Wanted: Used sea container

[Grant Bowker]

Originally Posted by chris vickery

Another factor Gilles is that a container, unlike a wood shed, is not considered a "structure" in most jurisdictions, therefore, improvement taxes on you property nor building permits apply. It is considered a portable unit similar to any trailer, vehicle etc.

In some areas, that might not be a good thing.
Some places have ridiculously tight restrictions on how many (and how large) trailers, vehicles or "restoration projects in wating" you can have on your property.

[Alain.C]

Two for sale on Crown Assets in Montreal.

http://tinyurl.com/84fu9la

Get them cheap and have a transport company haul both of them on one flat bed trailer.

Says they are badly rusted and floors are rotten but the pictures say something different. They are used but look to be in decent shape.

[Grant Bowker]

I wonder if there will be more coming out of Montreal (possibly other points too although I believe I read that most was being shipped to Montreal, offloaded from container for onward shipment) as a result of shipping material back from Afghanistan?

[RHClarke]

Will see if the minimum bid holds...

[rob love]

The marker system on the can's door looks a lot like the location system we had in SPSS at KAF, so it may well be one of those containers. Note that these containers are likely condemned. The roofs may leak and they may be structurally weak. Best to sink the time into looking at them. We had some condemned cans in KAF that were not worth their weight in scrap, although those should have all been left there.

[Alain.C]

Sea containers show up on Crown Assets pretty regularly. Usually 1-2 every other month. Some are in good shape, but a few were good just for scrap.

Hopefully they go for cheap, but don't count on it. The last 5 containers sold for around $1,700.

http://tinyurl.com/cgs8rqc - $1,777

http://tinyurl.com/7dkf343 - $1,772

http://tinyurl.com/7dbkaaq - $1,881

http://tinyurl.com/7zbddy2 - $1,757

http://tinyurl.com/7z5loac - $1,566

Not a sea container, but this truck shelter sold here in Ottawa today http://tinyurl.com/c9awrta - $1,695

[Alain.C]

We finished unloading the container from the trailer and into its spot today.

Is worth spending the extra money for a good container. This one is super clean and will work great for the extra storage we need.

[chris vickery]

I have to agree with Alain on buying a good one. When you consider that the shipping cost is the killer, you might as well throw in a few extra dollars for a good unit.
A bargain that leaks, has you going through the floor or has doors that you have to wrestle to open and close will surely prove this fact in short time.

[Lynn Eades]

My experience is mostly with the insulated std height 20 footers.
When you put them on site make sure the doors open and close o.k. They can twist under their own weight, if they are not blocked properly. Imagine what happens when you put 20 ton in them and one corner sinks. Think about it, and plan what you want.
In my experience it pays to set them up so any water runs to the door end. The reefers (insulated 20 footers) I bought, have drain holes in the corners at the door end but if a leak is happening or develops you can see them. They generally get a hard time from the container lifters, and older ones can have leaks at the roof corners.
The insulated ones (stainless or alluminium) with the "port holes" have galvanized bases. I think they are the only ones that do. To expand on that, they are the ones used below deck on the ships, and they plug refridgeration hoses into them, at the end opposite the doors. The ones with the fridge units in them dont have galvanised bases.
For those that dont know they are all steel framed.
I have owned 7 of them and I'm sure the insulated ones are much better in regards to condensation.
They usually have an adjustable vent. It pays not to have them completely closed.
Containers are made from all sorts of materials. I have one here that has sides of fibreglass over plywood. The stainless varies too. Some are made from "muffler grade" stainless(doesn't sound good to me) while others are of a known grade. It usually says on the container.
I think the alluminium (aluminum?) ones are the best made.
Generally they are sold because its not economic to repair them. This is not nessassarily because they are rusted. Sometimes its because the linings are delaminating, or the box is good but the refridgeration unit is beyond repair. As someone said, You need to have a look. Get up on top and check those corners, as well as checking underneath.
Six of mine were shifted about 100 meters being dragged by a bulldozer, while still full. I dont think it did any harm, but I did have to dig a lot of dirt from the door ways.

[chris vickery]

Originally Posted by Grant Bowker

In some areas, that might not be a good thing.
Some places have ridiculously tight restrictions on how many (and how large) trailers, vehicles or "restoration projects in wating" you can have on your property.

Yes, Grant, I am aware of this point but unlike an improperly or illegally constructed building, at least a container can be re-sold or moved.
Best to always check local regulations for clarity.
I would rather have to re-sell or relocate an old seacan than have to demolish a $20,000 shed...