Boat donation guides

What an unused boat costsIs my boat worth donating?Donate or sell worksheet

Donating a boat you inherited Inheriting a boat usually means inheriting a storage bill, a registration renewal, and a title in someone else's name. Read the guide Donating a boat sitting in storage A boat in a storage yard costs money every month whether or not it moves. Read the guide Ending slip and mooring fees with a donation Slip fees are often the largest cost of owning a boat, and they keep coming whether the boat leaves the dock or not. Read the guide Donating a boat with a loan or lien You can donate a boat that still has a loan, but the lien has to be cleared before the title can transfer. Read the guide Donating a boat without a title A missing title is one of the most common reasons boat owners call us, and it rarely stops a donation. Read the guide Moving and cannot take the boat A move is one of the most common reasons people donate a boat. Read the guide Hanging up the keys Many of the boats we receive come from owners who have spent decades on the water and decided it is time. Read the guide Donating a boat for a parent Adult children often handle a boat donation for a parent who is moving, downsizing, or no longer able to use it. Read the guide When two owners are on the title Boats are often titled to couples, friends, or business partners. Read the guide Donating a boat after a storm After a hurricane or major storm, many owners wonder whether a damaged boat is worth anything. Read the guide

For marinas and boat storage facilities Every marina and storage yard has them: boats that stopped moving, owners who stopped paying, and customers who would rather give the boat away than keep paying. Read the guide For executors and estate attorneys A boat is often one of the harder assets to settle in an estate: it needs storage, insurance, and a buyer who knows what they are looking at. Read the guide For financial advisors and CPAs When a client asks about donating a boat, the rules are the same ones that apply to cars and airplanes, with the same forms and limits. Read the guide For yacht brokers Some listings sit for months: an older boat, a tough market, an owner who is tired of paying slip fees. Read the guide For boat dealers Not every trade-in is worth reconditioning. Read the guide For yacht and boat clubs Clubs often have members with boats they no longer use, taking up storage, moorings, or dry sail spots. Read the guide For lake associations and HOAs Lake communities and HOAs often deal with boats left on shared docks, in overflow lots, or in driveways against the rules. Read the guide

Should you donate or sell your boat? Selling usually puts more money in your pocket, if the boat sells quickly and you do not mind the work. Read the guide What does an unused boat really cost? A boat that never leaves the driveway still costs money. Read the guide Is my boat worth donating? We accept boats with real resale value, running or not, with or without a trailer. Read the guide Trade in or donate your old boat? When you buy a new boat, the dealer will usually offer to take your old one. Read the guide How used boats are valued There is no single price for a used boat. Read the guide How to tell a real boat charity from a middleman Some boat donation websites are run by for-profit companies that pass a small share to a charity. Read the guide Boat donation glossary Plain definitions of the terms that come up during a boat donation. Read the guide

How a boat title transfer works In a donation, you sign the boat over to us and we handle the rest. Read the guide Your Form 1098-C, box by box Form 1098-C is the IRS form a charity sends when you donate a car, boat, or airplane with a claimed value over $500. Read the guide Form 8283 and when you need an appraisal Form 8283 is the IRS form for noncash charitable contributions. Read the guide Finding your hull identification number The hull identification number, or HIN, is the boat's equivalent of a car's VIN. Read the guide Donating a Coast Guard documented vessel Many larger boats are documented with the U.S. Read the guide Outboard motor titles In most states, the outboard is part of the boat for titling purposes. Read the guide Boat trailer titles and registration A trailer is a road vehicle, so it usually falls under your state's motor vehicle agency rather than its boating agency. Read the guide Donating a boat at year end Many donors want the deduction in the current tax year. Read the guide

Pickup day checklist A few minutes of preparation makes pickup day quick. Read the guide After you donate Once the boat is gone, a few loose ends remain. Read the guide Donating a shrink-wrapped or winterized boat Leave it wrapped. Read the guide Donating a boat on jack stands or a cradle Boats on the hard, supported by jack stands, blocks, or a cradle, are common donations, especially sailboats. Read the guide Donating a boat that is in the water Boats in slips and on moorings are routine donations. Read the guide Donating at the end of the season Fall haul-out is when many owners decide not to pay for another winter. Read the guide

Donate a pontoon boat Pontoons and tritoons are among the most common boats we receive. Read the guide Donate a bass boat Bass boats hold their value well, especially with a healthy outboard. Read the guide Donate a center console Center consoles are versatile, popular, and hold value well. Read the guide Donate a catamaran From beach cats on a trailer to cruising catamarans in a slip, we accept catamarans with resale value. Read the guide Donate a trawler Trawlers are built to last, and many donated trawlers have decades of use left. Read the guide Donate a classic wooden boat Classic wooden runabouts and cruisers have a dedicated market. Read the guide Donate a ski or wake boat Ski and wake boats hold value well. Read the guide Donate a cabin cruiser Cabin cruisers and cuddy cabins are popular donations. Read the guide Donate an outboard motor A repower usually leaves a good outboard sitting in the garage or the yard. Read the guide Donate an inboard or sterndrive engine Gas inboards and sterndrives often come out whole during a repower. Read the guide Donate a marine diesel engine Marine diesels are built for long service, and a repower often removes engines with plenty of life left. Read the guide Donate a marine transmission Marine transmissions often outlast the engines they are paired with. Read the guide Donate a marine generator Generators are often replaced during a refit even when they still run well. Read the guide Donate marine electronics Owners upgrade electronics long before the old units wear out. Read the guide Donate marine air conditioning Air conditioning is often replaced as a full system during a refit. Read the guide Donate yacht toys Yacht toys change with every owner and every charter season. Read the guide Donate a tender or dinghy A new yacht often comes with a new tender, and the old one gets left on the dock. Read the guide Donate yacht appliances and furniture A full interior refit can remove furniture and appliances that are only a few years old. Read the guide Donate sails, rigging, and deck hardware New sails or a deck refit leave behind gear that other sailors need. Read the guide Donate surplus and new-in-box boat parts Dealers, shops, and owners collect parts that never get used. Read the guide Donate a Kawasaki Jet Ski Jet Ski is Kawasaki's name for its personal watercraft, and Kawasaki has built them since 1972. Read the guide Donate a Sea-Doo Sea-Doo is the best-selling personal watercraft brand in the country, which means a steady market for used models. Read the guide Donate a Yamaha WaveRunner Yamaha WaveRunners are known for engines that last, so even high-hour units often have value. Read the guide Donate a fishing personal watercraft Fishing PWCs come rigged with coolers, rod holders, and electronics. Read the guide Donate a stand-up jet ski Stand-up skis have a dedicated following. Read the guide Donate a rental fleet or several personal watercraft Rental operators and resorts replace their fleets on a schedule, and families end up with more units than they use. Read the guide Donate a PWC trailer Single and double PWC trailers are always in demand. Read the guide Donate a superyacht A superyacht donation is a project, and we treat it like one. Read the guide Donate surplus fleet vessels from a city, school, or agency Cities, school districts, colleges, and public agencies often send retired boats to auction for a fraction of their worth. Read the guide