Boat Donation FAQs

Your boat donation will likely be sold and the money earned by the boat donation program will be used to fund Rawhide’s many treatment programs and services.  These services focus on helping at-risk youths and their families turn their lives around.  Some of the programs that will benefit when you donate sailboat are prevention-based and some are part of an intensive residential program, but they all work to help at-risk youths make positive changes that will last a lifetime.  Programs that donating boats can help fund include residential programs, family weekends, counseling services, alternative schooling, foster care, and more.

The boat donation program is also helpful to Rawhide’s work experience programs.  Rawhide youths who have shown that they can be responsible have the opportunity to do different jobs around the ranch, one of which is cleaning or “detailing” boats and other vehicles to get them ready to be sold.  These work experience programs allow participants to gain confidence and to boost skills that will make them more employable when they leave the ranch.  Skills learned through the work experience program can include: personal discipline, good work ethic, working under direction, team work, and communication skills.

Not necessarily.  Rawhide’s boat donation program can sometimes accept vehicle donations that are in any condition, and boats are handled on a case-by-case basis.  Keep in mind when you are looking to donate sailboat that they are looking for boats that they will be able to sell, and are not a service to remove junk/salvage boats.  When in doubt about donating boats, contact Rawhide at 1-888-981-7808.  Try to have the Hull Identification Number, the make, model, and other general information about the boat ready when you call.

Rawhide’s boat donation program accepts all different types of boats.  You can donate sailboat, large boats, small boats, older boats, newer boats, collector items – you name it!  If you have any boat that is taking up space or costing you money in storage and insurance fees, consider donating boats.  It is easy to do, you will have satisfaction of knowing that you have helped to support Rawhide’s mission, and you will also be able to claim a boat donation tax deduction.

The amount of your boat donation tax deduction depends on the value of your boat.  You can start by using a reputable used vehicle price guide to estimate the fair market value of your boat.  Enter as much information as possible so that your estimate will be fairly accurate.  If the value is listed as less than $500, you can simply use the fair market value when claiming your boat donation tax deduction.  If the value is over $500, you will have to wait until the charity sells the boat.  They will send you a receipt listing the amount that the boat sold for, and that is the amount that you can use for your boat donation tax deduction.  Rawhide has over 30 years of experience with vehicle donations, so you can trust them to get you the maximum boat donation tax deduction.

A boat donation that is estimated at over $5,000 requires a qualified appraisal before you can claim it as a boat donation tax deduction.  This qualified appraisal for the boat donation tax deduction must be done by a third party – the charity cannot do it due to a conflict of interest.

It is important to keep in mind that in order to claim your boat donation tax deduction you must itemize on your taxes and that you will need to include the deduction when filing for the tax year that the donation was made, even if it doesn’t sell until after the new year.  Also, remember that the amount of your boat donation tax deduction is not deducted from your tax bill, it is deducted from your taxable income.

Your boat donation will need to have a safe and functional trailer so that it can be towed.  If it has been sitting for a while, it is a good idea to check the trailer for damage and to make sure that there is air in the tires before the boat donation program arrives to pick it up.  It will need to be in a location where it can be easily accessed, and if the boat is stored in your yard, it may be a good idea to move it to the road or driveway before pickup so that your yard and landscaping will not be damaged if the ground is soft.

Rawhide’s boat donation program does have a free nationwide towing network for vehicle donations whether it is a boat, car, truck, van, RV, SUV, or motorcycle.  They try to pick up every donation within 2 business days of filing all the necessary paperwork.

In most states, you need to title a boat that has an engine or that is over 12 feet long.  If this applies to your donation, then yes, you will need the title and you need to be the last registered owner.  If there is more than one owner listed, the title needs to be signed by both owners when you hand it over to the boat donation program.  If you are not the last registered owner, you can contact your DMV to learn what you need to do to change that.  If you have lost your title, in most states it is simple and inexpensive to get a replacement at your DMV.  It is very important that you transfer the title when donating boats so that you will no longer be responsible for it.

In most states, you need to title a boat that has an engine or that is over 12 feet long.  If this applies to your donation, then yes, you will need the title and you need to be the last registered owner.  If there is more than one owner listed, the title needs to be signed by both owners when you hand it over to the boat donation program.  If you are not the last registered owner, you can contact your DMV to learn what you need to do to change that.  If you have lost your title, in most states it is simple and inexpensive to get a replacement at your DMV.  It is very important that you transfer the title when donating boats so that you will no longer be responsible for it.

Yes, most boat donations are sold to raise money that can be used to help troubled youth.  Rawhide vehicles undergo an extensive inspection before they are sold, and many boat donations are sold at Rawhide’s eBay store.   Rawhide has been processing vehicle donations for over 30 years, and if you choose them when donating boats, their experience in inspecting and evaluating the condition of your donation can help you get the maximum boat donation tax deduction.

When you are donating boats, you can be given an estimated value based on what similar boats in similar condition have sold for in the past, but this is just a guess and the actual amount can be different.  You can also check a used price guide such as Kelly Blue Book or NADA Guides for an estimated fair market value of your vehicle donation.  Remember, unless the value is less than $500, you cannot use the estimated amount for your boat donation tax deduction, and the amount that the boat sells for will be listed on a receipt that you will receive after the sale.

This can vary greatly for different organizations.  There are many, many different charities that have a boat donation program, but some of them only use a small percentage of the money to make a difference.  With a different boat donation program, the majority of the money might go to advertising, administration costs, or be lost in inefficient handling of boat and other vehicle donations.  One of the best reasons to donate your boat to Rawhide is that 83% of the funds earned from their boat donation program go directly to their programs for at-risk youths.  This means that by donating boats to Rawhide, you can really help to make a positive impact on troubled youth.  Your boat donation will help to fund counseling, residential programs, education services, foster care, adventure camp and more.

There are many organizations that have a boat donation program, but if claiming a boat donation tax deduction is an important consideration for you, make sure that they are an IRS recognized non-profit before donating boats.  Rawhide is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, meaning that donations to this organization can be claimed as a tax deduction.  If you have a question about whether a charity is eligible, you can find a list on the IRS website.

Donating boats is quick and easy!  The initial information form only takes a few minutes to fill out.  Make sure that you include contact information in case they need more details about your boat donation and to set up a pick up time and location.  Once your donation is accepted, most Rawhide vehicle donations are picked up within 2 business days.  Before the scheduled pick up time, remove all personal items from the boat, especially cans of oil, spare parts, gas cans or other items that could be hazardous.  Donating boats may take about 15-20 minutes when the boat is being picked up for paperwork, and then you are finished!

Yes, you can contact Rawhide to set up a visit before you donate sailboat.   One of the best ways to see what they do at Rawhide might be to volunteer at the ranch.  Volunteers can work at fish fries or other special events, tutor students, provide transportation, or donate time and talents in other ways.

If you would like to drop off your boat donation, it will have to be brought directly to the ranch as there are currently no drop off points set up to accept boat donations.  You should contact Rawhide’s boat donation program before bringing your boat to the ranch so that they can get any necessary information and will know that you are coming.

No, donating boats costs nothing.  The boat is transported for free, and donating boats can actually save you money in insurance and storage fees.  It can also save you money when filing your taxes, because you can claim a boat donation tax deduction.

Scheduling pick up to donate sailboat, motorboat, or any other kind of boat is easy.  Just call or fill out the online form and if your donation is accepted, you will be contacted to set up a pickup from a location of your choosing at a time that is convenient for you.

Yes, boat donations need to include a trailer so that they can be transported safely.  Rawhide’s boat donation program may be able to make an exception for very large boats that are usually docked in the water.

You should check your trailer before donating boats to ensure that there is air in the tires, that the tires have acceptable tread, and that the trailer is safe.

You can do a search online and be bombarded with the many different organizations that have a boat donation program.  Before you choose a boat donation program, you should check the IRS website to make sure that it is a recognized nonprofit or else you run the risk of your boat donation tax deduction being denied.  Other things to take into consideration are whether or not the charity is well-established, if they have experience with boat and other vehicle donations, and how much of the funds earned from vehicle donations actually go towards charitable work.How do I find an eligible boat donation program?

Rawhide is an IRS recognized non-profit and has been helping at-risk youths for over 50 years.  They have been accepting vehicle donations for over 30 years, and are experienced at evaluating a donated boat and getting the best price for it.  A large portion of their funding comes from vehicle donations, and unlike many other charities, they are known for being very efficient in their handling of them.  Also, 83% of the funds from vehicle donations go directly to programs and services that help youths and their families.

A Hull Identification Number (HIN) is necessary when donating boats.  Similar to the VIN on a car, this series of 12 characters is used to uniquely identify boats.  It is usually found affixed to the rear of the transom in the upper right corner.