Depending on more than a few variables, plastic takes 300 to 650 years to completely degrade and decompose. And when combined to create a powerboat, fiberglass and resin become—by definition—a whole lot of plastic. So no matter how long you own it, your boat is going to be around for a lot longer than its useful life.

Every new fiberglass boat eventually becomes an old fiberglass boat, and that’s where the disposal challenge begins. Photo courtesy/copyright Pete Boden/Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.

And it’s certainly going to be around a lot longer than you will.

Disposal of fiberglass boats in landfills is a less-than-efficient option, even when a hull and deck are ground to bits. Vessel abandonment, though common, isn’t an option at all. It’s just littering on a large, irresponsible and illegal scale.

Read More: Floating A Concrete Idea In Fiberglass Boat Recycling