul of the law, its also a serious environmental hazard. Fuel tanks, chemicals, and batteries all need special treatment, and abandoning or sinking a boat intentionally shouldnt ever so much as enter the mind of any responsible boater.
Cut Out Top Sections Of The Boat
After emptying the boat, only the stripped-down frame of the boat should be left. At this point, its time to start using the chainsaw.
Start by removing the windshield and dashboard. Take care to avoid any metals as there may be some left. Try to work by cutting through wood and fiberglass exclusively.
Next, remove the top section of the bow by cutting through its sides.
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How Long Do Fiberglass Boats Last Basic Facts
Fiberglass is currently the most common material used to craft small recreational boats and other watercraft.
Chances are, if you have purchased a recreational boat, it is made of fiberglass, also known as Glass Reinforced Plastic or GRP.
In this article, we will look at how long fiberglass boats last and the factors that impact fiberglass boats durability.
Cut The Hull Down Into Strips
After removing the transom, the last step is to cut across the hull and turn it into strips. There may be other types of material embedded, but the chainsaw should have no trouble since hulls would not have any metals left at this stage.
All thats left is to gather the pieces, and it should be much easier to move them now that theyve been cut into strips.
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Aging Recycling Hulls A Looming Crisis
Millions of boats built during the glory days of the 1970s and 80s are now coming to the end of their life. We cant just shove them all into landfill. So what happens with all these old hulls?
If theres one thing were good at, its building boats. According to the National Marine Manufacturers Association, there are more than 12 million recreational boats in the United States right now. And that figure continues to grow, with an estimated 238,000 new powerboats sold in 2015 alone.
What were not good at is figuring out what happens to all of these boats when they reach the end of their life. Its a question thats coming to the fore as millions of boats mass-produced during the boom years of the 1970s and 1980s are now reaching the end of their days. The discussion around end-of-life boats has come to prominence in the last few years, and has been the subject of multiple industry conferences and think-tanks which have sought to raise awareness of the problem within the boating industry, and come up with workable solutions.
Funding boat disposal
The question of who should pay to dispose of old boats isnt easily answered, but its a question the U.S. industry would be wise to tackle before the EPA and other regulatory agencies elect to answer it for them. In France, a new federal Eco Tax specifically created to fund the disposal of end-of-life boats comes into effect on January 1, 2018.
Boats as material banks
How We Dispose Of Boats
Properly disposing of a boat is important. Some people will do terrible things just to get rid of a boat such as sinking it in a lake or river, throwing it in the woods, or trying to burn it! The only proper way to dispose of a fiberglass boat is to take it to the landfill to be safely and responsibly disposed of.
We salvage as much as we can off the boat such as the engine and trailer frame for scrap metal. This keeps as much out of the landfills as possible. These engines & trailer frames will then be reused in other boats, to keep them from getting junked as well. This is the most environmentally friendly way to dispose of old boats.
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About The Abandoned Boats Program
The Abandoned Boats Program provides grant and contribution funding to assist in the removal of abandoned and/or wrecked small boats posing a hazard in Canadian waters. The program also helps to:
- educate small boat owners about how to responsibly manage their boats
- support research on boat recycling and environmentally responsible boat design
Should There Be A Sales Tax On Buying A Boat
The idea of a sales tax is supported by Phil Horton, the RYAs environment and sustainability manager, who sees it as part of a broader picture.
We need to consider the issue of extended producer responsibility, he says. Boat manufacturers need to think about the long-term impact of what they are doing and contribute to the boats eventual disposal. Its like batteries: you can take any make of battery to a recycling centre because manufacturers are required by law to join the Battery Compliance Scheme and pay for old batteries to be recycled.
Elsewhere in the world, governments are taking a more proactive approach and dealing with the growing problem of abandoned boats. In Canada, the government has paid to have derelict boats removed from its coasts. In 2018, the Swedish government provided r300,000 in subsidies to scrap 500 boats under 3 tonnes free of charge, providing the owners paid for transportation costs.
But France seems to have found the best solution. Thanks to new rules introduced in 2019, owners are required to pay an eco tax when they register their boats which is obligatory and the funds generated are used to scrap old ones. As in Sweden, all the owners have to do is have the boat transported to an approved recycling centre.
So far, the British government has taken a lackadaisical attitude to the problem, but the growing interest in environmental issues and in particular about plastic pollution is likely to change all that.
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How To Get Rid Of An Old Boat
If you have an old boat youd like to donate to someone, or youre looking for a free boat, wed suggest using a social media site like to post your message . Then follow up with interested parties using direct messaging. Also refer to commercial operators like boatangel.com or charityboats.org.
Buying a new or used boat is difficult for any prospective owner who already has an old boat. The presence and backlog of used boats is actually hindering the sale of new boats. In this tight buyers market, selling or donating the old boat first would make room for new boats to be sold. But, what do you do about boats that no one will takethe dead boats that should be scrapped?
- Contact your local vocational school and see if they are open to a donation for restorationyou can still get a tax break.
How To Get Rid Of A Boat: Disposing An Old Boat
The real question that many people have asked is, how long is that boat going to sit there? Weve all heard that the worst thing for a boat to do is to sit. Which is extremely true, it is the first step to becoming a problem in the boat owning world. So
How To Get Rid Of A Boat or Dispose Of An Old Boat? There are only four real options to get rid of a boat. You can either sell it, donate it, recycle it, or have it taken to your local trash dump.
Getting an old boat out of your yard can be a grueling process. Here are your best options on how to begin and complete the process of getting that old boat gone!
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All Good Things Must Come To An End
Countless boats have been abandoned across the province of Ontario in backyards, storage yards, and farm fields. If left untouched, these abandoned vessels contaminate terrestrial & marine environments , impact the aesthetics of facilities & areas where they have been abandoned, and pose a safety risk to individuals that approach the vessel.
As a boat owner, you are responsible for the proper disposal of your vessel. Boating Ontario has compiled a list of businesses in the province that offer boat disposal services.
Some businesses offer full-service disposal including pick up, transport, salvage & disposal, others offer partial service including one or more of the above services.
Please contact and work directly with these organizations to make arrangements to meet your needs.
Landfills Boat Recycling & Disposal Solutions
If you have questions that are not addressed below, please send us an e-mail at and we’ll find the answer for you!
Landfills In The Sunny States
Florida and California, two top boating states with millions of registered boats between them, have state agencies and local and regional programs designed to manage derelict vessels. Most removal projects in Florida require environmental permitting from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection or the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, depending on jurisdiction.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission offers grants that local governments can use to get rid of derelict and abandoned vessels after the owner has been provided due process. In fiscal year 201819, Florida allocated $1,000,000 for this program. The vessels currently end up in a landfill.
California had approximately 800,000 registered recreational boats in 2018. California State Lands Commission has an Abandoned Vessel Program, which provides the commission the authority to remove problem boats blocking or polluting waterways. California’s Division of Boating and Waterways sponsors a no-cost Vessel Turn-In Program , aimed at the boater. Although recycling and dismantling usable parts can be part of these removal and disposal programs, the fiberglass hulls still end up in a landfill.
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Places To Junk A Boat In California:
California has similar places to junk boats as those in Florida.
These are commonly located in coastal cities.
Some options include:
- Plastics
- Other loose trash
Because of these possible environmental hazards, you will not want to junk your boat in an improper way.
This is not only dangerous to the environment, but it is also illegal and you get a few thousand dollars in fines in addition to the cost of removal and demolition.
Dispose Of The Pieces
Even small boats will produce quite a lot of fiberglass material. So your average garbage bag might not be big enough to keep all of those pieces inside. Instead, you can contact your local refuse removal company and ask if you can hire a skip. Theyll deliver the thing to your doorstep and you can start filling it up with your fiberglass material.
Once youre done, the refuse removal company should come around and pick up the skip – fiberglass included. Theyll also be responsible for finding the proper place to dispose of whats left of your fiberglass boat.
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Refinishing A Fiberglass Boat
Few things on your boat will give it that original luster quite like the quality of its fiberglass. Yet this material can be tricky to deal with. Theres paint to consider, and then theres the gel coat. Its more than just a material you need to clean every so often. Thats why weve put together a brief guide on what youll need to know when refinishing a fiberglass boat.
How To Recycle A Fiberglass Boat
Recycling your boat can possibly result in some financial gain if you an get all the good metal bits off it and cut up all the worthless fiberglass. You can either recycle your fiberglass boat yourself, or find somewhere else to take it.
Lets start off with the DIY method.
Step 1 Drain all fluids
Like any mechanical device, there are lots of toxic fluids required to make it run, these can include fuel, oil hydraulic fluid, and other liquids. You will need to first drain all of this into drums.
Do not mx the fluids into one drum as worst case you will create some exothermic chemical reaction or could get a tongue lashing from the people at the hazardous waste disposal facility.
Always dispose of any hazardous fluids through the official channels.
Dont be that person that dumps chemicals into water ways and municipal drains the knock-on effects of your actions contribute to devastating environmental damage.
If your boat is large you may have sewerage tanks on it as well. I dont recommended you try to clean this yourself, unless you are a sucker for punishment and looking at getting some nasty disease relating to handling sewage!
Step 2 Remove all equipment and gear
Once all the fluids are removed you can begin by disconnecting your battery from the boat. This is to ensure that you do not get any unwanted shocks while removing any other electrical devices.
It is also important to note which components are worth salvaging.
Step 3 Cut the boat up
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How To Get Rid Of Your Boat:
Boats, like anything else, have a lifespan that will one day run out. If your boat has run out its lifespan, this likely means that the boat is not worth the cost of upkeep, storage, and has a low monetary value.
At this point, you would consider junking your boat.
There are options that are available to you when you are in the process of junking an old boat. These options will depend on location and the age and condition of your boat.
