How to give away a boat?

[Carlr]

Giving away a boat can be easy. Give it to a charity that accepts boats.

Advantages
1. All paperwork is handled by the charity
2. You will get an appraisal of value and you will be able to write it off as a charitable deduction
Uncle Sam will give you credit!

As for suggestions as to who to give it to:
1. Maritime academies
2. Antique boat restoration societies
3. Environmental groups
The list can go on and on

Good luck

[Leighpilot]

I gave away a forty foot boat. The way I did it was to weed out all the retirees who “ always wanted to sail around the world “. Nope ,if you really wanted to sail you’d have done it already. So find someone who is already an experienced sailor but just doesn’t have the money to buy.

[Amapola]

You can always donate the boat to a charity and let them worry about it.

[makoman]

Originally Posted by garyfdl

What about donating it to a charity?

We have several local charities that will accept boats, cars, etc. In many cases they even move the vehicle to their location.

And you get a tax write-off.

I am a practicing CPA, financial consultant and life long boater. If you are going to want a tax deduction, make sure you work closely with your CPA, the tax regs and reporting requirements are quite onerous.


I have gotten rid of lots of boats for myself and for clients. For someone in OPs situation, I would consider selling the boat for dirt cheap to someone who seems reputable, diligent, and has some knowledge of boats. That should eliminate those who are just on the lookout for anything cheap!

[Sea Wolf]

I vote for a charity that will use the boat refit as a learning experience for it’s members... giving them the opportunity to learn a trade. A Maritime Academy is a good choice, but there are numerous others.
We sold our 50’ catamaran last June... for quite a bit of money. We used the Coast Guard Bill of Sale document for the sale (available on line) and had everything notarized at the bank when the sale took place. One would think that the new owner would register the boat. Imagine my surprise when I received a notice from the state of Florida that my registration renewal was due. Called them, spoke with a rep who said it had not been taken out of our name. He sent me paperwork to have us removed from ownership, thus nullifying our liability. Whew!

[Happ]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

...and most importantly, have them sign the paperwork on the spot and make sure it gets filed properly. If not then you are legally still the owner and liabilities may result.

I know of a couple of cases where someone gave away a boat, ownership was never legally transfered, and it caused problems for the original owner later.

Did you hit the nail on the head. I live in a town with a natural inlet. When a hurricane came through more than a dozen boats broke loose came to rest on an adjacent island. The town found the names of the owners and contacted them. One owner said oh I don’t own the boat any more. I gave it to my brother. The town called the brother. He said yes he gave me the boat but I never got the title!

I’ll leave the rest for your imagination. LOL!

[wingssail]

Originally Posted by Lionshooter

Just an observation learned from the military. When all else fails, drive out to deep water, cut the hoses of the through-hulls, blow a few holes through the cabin sole with a shotgun loaded with 00-buck. Hop in your dinghy and go home. The fish will love their new reef. Problem solved.

I think this is irresponsible.

Ecologically it is a bad idea and probably illegal.

Better to pay to have the boat dismantled, cut up, and put, legally, in a landfill.

Better yet, clean it up to make it attractive and useful. Then it will be easier to give away or sell (and then follow the advice given above). When we take on ownership of a vessel we have some responsibility.

[samelliott]

I'd like to know more about this free boat I'm interested

[samelliott]

Whats the state and city?

[smacksman]

I bought two boats on Ebay auctions that were selling by/on behalf of charities. Each time the ad refused to allow any viewing of the boat before bidding, let alone a survey. The first was a 1971 Bristol 30 sailboat for $4000 and the second an Albin 27 cruiser for $6500. Both were alarmed when they found out I was in the UK! They were mollified when I paid up fully by Paypal. Both craft had similar little things to fix to make them seaworthy, in fact, your boat was more seaworthy to start with.
A week later kissed my wife goodbye and jumped on a plane. After 10 days fixing the boat I sailed thousands of miles down the east and south coasts of the US and loved every minute of it (well except for hurricane Sandy). Put the boats for sale on Ebay at the end of my tourist visa and flew back with $$ in my pocket; pretty much what I paid for them and the boats in much better shape. I would certainly have been delighted to take your old girl on at $1500 let alone free.

[edlepera]

What about a young organization like the sea scouts, Boy Scouts, sailing club

[ghochgraf]

Free boats..............

Twas brillig and the foamy seas
Did toss and tumble o’re the strand
All mimsey were the coco trees
And the dolphin-fish did play.

Beware the free boat my lad,
The costs that mount,
The sweat and toil.
Beware the engine frozen shut
and sails torn all asunder.

He donned his vorpal tool belt
Long he gazed upon the hulk
Of slime and grunge and broken parts
And thought ‘what e’re have I done?’

And hast thou fixed yon broken wreck?
Come tell me how it goes.
Your money’s spent,
Your clothes all rent.
‘For Sale’ sign waves and blows.

Gary Hochgraf 2020

[EngNate]

Huh? Somebody understands what a free boat is and takes it anyway - let alone assume legal title, good luck on that. If you want to give away a boat you will have to compromise your morals.

[jjjacq]

Originally Posted by Lionshooter

Just an observation learned from the military. When all else fails, drive out to deep water, cut the hoses of the through-hulls, blow a few holes through the cabin sole with a shotgun loaded with 00-buck. Hop in your dinghy and go home. The fish will love their new reef. Problem solved.

...and then claim the loss from the insurance company

[upstateny]

HRMM Accepts free boats on the Hudson River.
https://www.hrmm.org/