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An aluminum workboat tied to a floating dock with crab pots, in front of a fog-covered spruce ridge and mountains in coastal Alaska

Donate a boat in Alaska

Alaska has more coastline than the rest of the country combined, and boats are how many people get around. Aluminum skiffs, drift boats, landing craft, and cabin cruisers are common from Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula to the harbors of Southeast.

Start your donation here
Two answers now, the rest takes about three minutes.

Alaska rules for a boat donation

TITLING AND REGISTRATION AGENCY
Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles
Visit the agency site
Titles and registration
Alaska registers undocumented motorized boats through the Division of Motor Vehicles. Whether a title applies depends on the boat, and the DMV can confirm.
Documented vessels
Many larger Alaska boats, including commercial fishing boats, are Coast Guard documented and transfer through the National Vessel Documentation Center.
Outboards and trailers
Outboards are not titled separately. Trailers are handled by the DMV as vehicles.
Lost title or registration
The owner on record can usually get a duplicate from Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles. If the boat was never retitled after a sale, or the owner has passed away, tell us and we will point you to the right forms.
Coast Guard documented vessels
Documented boats transfer through the National Vessel Documentation Center with a bill of sale, not a Alaska title. Some documented boats are also registered with the state for use here.

What Alaska boat owners call us about

Boats in harbors off the road system
Boats in Southeast harbors reachable only by water or ferry. These take more planning, and we will tell you plainly whether pickup is practical.
Retired fishing skiffs
Aluminum skiffs and drift boats from families who have moved on from fishing the Kenai or the Copper River.
Winter timing
Boats that need to move before freeze-up or after breakup.

Boats we pick up in Alaska

Fishing boats Aluminum skiffs and drift boats from the Kenai and Mat-Su. Commercial boats Gillnetters, seiners, and landing craft. Motorboats Cabin cruisers from Whittier, Seward, and Homer.
We also pick up every other kind of boat in Alaska. The types above are just the ones we see most here.
Yachts Center consoles Houseboats Sailboats Personal watercraft Classic boats Ski and wake boats Boat trailers Marine equipment

Boating in Alaska: seasons and storage

The season
The season is short and intense, roughly May through September, built around salmon runs and long daylight.
Storage and carrying costs
Most boats are stored on trailers in yards for eight months; harbor slips in Southeast can have long waitlists. Every month a boat sits unused, those costs keep adding up. Estimate yours.
A typical Alaska donation
A welded aluminum skiff or drift boat on a trailer, or a cabin cruiser in a Kenai Peninsula harbor. We accept every other kind of boat here too.

Alaska by region

Pickup works the same across the state. These are the waters we hear about most.

Anchorage and Mat-Su
Road-accessible and the easiest area for pickup.
Kenai Peninsula
Seward, Homer, and Kenai River drift boats.
Southeast
Juneau, Ketchikan, and Sitka: pickups often by water.
Interior
Fairbanks-area riverboats on the Tanana and Chena.

Alaska boat donation questions

Can you pick up a boat in Southeast Alaska?

Sometimes. Harbors off the road system take more planning. Tell us where the boat is and we will be honest about what is practical.

My skiff is on a trailer in Wasilla. Is that simple?

Yes. Trailered boats on the road system are the easiest Alaska pickups.

Does timing matter in winter?

It can. Snow and ice affect pickup schedules, so we plan around conditions.

When is the best time of year to donate a boat in Alaska?

Late summer, before freeze-up. Once snow and ice arrive, ramps close and road pickups get harder. That said, you can donate any time of year.

State rules change. We confirm current requirements when we handle your paperwork. We do not provide tax or legal advice.

Start your Alaska boat donation

Takes about three minutes. Your best guesses are fine, or call (888) 228-7320.

BWC Donation: General (guides, states, main pages)

Free pickup by our trusted transport team · We handle title transfer and tax paperwork · No cost to you

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