California sailboat removal and disposal service

Hansons Boat Removal works directly with marina operators at facilities across California, including marinas in San Diego, Long Beach, and San Francisco Bay. We coordinate the crane work for mast unstepping and haul-out scheduling — you don't arrange any of it. Most California marina extractions are scheduled within 7 to 14 days depending on yard availability and slip access.

Sailboat disposal in California typically runs $600 to $2,500. A 28-foot boat on the hard with a lead keel costs less than a 44-footer in a slip with an iron keel, because lead scrap recovers $0.40 to $0.80 per pound and offsets part of the fee. Marina coordination, boat length, and keel material are the three factors that move the number up or down.

California does require an oversize load permit for mast transport when the length exceeds 75 feet on public roads, and Caltrans flagging rules apply on certain highways. Hansons Boat Removal pulls the necessary permits before transport. Most aluminum masts from sailboats in the 24 to 50 foot range go directly to California metal recyclers as a separate salvage stream from the hull.

Hansons Boat Removal handles full keel extraction and disposal on California jobs. Lead keels, which are common on pre-1990 sailboats, carry scrap value that can reduce what you pay. Iron keels have lower scrap recovery but are still recyclable. California has specific regulations around lead handling and transport, and Hansons Boat Removal follows all state environmental requirements for both materials.

Hansons Boat Removal provides a disposal certificate after every California job, which is the document California DMV and the Department of Motor Vehicles require to close out a vessel title. For Coast Guard-documented sailboats, the paperwork process differs from state-titled boats. Hansons Boat Removal walks owners through whichever process applies to their specific vessel before the job starts.