Your records matter
Maintenance logs, receipts for repowers, and survey reports help the boat sell for more, which raises what your donation funds and usually your deduction. Gather what you have and leave it aboard.
What to keep and what to leave
Personal items, family photos, and anything sentimental should come off. Safety gear, fenders, lines, electronics, and spares are worth more with the boat than in your garage.
A boat that goes on
Most donated boats are sold through brokers or private sales to new owners. Occasionally a boat goes to a rescue squad or a like-minded organization, and donated boats are sometimes used to take kids and veterans out on the water.
When selling feels like too much
After decades of ownership, many people do not want strangers crawling through a boat they loved, or weeks of haggling. A donation lets you hand it off once, to someone who will handle it with care, and know the proceeds help someone.
Getting the boat ready
Leave it as it is. You do not need to detail, repair, or recommission it. Remove personal items, gather records, and tell us anything a buyer should know.
- Maintenance logs and receipts
- Spare parts and manuals
- Keys and remote fobs
- Any recent survey
More than one boat
Longtime owners often have a second boat, a dinghy, or an extra trailer. You can donate them together, and we plan pickup and paperwork as one donation.
Questions
My boat is in excellent shape. Does donation still make sense?
It can. A strong boat means a strong sale, which does more good and generally gives you a larger deduction. Compare it with selling yourself before you decide.
Can I stay in touch about where the boat goes?
We can tell you when the sale is complete. We do not share buyer details.
Can I ask for my boat to go to a particular program?
Tell us what matters to you. Proceeds support Boats with Causes' programs as a whole.
Can I be there when the boat is picked up?
Of course. Many donors like to see it off.
Can my dinghy go with the boat?
Yes. Include it in the form.