Boat recycling

[lustyd]

There have been rumblings recently about boat recycling, and introducing a levy on new boats to fund responsible boat disposal, a bit like the WEEE directive on electronics which created a whole new industry of recycling. I've been thinking about it and it occurs to me that if a modern 38 footer comes with a £20k charge for recycling (probably hidden, like with electronics) then that money will be used to pay someone whose role is boat disposal. It seems to me that person would be wise to begin with smaller, cheaper boats as a way to receive funds from the scheme. Could this lead to a future where someone out there starts buying up all of the older, cheaper boats in order to recycle/dispose of them for a profit? If that happens could we see a very brief increase in prices for these little old unloved boats before they disapear forever? If there's a financial incentive to remove boats from the seas, will that have an impact on the cost of entry into cruising?

 

[Greemble]

Probably not much of an effect.

Cost associated with the fetching, carrying & transportation, with labour & paperwork costs as well as the actual disposal will mean those buying will likely want free boats, preferably clean & easy to get to as well.
Even more likely, the companies involved will want paying to take the boats away.

I don't think the Government scrappage scheme had that much of an effect on the price of second hand cars, either

 

[lustyd]

The difference is that it would be a permanent scheme and they would be paid to dispose of as many boats as they could. It's not like scrappage where the government would just pay people to buy new things. As in the WEEE directive, those new things become more expensive on purpose to fund disposal at the other end. If Ben/Jen/Bav put a few million in a pot you can bet they're going to want someone to free up some space for new boats!

 

[penberth3]

The difference is that it would be a permanent scheme and they would be paid to dispose of as many boats as they could. It's not like scrappage where the government would just pay people to buy new things. As in the WEEE directive, those new things become more expensive on purpose to fund disposal at the other end. If Ben/Jen/Bav put a few million in a pot you can bet they're going to want someone to free up some space for new boats!

How well is WEEE working? I guess a lot still goes to third world landfills. I don't think a scheme for GRP would be any better. Which still doesn't answer the problem.

 

[scruff]

Probably not much of an effect.

Cost associated with the fetching, carrying & transportation, with labour & paperwork costs as well as the actual disposal will mean those buying will likely want free boats, preferably clean & easy to get to as well.
Even more likely, the companies involved will want paying to take the boats away.

I don't think the Government scrappage scheme had that much of an effect on the price of second hand cars, either

Don't take individual boats to the recycling plant, take the plant to the dead boats...

A floating barge with cherry picker crane (able to pick up say 20t) with a big grinder. Most dead boats will be by the coast - recycle-a-boat barge arrives at marina, the 5 or so dead boats are towed out without rigs, as even dead boat will likely be able to float for 30 mins. they are picked up and any ballast/engines cut out with a chainsaw and the rest of the carcass droped through a big grinder. reduce to dust and barge moves on to next location...

Could be a service in the same way as a barge will service multiple moorings at a location then move on to next area.

 

[lustyd]

That sounds brilliant!

 

[Gixer]

Don't take individual boats to the recycling plant, take the plant to the dead boats...
A floating barge with cherry picker crane (able to pick up say 20t) with a big grinder.

What a great idea, could be a use for a old whale boat. Drag the boats up the ramp on the back and cut them up on the deck....

 

[Keith 66]

If you had ever cut a boat up you would know that it is not as easy as it looks, A chainsaw is not designed to cut fibreglass & would be absolutely lethal used to do so. Diamond cutter is the way & you have to be careful, dust is a major issue plus antifoul contamination makes the grp of no use for recycling. Bolts & metal plates to hit, scrap metal prices are not high anyway.
Nobody is going to pay for old boats there simply isnt enough money in it. Grp boats you will just have to pay to have them broken & disposed of.

 

[lustyd]

That's the point though, new boat buyers will be footing the bill. The reason they'd buy them is because they'd probably get paid per boat disposed so a very cheap boat would likely lead to profit. Same reason the local tip now has an electronics disposal point - there's cash to be had for dealing with that type of waste.

 

[penberth3]

Don't take individual boats to the recycling plant, take the plant to the dead boats...

A floating barge with cherry picker crane (able to pick up say 20t) with a big grinder. Most dead boats will be by the coast - recycle-a-boat barge arrives at marina, the 5 or so dead boats are towed out without rigs, as even dead boat will likely be able to float for 30 mins. they are picked up and any ballast/engines cut out with a chainsaw and the rest of the carcass droped through a big grinder. reduce to dust and barge moves on to next location...

Could be a service in the same way as a barge will service multiple moorings at a location then move on to next area.

What happens to the bits and the extremely hazardous dust?

 

[scruff]

What happens to the bits and the extremely hazardous dust?

That wee question plus the question around running it as a profitable business is most likely the biggest reasons why the scheme is not currently in operation...

 

[Rappey]

I've heard the place in portsmouth that scraps boats charge you about £1000 for a small boat.
From seeing them on TV "scrapkings" they didn't seem interested in hatches,windows, stanchions, railings etc but just crushed the whole boat.

 

[lustyd]

That wee question plus the question around running it as a profitable business is most likely the biggest reasons why the scheme is not currently in operation...

exactly this. That's why they are trying to introduce the charge on new boats. Same as electronics, the first owner can afford it, the person throwing it away can't.

 

[Keith 66]

I expect many clubs (like ours) will have a significant number of boats that are at the end of their life. In the past when people have passed away the relatives have sometimes "donated" the boat to the club which is a poisoned chalice & no longer an option. Others have simply defaulted & left us with a wreck, yet others have just passed the problem on to someone else via ebay. Good luck tracking them down in that case.
In many cases the person getting rid of it can most certainly afford to have it disposed of properly but choose not to.