January 2005 -
how to put a 28 foot sailboat into a 20 foot dumpster! Demolition and
salvage of a 1977 sailboat in just 6 days.
We bought the boat
on eBay for $1350 on an auction. We actually knew the owner so already had
an idea what the boat would be worth as salvage. After expenses and once
everything we salvaged was sold, we estimate about an $8,000 profit. Not bad
for 6 days work!
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We are ready to begin
The Donalee, a 1977 pearson 28 foot sailboat from Mary Esther, FL
Hurrican Ivan did some structural damage to the forward section. Insurance company wrote her off as uprepairable.
Goal? Salvage as much as we can to sell on eBay and Marine Salvage stores
Nice! 3 batteries, that's worthwhile
We start from the
inside and begin stripping and cutting fiberglass.
Inside of our U-Haul is starting to fill up with goodies!
Generator and power tools. What fun!
And that lovely engine still runs perfectly! Just got to get it out!
Inside of the sailboat getting stripped
Getting closer to that Yanmar diesel!
V-berth getting stripped
Time to rent a crane - the mast must come down.
Up she comes
After sticking for a bit, the mast finally pops out.
... and gets laid down on a couple dollies which we walk over to the marine salvage store. Was sold for $750.
Now comes the engine..
Which is guided into the U-haul and will ultimately repower our own sailboat - currently value $3500!
Cabin roof is cut off.
Trying to reduce weight so the entire cabin can be cut off.
Cockpit is cut into pieces...
... and tossed into the dumpster alongside.
Cabin roof gone.
Not much left of the cokpit looking aft.
Getting smaller by the minute
We cut the bow off to give to an artist friend to create a painting in memory of the Donalee.
Demolition saw, that's how stuff gets done!!!
And the stern is cut off carefully not to damage her name. Respect!
Not looking that much like a sailboat anymore
The bottom of the hull is the thickest and most difficult to cut.
Yours truly with the demolition saw. $50 a day to rent and worth every penny!
Stern with rudder cut off.
Now were're down to the nitty gritty.
That's all that is left.
And then there was just the lead keel which we took over to the recycling place - weighed 3500 lbs, so had to rent a forklift.