Why Scrap Your Boat?
Scrap Your Boat in the UK
Why should you scrap your boat? It’s not something boat owners ever really have to think about. However those owners who have older boats or ones that they just can’t sell certainly do. It might not just be the boat’s age, scrapping a boat in the UK, like in many other countries, may become necessary for various reasons.
End of Life Boats, like any other vehicles or machinery, have a finite lifespan. Over time, they can become unsafe to operate, expensive to maintain, or simply no longer fit for their intended purpose. Even a GRP boat which have a much longer lifespan deteriorate over time.
Cheaper to Scrap than Fix
Cost of Repairs. Extensive repairs and maintenance can be costly, and it may not make financial sense to invest in an older vessel, especially if it has significant structural or mechanical issues. We see this often with older boats caught up in storms or accidents. The costs of repairs far outweighs the boat’s value. In most cases it is cheaper to scrap than to fix the boat.
Environmental Concerns. Older boats may not meet modern environmental standards, leading to concerns about pollution and emissions. Scrapping an older boat can be a more environmentally responsible choice. Especially old boats with poorly maintained diesel or petrol engines. If you don’t want to go to the expense of putting a new engine in her, scrapping is a cost effective option.
Dangers of Giving Boats Away
Safety Concerns. As boats age, their safety features may become outdated, and the risk of accidents or failures may increase. Scrapping an old boat can help ensure safety on the water. We see lots of people trying to give old and dangerous boats away online for free. Sadly we just can’t see how these boats are going to be fixed up and even insured by the new owners.
Space Constraints. Keeping a derelict or unused boat can take up valuable space in marinas, harbours, or on private property. Removing such boats can free up space for other uses. This also helps the marinas to keep a more active client base of owners. Hopefully ones who keep on top of their boats.
Financial Considerations. Some boat owners may no longer be able to afford the mooring, storage, or insurance costs associated with maintaining a boat, and scrapping can be a cost-effective solution. Usually with an old boat the last owner is usually the least well off in the chain of owners it’s had. This is one of the major reasons that we think so many boats get abandoned.
Salvage Value
Salvage Value. Sometimes, scrapping a boat can be more financially advantageous if the boat has salvageable materials like metals, engines, or equipment that can be sold. This is a rare scenario for most boats as when they need to be scrapped the valuable items are usually old and barely working. Insurance write off boats are usually the ones with nice new engines and electronics.
If you have an old boat that is realistically in need of disposal then get in contact. Contact our team through the scrap calculator and we will work out the best price.
Written By: Luke Edney
Luke completed a journalism degree in Brighton University and fortunately for us uses this in his communications, Facebook posts, Tweets and emails to tell all our enquirers and followers what we are up to. Without Luke we would be lost, he runs the office, keeps us organised and is like a terrier and never lets a tricky boat disposal job go un-photographed or Tweeted about.
He also manages all of our enquiries passing them to whoever in the team is the best suited to deal with it. We are teaching Luke how to drive a motorboat or sail a yacht so while he’s learning we suggest you keep out of the Solent!
When he’s not at work he’s a massive football fan (his Dad used to play for Portsmouth FC years ago) and seems to know everything there is to know about any player, anywhere. Next time you ring and he answers, think of a tricky football trivia question and ask him
Date Published: November 8, 2023
Last Modified: November 9, 2023
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