A question came up on another forum about this...one would have to think that in coastal areas of the country there HAS to be places like this?

There is one on the east coast of Florida and there's one in Clearwater Florida

There’s a good article in this month’s Boating Magazine. There are very few boat salvage yards for many reasons but basically it’s not a profitable business model. Most derelict or junk boats, especially fiberglass, don’t have much value in scrap and very difficult to meet federal and state regulations to dispose of. There are a few private sector and government state agencies that work cooperatively to remove abandoned derelict boats but the money is in the removal contract, not the scrap value. I may be paraphrasing and generalizing the article but it’s very good and probably available on web.

There at least used to be several outboard engine salvage yards in Florida

Bingo

Marine Connection in Fort Pierce Fla is the best but they are “surplus” and not salvage.

They get all the extras from the mfgs, boats and otherwise.

As in new.
But gauges as an example, no packaging, mfg warranty and normally no mounting hdwe.

They ain’t cheap but they have it and are good.

The one in Clearwater is more what you’d think of as salvage.

There are ads on Craigslist for people that will take your junk boat for free.
They won’t remove it from a swamp but will if it’s on a trailer.

If it’s an inboard or IO, they’ll chain saw a hole in the side of the hull and remove the motor to sell.

They cut through EVERYTHING to get it out!

Cables, hoses, etc.

Same for the helm.

Most only do it a few times before giving up.

Whats a helm worth w/a set of 30 yr old gauges in it?

Or a motor w/no history that may or may not run.

Some are willing to lie about that aspect too.

The derelicts left to sink are all over Fla and very sad.

Huge problem w/bums living on them too.
To them it’s just shelter.

Most w/no power and many w/no functioning bilge pump.

When we lived in Sebastian Fla and got a turd floater, Fla rain, if you drove US-1 from there, north to Melbourne (a gorgeous drive right along the Intracoastal), you’d see 5 or 6 freshly sunken and abandoned boats.

There was a shortly lived reality show about a boat salvage Co. in the Keys and the derelicts were nasty!

Theyd have to fight the EPA and Fla Fish and Wildlife just to get permission to raise them.

Then only at high tide to minimize damage done to the bottom/coral, meaning they we’re on a timeline that didn’t always work out.

About 50% of the time the hulls were so far gone that the lifting straps cut them into pieces and it collapsed in on itself and fell back in the water!

Very sad and the punishment for abandoning one should be way more severe.

Last I heard, they were working on it.

I think Desantis cut some of the red tape too.

No matter the condition, a vehicle always has value in scrap metal, and is fairly easy to remove from its abandoned location. A boat is quite literally the opposite. In the last 5 years I have parted out and scrapped 25-30 boats, and in the last year only 1 or 2. I only do it now if the deal is REALLY good, and I already have a use for some of the parts on the boat.

Thanks, guys. A guy is looking for a windshield piece for a '93 Baja 188 Islander. Alternately, I have seen from time to time people who have had some level of success with getting LEXAN or Plexiglass replacements...but these TAYLORMADE curved windshields may not be eligible for that?

There are companies that can make any shape windscreen you need.

Checker Marine in Eire Michigan. 734-243-2683

Are you talking about Don's in Clearwater? That place is a trip.....prices change based on their mood or weather! LOL been there a few times in the past when visiting and always came away with one good part and 5 i had to pass on cause i could have got them new for slightly more then what they wanted.