Donate a commercial boat
Commercial fishing boats, charter boats, tugs, barges, passenger vessels, and workboats. Most are Coast Guard documented, and many carry permits or licenses that are sold separately. We sort out what goes with the boat and handle the documentation.
Commercial vessels we accept
City, school, and agency fleets
Retired patrol, fire, research, and training boats can go to Boats with Causes instead of auction. We provide what your procurement office needs.
Is my commercial boat worth donating?
Commercial vessels are valued on how well they can still work: engine hours and rebuild history, hull thickness on steel and aluminum boats, the condition of hydraulics and deck gear, and when the boat was last hauled and inspected.
Whether it is operating now matters. A boat that is working, or was laid up in good order, is usually a straightforward donation. A boat that has sat for years with systems out of service needs a closer look.
Permits and licenses are valued separately. We will talk about whether yours transfer with the boat, are sold on their own, or stay with you.
Not sure? Call (888) 228-7320 and describe it. That is often the fastest answer.
How moving a commercial boat works
Commercial boats almost always move by water or on a professional hauler. Pickup is free, and timing depends on both sides' availability: sometimes a couple of days, sometimes a couple of weeks.
Paperwork for a commercial boat
For documented vessels, the transfer runs through the National Vessel Documentation Center. If the boat has been used commercially, it may also carry state commercial registrations or inspection certificates that we update.
Permits are the part to settle first. Some are tied to the vessel and some to the owner, and the rules differ by fishery and agency.
State-by-state rules are in our state guides. Lost the title? Read donating a boat without a title.
The tax deduction
If you donate a boat used in your business, the tax treatment can differ from a personal boat, especially if the boat has been depreciated. The Form 1098-C rules still apply to the sale.
Talk with your accountant before you donate a business asset. Our tax guide covers the general rules.
We do not provide tax or legal advice. Consult your own advisor.
Read the tax guideVessels we see often
Downeast lobster boats, Gulf shrimpers, Pacific Northwest gillnetters and seiners, aluminum landing craft, six-pack charter boats, harbor tugs, and small passenger ferries from yards across the country.
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 commercial boat, 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.
Commercial boat donation questions
Does my fishing permit go with the boat?
Not automatically. Many permits are sold or transferred separately, and some can be kept for a future vessel. We sort this out before the donation is agreed.
Can I donate a boat my business has depreciated?
Yes, but the tax treatment for a business asset can differ from a personal boat. Talk with your accountant about how the donation affects your return.
My vessel has not passed its last inspection. Can you still take it?
Often, yes. Tell us what the inspection found. Plenty of commercial boats are sold with known work items.
Start your commercial boat 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