A classic troller tied to a dock in a foggy Puget Sound inlet, with Douglas fir on a rocky island and a green-and-white ferry in the distance

Donate a boat in Washington

Washington boating means Puget Sound, from Olympia and Tacoma to Seattle, Everett, and Bellingham, the San Juan Islands, Lake Washington and Lake Union, and the Columbia River. Seattle's floating homes and liveaboards are part of the scene.

Call (888) 228-7320

Washington rules for a boat donation

TITLING AND REGISTRATION AGENCY

Washington State Department of Licensing

Visit the agency site

Titles and registration

The Washington Department of Licensing titles and registers vessels.

Floating homes

Lake Union and Portage Bay floating homes may be recorded as property. See our floating homes page.

Trailers

Trailers are titled and registered through DOL.

Lost title or registration

The owner on record can usually get a duplicate from Washington State Department of Licensing. 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 Washington title. Some documented boats are also registered with the state for use here.

What Washington boat owners call us about

Moorage costs in Seattle

Owners paying for moorage on Lake Union and Shilshole.

San Juan boats

Boats kept on islands reachable by ferry.

Floating homes

Floating homes changing hands.

Boats we pick up in Washington

Sailboats Puget Sound sailboats. Yachts Trawlers and cruisers. Floating homes Floating homes on Lake Union.

We also pick up every other kind of boat in Washington. The types above are just the ones we see most here.

Center consoles Motorboats Houseboats Fishing boats Commercial boats Personal watercraft Classic boats Ski and wake boats Boat trailers Marine equipment

Boating in Washington: seasons and storage

The season

Puget Sound boats all year; lakes are busiest in summer.

Storage and carrying costs

Moorage in Seattle is expensive and often waitlisted. Every month a boat sits unused, those costs keep adding up. Estimate yours.

A typical Washington donation

A sailboat or trawler in a Puget Sound marina. We accept every other kind of boat here too.

Washington by region

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

Seattle and Lake Union

Shilshole, Lake Union, and Lake Washington.

South Sound

Tacoma, Gig Harbor, and Olympia.

North Sound and the San Juans

Everett, Anacortes, and Bellingham.

Columbia River

Vancouver and the Tri-Cities.

Eastern lakes

Chelan and Coeur d'Alene area.

I was relocating and didn’t have time to list my Beneteau or deal with tire‑kickers. I arranged the appraisal, the transporter coordinated with the harbor master, and kept me updated step by step. It felt professional from start to finish. What I expected to be a stressful process turned into a huge weight off my shoulders.

Mark S. · Seattle, WA

Washington boat donation questions

Can you take a floating home on Lake Union?

Possibly. It depends on moorage and how it is recorded.

Can you pick up from the San Juan Islands?

By ferry or by water. Call us.

Where do I get a duplicate title?

Washington DOL.

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

Any time. Owners often donate before a moorage lease renews.

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

Start your Washington boat donation

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

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

Name

Phone

Preferred contact method

Best time to reach you

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

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