Scrapping Boat . . . Recycling Keel

[ray12515]

I have an old grampian 26 that is damaged beyond it's worth, I would like to take in the iron keel to a scrap place so I could get a little money out of it. What is the easiest way to remove the keel assuming that I'm not worried about the rest of the boat. It is currently on a trailer. I thought about going to a landfill and they'll help my boat off the trailer into the dump, however would they help me load the keel back up? The keel weighs 2600lbs i believe.

[Wannafish]

I, too, am interested in your question. I have a 34' with a 6,000 lb lead keel. Boat needs some work, though is structurally sound, and is on a trailer. Has beautiful sitka spruce masts and booms and a dozen sails. Oh, and NEW Stainelss standing rigging and cast bronze chainplates. I'm tired of 2 years of "tire kickers" saying "it needs work" and they'd "take it if I'd give it to 'em". Well of course it does - that's why I was only asking $4k to get her outta my life. I'm gonna part her out - from the brass sinks, bronze faucets, hammered copper galley counter tops, all new oak interior, new CNG heater mounted on the bulkhead, force ten gimballed stove, the trailer,and lastly, the keel. I'm going to keep the bronze helm with wood wheel to mount in my office.
Any how, I hope to see comments to your thread on how to go about this. I have the area and tools to dismantle it...but will go slowly with my deteriorating health.

[capngeo]

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Wannafish

I, too, am interested in your question. I have a 34' with a 6,000 lb lead keel. Boat needs some work, though is structurally sound, and is on a trailer. Has beautiful sitka spruce masts and booms and a dozen sails. Oh, and NEW Stainelss standing rigging and cast bronze chainplates. I'm tired of 2 years of "tire kickers" saying "it needs work" and they'd "take it if I'd give it to 'em". Well of course it does - that's why I was only asking $4k to get her outta my life. I'm gonna part her out - from the brass sinks, bronze faucets, hammered copper galley counter tops, all new oak interior, new CNG heater mounted on the bulkhead, force ten gimballed stove, the trailer,and lastly, the keel. I'm going to keep the bronze helm with wood wheel to mount in my office.
Any how, I hope to see comments to your thread on how to go about this. I have the area and tools to dismantle it...but will go slowly with my deteriorating health.

Sounds a terrible waste of a good old boat thats likely still got a lot of good servicable life in her given a touch of elbow driven TLC...
Shame I'm on the wrong side of the pond... have you tried selling on here.. there's always folks popping up after good ole boats to help the under $500/mth dream..
And I love the sound of the fittings/masts etc....

[hellosailor]

ray, the only way you'll get an answer is to ASK THE LANDFILL.

They may not have any lifting equipment besides a big scoop or claw, and they may have a policy of not lifting anything over customer property, because they could drop it and get sued for a new truck, etc.

And of course, they probably won't let you "work on the boat" with a sawzall while you're at the dump.

Either way, no one here can tell you what policies your local yards will have.

[Wannafish]

Originally Posted by capngeo

I wasn't sure if I should use a sawzall or chainsaw. Might take a few chains...but a good way to use up the old ones anyway. Maybe the fiberglass is too hard on the teeth. Thoughts?

[Woodchuck]

Take boat to landfill. Find guy pushing around trash with loader. Apply fifty bucks to his hand. Watch him take the boat off the trailer, mash it with his bucket and load the keel back onto the trailer. No Sawzall necessary. Guys that work at landfills are not generally rule followers and can often be persuaded by cash.

[Wannafish]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Sounds a terrible waste of a good old boat thats likely still got a lot of good servicable life in her given a touch of elbow driven TLC...
Shame I'm on the wrong side of the pond... have you tried selling on here.. there's always folks popping up after good ole boats to help the under $500/mth dream..
And I love the sound of the fittings/masts etc....

She's a Seafarer - ketch rigged. I tried to finish another's boat when he grew too old. My health is shot - can't hardly even climb once up the ladder.

It is an absolute shame, but it's what I'm left with.

[hellosailor]

There's bottom paint on the boat, right?

That's generally considered hazmat and an EPA problem, so again...check with your locals. they may not allow you to create hazmat dust/debris at their facility. At all. In a lot of boatyards, bottom paint has to be contained and disposed of as hazmat--it isn't allowed on the ground at all.

So before you pick the tools...call ahead. The simple things aren't so simple these days.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Wannafish

She's a Seafarer - ketch rigged. I tried to finish another's boat when he grew too old. My health is shot - can't hardly even climb once up the ladder.

It is an absolute shame, but it's what I'm left with.

I thought you said she was a ketch under your avatar.... but I could not find any info for the ketch version so used the sloop spec instead...lol
She looks to nice to scrap... there must be someone here amongst the dreamers and schemers to take her on... would she be sound if floated... is it serious structual work.. could she be rigged and sailed/motored as is...
Anyone over there need a boat delivering to Europe soon...
Seafarer 34 ketch plus all travel/living/transport expenses.... your boat.. not the Ketch

[crashkahuna]

Seems too nice to scrap especially with a functional trailer (?). Have you tried ebay? I sold a boat where the guy paid the deposit and drove half way across country to complete the deal.

[hard aground]

I used a sawzall to cut a keel off without too much problem. Did some jury rigging with the single point lift to yank the boat off the trailer and set it on the ground. Removed the keel from the trailer, then put the boat back on the trailer, took boat and trailer to the dump and disposed of boat. Later put keel in back of truck and took it to MarsKeels and received a cheque. I trust you don't need a boom anymore?

[SkiprJohn]

Chainsaws work until you cut into metal. Buy a couple extra chains just to have handy once you start.
kind regards,

[Mark1977]

Originally Posted by boatman61

I thought you said she was a ketch under your avatar.... but I could not find any info for the ketch version so used the sloop spec instead...lol
She looks to nice to scrap... there must be someone here amongst the dreamers and schemers to take her on... would she be sound if floated... is it serious structual work.. could she be rigged and sailed/motored as is...
Anyone over there need a boat delivering to Europe soon...
Seafarer 34 ketch plus all travel/living/transport expenses.... your boat.. not the Ketch

BOATMAN....... book a plane ticket...... go save her!!!!!!!

[Wand]

Originally Posted by ray12515

I have an old grampian 26 that is damaged beyond it's worth, I would like to take in the iron keel to a scrap place so I could get a little money out of it. What is the easiest way to remove the keel assuming that I'm not worried about the rest of the boat. It is currently on a trailer. I thought about going to a landfill and they'll help my boat off the trailer into the dump, however would they help me load the keel back up? The keel weighs 2600lbs i believe.

Remove the bolts (maybe grind?) and then attach the hull to the tow bar of your 4WD and drag it off. Drive the keel to the steelyard and come back for the hull. I ain't saying it's the best idea, but it's a start.