Donate Sailboat, regardless of what it's made out of

Considering that most boat owners have disposable income, they are much more likely to be in the middle-to-upper income tax brackets, thus a tax deduction would be appealing to them. Boat donations have risen in popularity throughout the US, most likely through increasing overall awareness among those who previously hadn’t heard that the option is available. 

There are many organizations in the US now accepting vehicle donations, which include boats. Different boats are made out of different materials, which can impact their functionality and lead them to be donated later. 

What are boats made out of?

Overall, there is not a single, superior material for new boat construction; rather it depends on the type of boat that is being produced and the functions that the vessel is used for, along with the affordability and availability of materials. Several materials have traditionally been the primary material used to manufacture the bodies of boats, each with their own set of positive and negative attributes.

1. Wood

Types of wood used in boat production include softer cuts of ash, cedar, Douglas Fir and oak. The advantages of wood in boat production are its attractiveness in design and that although somewhat lightweight, it is fairly strong. Additionally, wood is usually widely available as a raw material. When left untreated, wood can begin to rot quickly and deteriorate. A disadvantage is the maintenance usually required in making sure it has a strong protective seal. A common method of preservation is maintaining it with a resistant paint and epoxy sealant designed to minimize water-related damage.

2. Steel

Both carbon and stainless types of steel are often used in boat manufacturing. Steel provides the strength to withstand the impact of a collision with rocks or ice, and also is relatively inexpensive. The primary drawbacks are that it is heavy; which requires more engine power resulting in greater fuel consumption and that it is likely to corrode.

3. Aluminum

Aluminum is fairly lightweight, inexpensive and less likely to corrode compared to steel. Drawbacks of aluminum usage include that it will likely be damaged when it hits rocks or other very strong materials and does not resist corroding in salt water very well.

4. Fiberglass/Composites

These materials sometimes are referred to as “marine composites” that consist of poly-resins and hardened plastics. Large portions of the material can be constructed without having seams, which logically decreases points of potential water entry that would need caulk or welding. These products afford the producer the opportunity to be very versatile in design, are lightweight and non-corrosive. The primary drawback is that it is expensive to produce the composites with the strength needed for larger watercraft's.

Donate sailboat (all types!)

Rawhide will accept boat donations regardless of the material it's made out of. Rawhide  is a faith-driven, non-profit, organization in Wisconsin that provides assistance with both residential care and mental health treatment options for troubled youth. 

The group was founded in 1965 and received support from Bart Starr, the Super Bowl winning quarterback of the Green Bay Packers. Rawhide estimates that over 80% of the funds derived from vehicle donations they process go directly to their programs that benefit children in need of assistance.

For information on Rawhide’s donation programs, visit: http://www.rawhide.org.