Looking for Good Truck Shipper - Miami to Seattle

[captainteacup]

Question:

If the boat is uninsured, would it be required to have insurance apart from the standard insurance provided for and signed into the contract for shipping?

Anybody want to share some expense reports for east to west coast shipping? I have a 6 ton full keel sloop that has always been kept in saltwater, draws 5.2inches and is 9 feet, 4 inches beam. It's older and in good condition, but I worry the metal seacocks would rattle to bits and would create cracks, etc.

You can disregard the comment on the seacocks cracking during transport overland, and any information on liability and extra insurance requirements are welcome.

I.E. Is 9 feet, 4 inches considered extra wide for permits?

Perhaps I would benefit by shopping for a trailer, cradle, and supports.

TODD

[Maren]

Originally Posted by captainteacup

If the boat is uninsured, would it be required to have insurance apart from the standard insurance provided for and signed into the contract for shipping?

I didn't. But what is covered is that the boat won't be damaged in transport, not that it will arrive in pristine shape. For that you might need to have the boat wrapped so stuff like bugs, road grime, etc don't get caked on.

Anybody want to share some expense reports for east to west coast shipping? I have a 6 ton full keel sloop that has always been kept in saltwater, draws 5.2inches and is 9 feet, 4 inches beam.

It's usually done on a per mile basis but you can expect to pay about two bucks a mile, plus additional costs which are usually reasonable.

I.E. Is 9 feet, 4 inches considered extra wide for permits?

Extra wide, usually no but it is wide enough to require the truck to have a wide load sign. But Each state has a different set of what has to be done. In some states, a driver of a wide load can only travel in daylight, others not.

Best solution is to find a good shipper (I've suggested one already) or three and give them the most accurate description of the project. Then let them do their part. A good shipper is pretty uncommon as the days where truckers were generally considered the knights of the road are long gone. Still, there are a few good ones left. Needless to say, if you go of price alone you may regret it.

Hope that helps

[captainteacup]

Looking for a trailer for 30' boat sloop, five foot draw, 5 tons. Two axles, each with a brake, and all the supports and cradle. USED. I have the boat and the truck to pull it. Thanks, Todd

[av8djc]

One more vote for Associated Boat Transport in Marysville. When I was in the boat building business from 1960-1985 we shipped a lot of boats with Jack Wolfe. I was VERY glad to find he is still in business this spring. He delivered my President 41 from Demopolis, AL to LaConner, WA on time, without damage, and at a fair price. He's as honest and reliable as you can find.

[Black Diamond]

Make *VERY* sure of the weight and height and let the company be accountable for all routing. I took our new Hylas 49 off the boat in Seattle and trucked it to RI.

My boat specs said 36,000lbs but that is dry weight and did not include options like a generator, extra batteries, teak deck, etc. It actually tipped the scales at 41,000 when new with empty tanks. I did not even have my mast aboard! You will have to pull new paper, potentially reroute, and otherwise be delayed. Also, some states require two escort cars while others just 1. Some states, like Connecticut, don't let oversize loads on major roads between Friday and Monday and you can find yourself sitting on some state line (we did) waiting for Tuesday to roll around.

Get a fixed price contract if possible. If they somehow forgot a big state charge somewhere then they should eat it. The big variable in all of this is the price of truck diesel at the time.

Rick
S/V Black Diamond
Hylas 49-057

[CastOff]

Anyone besides me think that this thread SHOULD be made into a *sticky* or permanent thread at the top of this Forum? What with so many 'fly by night outfits' and nightmare boat hauling stories, just helping to save one person from such an ordeal should be worth the space!

I was especially alarmed at the 'cavalier attitude' from the 'U Ship' website folks! 'Buyer/shipper beware', Huh? Why can't they vet the haulers on a website *dedicated* to hauling?!! I worked as long haul trucker back before CDL days; and most any of us back then would've taken the time to stop and change a tire for an elderly couple or a family alongside the road as it provided 'goodwill' for the trucking company (plus many truckers KNEW it was the right thing to do!). Yeah, that went by the wayside once the number crunchers got ahold of the trucking outfits, and 'delivery speed' became of the essence,Humph! Since there are very few 'Road Angels' still pulling a stick out on the long black, I say support the good guys folks have used that were friendly, courteous, and reasonably priced as they do need to make a living and feed their families. I pulled over to the side of the road in the mid 1980's and am glad to be off the highways crowded with crazy drivers...No way would I have the low blood pressure to haul a boat out there today!!

[SearenitySail]

Originally Posted by CastOff

Anyone besides me think that this thread SHOULD be made into a *sticky* or permanent thread at the top of this Forum? What with so many 'fly by night outfits' and nightmare boat hauling stories, just helping to save one person from such an ordeal should be worth the space!

I was especially alarmed at the 'cavalier attitude' from the 'U Ship' website folks! 'Buyer/shipper beware',...

CastOff,

I strongly agree that this thread should be a "sticky" or permanent thread! I only wish I had put the question to the forum before I got involved with Global Yacht Hauling, Inc. Note that they don't have to be a 'fly by night outfit' -- Global Yacht Hauling, Inc. has been in business for years while ripping off consumers and getting away with it!

And they continue to do this! After this thread began, I received an email and had a phone conversation with Carter Fitzgerald, of Carter's Salvage in Texas. He contracted with Global Yacht Hauling, Inc to transport a 42' boat from Maryland to Texas and gave Ed Perrin and Global Yacht Hauling a $5400 deposit. After he got it on the trailer, Ed Perrin called Carter and told him he miscalculated and it was going to cost more to haul the boat.

Carter got suspicious, searched the internet, found my site Global Yacht Hauling, Inc. Victim Stories - Beware of Global Yacht Hauling Inc. and emailed me. After a phone conversation and Carter decided to have the marina take his boat off the Global's trailer and he hired someone else to haul the boat. Carter was lucky Global hadn't started the trip yet!

I have also been in contact with a former employee and this seems to be a standard method of operation. It seems Global never intended to haul my boat because of the 15'9" beam anyway. They took my deposit and figured I would give up trying to collect. They have done this to others, or have done what they did to Carter, trying to hold up the boat for more money!

Carter Fitzgerald contacted the Michigan Attorney General's Office and they told him they were investigating eight complaints against Global Yacht Hauling. In addition, the former employee I spoke to said they have judgments against them that they just ignore; they have changed their address at least twice since I started my web site so evidently it is hard to enforce the judgments.

And Global Yacht Hauling, Inc. is not the only yacht transporter defrauding innocent consumers. Boat/US Magazine featured this problem in an article earlier this year, "Ship Happens" BoatU.S. - March/April 2010

Please do make this a "sticky" so others might not have endure this same nightmare.

BTW, another resource is Stop Illegal Trucking & Truckers Forum-Legal Boat Transport & Shipping

Marshall

[Maren]

Originally Posted by CastOff

I was especially alarmed at the 'cavalier attitude' from the 'U Ship' website folks! 'Buyer/shipper beware', Huh? Why can't they vet the haulers on a website *dedicated* to hauling?!!

It is vetted. Only it's done so by the customers, just like eBay, etc.

... that went by the wayside once the number crunchers got ahold of the trucking outfits, and 'delivery speed' became of the essence

It also started when people started putting price before service. Everybody seems to want the cheapest, that makes it hard for a company not to respond in kind.

[pdxsailordiver]

Another recommendation for Associated Boat Transport. I used them to move my 42' sailboat from Seattle to Portland,OR. Jacks son did the hauling. The boat was on a 20 yr old wooden cradle that was very rotten and we had too do a little cutting on the cradle to get the trailer under the boat. I was more then a little nervous as he got out his chain saw. He said well if it falls over it will be my fault so don't worry.
He did a great job backing the boat onto my driveway, right on the spot I wanted.
When I was done working on the boat I used Norgarrd out of Scappoose OR.

[flysci]

Does anyone here have a recommendation for a boat transport company in Mexico? I may end up needing to get my boat to the Sea of Cortez by land. Should I be concerned about doing this in Mexico?

Margo

[Rhythm]

I had my boat shipped from Maine to Anacortes, WA by WeMoveBoats on uShip. Couldn't have had a better experience. Was all setup to go with Dudley for four months and right before the boat was supposed to be shipped he said he accidentally "erased us from his system" and had no idea when he could get a truck out to Maine. Thanks Dudley. I put a uShip bid out and Mark from WeMoveBoats had the boat loaded one month later, and even took a little off the price to help with the extra moorage fees since he couldn't have a truck out there right away. He gave us a daily report with where the boat was, and it arrived on-time without any damage.

[CastOff]

Marshall, Your post is my Point exactly!

Maren, I agree that most folks today may put price before quality, but it was'nt always so. You pay your money and should not have to take your chances, what with all the regulations that are 'supposed' to be in place to protect the consumer.

Since 'UShip' has a system where in your words, "It is vetted. Only it's done so by the customers, just like eBay, etc." Then why does' 'UShip' not ban trucking outfits that continue to have reported problems with 'UShip' customers? As a consumer if a trucking outfit has more than a half dozen complaints in a five year period, that's more than I would like to gamble with to entrust with my possessions.

Marshall's story sounds like some furniture/household movers have seen the gravy train that is 'boat shipping'; and changed venues. At least the 'actions' of wanting to 'up the charges after loading' is traditional bait and switch used by household movers. I know, I worked in the industry amongst those knuckledraggers, and could not believe they could sleep well at night after strong-arming families to unload their worldly possessions at their new homes!!

There are PLENTY of HONEST truckers hauling boats and the thieves that hide amongst them NEED to be called out so they go out of business.

[Maren]

Originally Posted by CastOff

Maren, I agree that most folks today may put price before quality, but it was'nt always so. You pay your money and should not have to take your chances, what with all the regulations that are 'supposed' to be in place to protect the consumer.

It's a vicious circle. Two guys (shippers P & Q) are about the same, customer A takes the cheaper (let's call him P). Over a period of time either P drives Q out of business or Q cuts his prices. Then it starts -- price is the #1 factor. Now customers are left try to figure out not only is a shipper competitive but if he is good at all.

Originally Posted by CastOff

Since 'UShip' has a system where in your words, "It is vetted. Only it's done so by the customers, just like eBay, etc." Then why does' 'UShip' not ban trucking outfits that continue to have reported problems with 'UShip' customers?

They do. See the link below. Then, while you're at it, google the shipping company for more "why the hell hasn't this guy's license been pulled?" goodness. Truly, this guy should sitting in prison or at least doing hundreds of hours of community service.

[WillJacocks]

This is why I am looking to buy a trailer for my Ranger 28 TR, would cost me 2k just to transport 500 miles or so. Even though trailer might cost me that much in it's own (used), it will be well worth it even more so when I have to pull the boat out come every storm that hits Lake Ponchartrain.

[Maren]

Originally Posted by Maren

They do. See the link below. Then, while you're at it, google the shipping company for more "why the hell hasn't this guy's license been pulled?" goodness. Truly, this guy should sitting in prison or at least doing hundreds of hours of community service.

Sorry, It looks like I forgot to add the screenshot I referred to as a link. Look at the part in the green box. The funny thing is warning the company gives is dead on ... only they don't say that's how they conduct business themselves.