Donate a center console boat
Center consoles are the most popular style of boat for saltwater and offshore fishing, and they are just as much at home on a sandbar, a dive trip, or an afternoon cruise with the family. We take them from 18-foot bay boats to 40-foot-plus offshore models with triple or quad outboards, whether yours sits on a trailer, in a slip, on a lift, or in dry stack. The electronics, T-top, and gear can go with the boat and add to what it sells for.
Center consoles we accept
Is my center console worth donating?
Center consoles hold their value better than most boats their size, and buyers look for them in every coastal market. On most of them the outboards carry a large share of the value, so the make, horsepower, hours, and service history of each engine matter most. A T-top or tower, the electronics, and the condition of the canvas come next.
Helpful for the review: the hours on each engine and the date of the last service, whether the boat is used in salt or fresh water, how it is stored, and anything you know needs attention. A boat with known problems can still be a strong donation.
Where it gets harder: a soft or wet transom, stringer rot, or a hull that has been sunk. We will tell you plainly before anything is scheduled.
Not sure? Call (888) 228-7320 and describe it. That is often the fastest answer.
How pickup works for center consoles
Center consoles are kept in more ways than most boats. Each one has a simple routine. Pickup is free, and timing depends on both sides' availability: sometimes a couple of days, sometimes a couple of weeks.
Paperwork for a center console
You will sign over the boat title or registration and, where it is separately titled, the trailer title. Larger center consoles are sometimes Coast Guard documented, which adds a bill of sale and a release of any lien. A few states also title outboard motors separately, and center consoles often carry large outboards that fall under those rules.
Your state guide explains the rules where you live. A lost title is common and fixable.
State-by-state rules are in our state guides. Lost the title? Read donating a boat without a title.
The tax deduction
Center consoles follow the same IRS rules as other boats: for most donations, your deduction is the sale price reported on Form 1098-C. Many sell for more than $5,000, so it helps to read the rules for larger donations before you start.
See the tax guide for details, and talk with your own tax advisor.
We do not provide tax or legal advice. Consult your own advisor.
Read the tax guideCenter console builders we see often
Boston Whaler, Grady-White, Mako, Sea Fox, Robalo, Key West, Sea Hunt, Sportsman, Scout, Pursuit, Contender, Yellowfin, Regulator, Everglades, Cobia, Sea Pro, Pro-Line, Hydra-Sports, Wellcraft, Parker, Intrepid, Fountain, SeaVee, Invincible, Freeman, Valhalla, HCB, Midnight Express, Tidewater, NauticStar, Carolina Skiff, and many more.
Not on the list? It is here to help you find your boat, not to limit what we take. We accept every make and model of center console, listed or not, including rare builders and companies that closed decades ago. A donation depends on the boat's condition and paperwork, never the name on the hull, so enter yours on the form even if you do not see it here.
Center console donation questions
Is a center console a fishing boat?
It is the most popular style of saltwater fishing boat, but it is really an all-around powerboat. Owners use them for diving, cruising, and family days as often as fishing. We accept them either way.
My twin outboards have different hours. Is that a problem?
No. Just tell us the hours for each engine and the date of the last service.
Can I donate a center console without the trailer?
Yes. The transporter brings a trailer, or we arrange a haul-out and transport.
My boat is in dry stack storage. How does pickup work?
We schedule with the marina during forklift hours, and the transporter loads it at the marina.
Does saltwater use lower the value?
It depends on care. A boat that was rinsed, flushed, and stored under cover holds up well. Buyers look closely at the trailer, steering, T-top frame, and engines.
Should I take the electronics off first?
You can, but you do not need to. Electronics, a T-top, and a good canvas add to the sale price. Remove anything personal.
Start your center console donation
Takes about three minutes. Your best guesses are fine, or call (888) 228-7320.
Free pickup by our trusted transport team · We handle title transfer and tax paperwork · No cost to you