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Getting rid of 20' fiberglass boat
May 14, 2026, 09:09 AM
calugoGetting rid of 20' fiberglass boat
So my 20' 1997 Wellcraft duel console boat is no longer sea worthy since the plywood floor rotted out and its not worth spending the money to have the floor replaced so now its time to get rid of it so looking for the best options. Ive thought about taking a saw, cutting it up and taking it to the dump in small pieces or maybe putting it on FB Marketplace and see if someone will take it for free as a project boat. Not sure the correct answer is so if you've had a fiberglass boat and had to get rid of it what solution did you come up with?.
May 14, 2026, 09:17 AM
honestlouI would absolutely sell it. There is definitely still good value there. If you don't want to deal with the repair then price in the repair and still lower the price to make it a deal.
Or, find a place that does those repairs, and ask if they will do the repair, sell it, take out the cost of the repair and split the difference with you.
This is assuming that the hull and transom are basically okay and it's just the floor and stringers that need replacing.
May 14, 2026, 09:28 AM
rainmaker5505On a lower tier-boat like Wellcraft, if the floor is gone, the stringers are gone. If the stringers are gone, the transom is likely on its way out. This is a major undertaking on a boat that isn't worth much to begin with.
My best advise is to put it on marketplace for free. Hopefully someone will take it off your hands. The easiest way to dispose of it beyond that is to rent a small mini-excavator with a thumb and use that to crunch it up and put in a small rolloff.
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old rugged crossDepends of a few factors. Your location, what kind of power it has and the type and condition of the trailer. Trailer could be worth several hundred to three of four grand depending on what it is. If just the floor. I would try to sell or give away if it where me.
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May 14, 2026, 10:01 AM
P250UA5Not a boat person, so can't comment on it much, but:
Trailer & engine might make it worth it for someone, assuming those are still present.
The Enemy's gate is down. May 14, 2026, 10:11 AM
chellim1quote:
Originally posted by old rugged cross:
Depends of a few factors. Your location, what kind of power it has and the type and condition of the trailer. Trailer could be worth several hundred to three of four grand depending on what it is. If just the floor. I would try to sell or give away if it where me.
Yeah, if it's got a good motor, and a trailer, it's probably worth fixing.
But... it's a big job. Still, someone will do it.
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-rduckwor May 14, 2026, 10:39 AM
PrefontaineFind open field, and bring slugs. Have a blast!
What am I doing? I'm talking to an empty telephone
May 14, 2026, 10:46 AM
Expert308quote:
Originally posted by Prefontaine:
Find open field, and bring slugs. Have a blast!
There's an idea. Have you got a few pounds of Tannerite sitting around?
May 14, 2026, 10:48 AM
casI made plans with a company to come take the 1973 24' SeaRay in my yard. They gave me a price and when the time came to do it the truth came out. "Oh, no it's this, plus this, plus the dump charges by weight..." About 3 times the original quote.
My thought then was if they charge by weight, and it's just going to the dump, I'll start cutting it up and throwing it away one little piece at a time. That worked for a short time. I'll say one thing, they knew how to build a boat. Triple layers of glassed over marine plywood is no fun to cut up. So now I have 80% of a boat sitting in my yard.
May 14, 2026, 10:50 AM
calugoquote:
Originally posted by old rugged cross:
Depends of a few factors. Your location, what kind of power it has and the type and condition of the trailer. Trailer could be worth several hundred to three of four grand depending on what it is. If just the floor. I would try to sell or give away if it where me.
Trailer is in good shape, would just need new tires and bearings but otherwise road worthy since it's galvanized so no rust and still worth a few bucks. Engine is a 150HP Johnson Ocean Runner but I haven't started it in a few years.
May 14, 2026, 10:56 AM
calugoquote:
My thought then was if they charge by weight, and it's just going to the dump, I'll start cutting it up and throwing it away one little piece at a time. That worked for a short time. I'll say one thing, they knew how to build a boat. Triple layers of glassed over marine plywood is no fun to cut up. So now I have 80% of a boat sitting in my yard.
I'm certain my Wellcraft isn't as well built as your Sea Ray so probably easier to cut up and throw away in small pieces which is the direction I'm thinking of going with the boat. Did you have any issues with fiberglass dust when you started cutting up your boat and what kind of saw did you use? I have a nice reciprocating saw as well as a chain saw but I think the chainsaw would be overkill and create to much dust. If I decide to cut the boat up myself I'd buy a respirator so I'm not inhaling fiberglass particles.
May 14, 2026, 11:00 AM
GeorgeairWhatever you do, never, ever put anything up for free. You will be overrun with people who absolutely want it and will never show up.
Put some value on it, take whatever you get offered. Even $1,000 for a boat you take $250 for will buy you some sanity.
If you are within 200 miles of water, it's a near certainty someone will pop up in under 30 minutes if you list this at $500.
You only have integrity once. - imprezaguy02
May 14, 2026, 11:11 AM
SpinZoneThere is value in it to someone. Try to sell it, you just want it gone so follow georgeair's advice.
Check with your regional dump. Ours will accept whole boates.
The charities that accept cars will also take boats and motorcycles in any condition.
Make sure you pull the state registration numbers of the hull and the plate off the trailer, even if they are expired.
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May 14, 2026, 11:43 AM
RipleyIf you cut it up, wear disposable clothes and yep, protect your lungs and eyes.
Set the controls for the heart of the Sun. May 14, 2026, 11:48 AM
229DAKquote:
The charities that accept cars will also take boats and motorcycles in any condition.
If you don't itemize on your taxes, you can now take up to $2,000 off your taxable income as a charitable deduction.
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May 14, 2026, 11:53 AM
220-9erPut it on Marketplace for $100 or so.
Easier to sell a dream, cheap, than give something away on those sites. Free, you get contacted by all the wacko's who then want you to deliver too.
Some idiot will think he's stealing it for $100 and will take it and run.
If that doesn't work, go back to the saw it up idea.
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May 14, 2026, 01:15 PM
ltz400.
May 14, 2026, 01:23 PM
selogicquote:
Originally posted by Prefontaine:
Find open field, and bring slugs. Have a blast!
Funny you should say that. A friend of mine did just that . And then they burned it ...
May 14, 2026, 02:02 PM
egregorequote:
Trailer is in good shape, would just need new tires and bearings but otherwise road worthy since it's galvanized so no rust and still worth a few bucks. Engine is a 150HP Johnson Ocean Runner but I haven't started it in a few years.
The motor and trailer, especially if the motor can run, have to be worth something. The boat itself sounds like scrap. Put everything up for
sail sale with an "as is and with all faults" disclaimer and let the buyer worry about the boat.
"The Almighty, He put some livin' things on this earth so a man can eat." - Festus Haggen, Gunsmoke May 14, 2026, 02:34 PM
old rugged crossquote:
Originally posted by calugo:
quote:
Originally posted by old rugged cross:
Depends of a few factors. Your location, what kind of power it has and the type and condition of the trailer. Trailer could be worth several hundred to three of four grand depending on what it is. If just the floor. I would try to sell or give away if it where me.
Trailer is in good shape, would just need new tires and bearings but otherwise road worthy since it's galvanized so no rust and still worth a few bucks. Engine is a 150HP Johnson Ocean Runner but I haven't started it in a few years.
a larger galvanized trailer is worth up to a couple thousand and that motor is worth $800 if it has good compression and is otherwise in good condition. Again, depends lots on your location and boating opportunities there.
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