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A tuna-tower sportfishing boat leaving an inlet at dusk on Long Island, past a jetty lighthouse and a dune cottage

Donate a boat in New York

New York has an enormous range of boating: Long Island Sound and the South Shore bays, Montauk and the East End, the Hudson River, Lake George and Lake Champlain, the Finger Lakes, and the Great Lakes shoreline from Buffalo to the Thousand Islands.

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

New York rules for a boat donation

TITLING AND REGISTRATION AGENCY
New York State Department of Motor Vehicles
Visit the agency site
Titles and registration
The New York DMV registers boats and titles many of them, depending on the boat's year and length. We confirm what applies to yours.
Trailers
Trailers are registered through the DMV.
Out-of-state owners
Boats on Lake George and the Finger Lakes may be registered elsewhere.
Lost title or registration
The owner on record can usually get a duplicate from New York State Department 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 New York title. Some documented boats are also registered with the state for use here.

What New York boat owners call us about

Montauk and the East End
Longtime anglers retiring from the water, like Carl P. in Montauk.
Winter storage
Upstate owners paying six months of storage.
Hudson River marinas
Cruisers in marinas along the Hudson.

Boats we pick up in New York

Fishing boats Sportfishers and center consoles. Motorboats Cruisers, bowriders, and classic wooden boats. Sailboats Sailboats on the Sound and the Finger Lakes.
We also pick up every other kind of boat in New York. The types above are just the ones we see most here.
Yachts Center consoles Houseboats Commercial boats Personal watercraft Classic boats Ski and wake boats Boat trailers Marine equipment

Boating in New York: seasons and storage

The season
The season runs May to October across most of the state.
Storage and carrying costs
Winter storage and shrink wrap are standard upstate and on Long Island. Every month a boat sits unused, those costs keep adding up. Estimate yours.
A typical New York donation
A sportfisher on Long Island or a runabout on an upstate lake. We accept every other kind of boat here too.

New York by region

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

Long Island
Montauk, the Hamptons, the South Shore bays, and the North Shore.
Hudson Valley
Marinas from Westchester to Albany.
Adirondacks and Lake George
Lake George, Champlain, and the Adirondack lakes.
Finger Lakes
Seneca, Cayuga, Keuka, and Canandaigua.
Great Lakes shore
Buffalo, Rochester, Oswego, and the Thousand Islands.
I am 67 years old and am an avid striped bass fisherman and have been for 47 years. I have owned 7 boats with my most recent being the 31' Bertram I donated to you guys. I realized I was getting a little old to go out by myself and all of my kids and grandkids now live in California, which helped me with the idea to donate it to charity. Sam, the one with the 22' bayliner donated to you here in Montauk gave me your number. I spoke with someone at your charity and "Bite Me" was towed away in less than a week. Ill be fishing from shore now. God Bless!
Carl P. · Montauk, NY

New York boat donation questions

Is my boat titled in New York?

It depends on the year and length. If it has a title, sign it; if not, the registration and a bill of sale work.

Can you pick up from Montauk?

Yes. We have picked up several boats there.

Do you take classic wooden boats from the Adirondacks?

Yes, depending on condition.

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

Fall, before winter storage on Long Island and upstate. 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 New York 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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