Boat removal prices in Texas
| Boat | Price |
|---|---|
| Boats under 20 ft | $550 to $850 |
| Boats 20 ft to 34 ft | From about $1,000, up to $3,500 |
| 35 ft | $4,500 to $5,500 |
| Over 35 ft | Call for a custom quote |
- Sunk, partly sunk or in-water boats start at the range above. Firm price after photos.
- Same price range anywhere in Texas. No travel fee.
Rough range. We confirm a firm price from your photos before we schedule anything.
The price ranges are in the table above. They're the same anywhere in Texas, with no travel fee. They're a rough range: once you send photos, we confirm a firm price before anything is scheduled.
Here's what moves a job toward the low or high end of its range.
What moves the price within the range
1. Boat size and weight
This is usually the single biggest factor. A 14-foot jon boat and a 40-foot cruiser need very different equipment and time to remove, and that difference shows up directly in the price.
2. Condition and how it's positioned
A boat sitting upright on a trailer in a driveway is about as easy as removal gets. A boat that's sunk, partially submerged, wedged against a dock, or resting in hard-to-reach terrain needs more equipment, more time, and sometimes specialized recovery work.
3. Accessibility
Can a truck and trailer pull right up to the boat? Or is it down a narrow dock, behind a locked gate, on difficult terrain, or in a spot that needs extra equipment to reach? Easy access keeps a job at the low end; difficult access moves it up.
4. Material and hazard considerations
Boats with fuel or oil still in the tank, especially sunk boats, may need containment during removal. Boats with hazardous materials (old batteries, certain older fiberglass and resin construction) can also affect disposal costs.
5. What happens to the boat afterward
Whether a boat is scrapped, salvaged for parts, or disposed of can factor into the price. Some materials have salvage value that offsets part of the cost; others are pure disposal expense.
Where the boat is in Texas doesn't change the range. It's the same price range anywhere in the state, with no travel fee.
Before you pay for a removal, check whether your boat fits the state's free program: does your boat qualify for the Texas boat turn-in program?
Sunk and in-water boats
A boat that's sunk, partly sunk or sitting in the water starts at the same range as a boat on land. Recovery depends on depth, access and how much fuel is aboard, so the firm price comes after we see photos.
How you get a firm price
Send the boat's length and type, where it's sitting, and a few photos. We reply to every quote request the same day. If the photos answer our questions, you get a firm price from them; if not, we ask about whatever they don't show. Nothing is scheduled until you approve the price, and you get a receipt and a disposal record after the job.
What to have ready when you request a quote
To get a firm price quickly, it helps to have on hand:
- The boat's approximate length and type (pontoon, cruiser, sailboat, jon boat, etc.)
- Its current condition (sunk, wrecked, abandoned, junk/non-running)
- Where it's currently located (dock, trailer, shoreline, yard) and how accessible that spot is
- Whether you have the title (though this usually isn't a dealbreaker; see our guide on removal without a title)
Get your free quote
American Boat Removal is based in Fort Worth and serves boat owners across Texas: sunk, wrecked, abandoned, or junk, any size, any condition. The quote is free, and you get a firm price before we ever show up.