Truck Transport Suggestions + Where to look for a boat

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by maplemale

I'll be here (western MT) in a few weeks to visit family... check this out!

Columbia 28 (C-28) Sailboat for Sale

Trailer sounds iffy. But, maybe with a little work? Towing that thing in winter over Snoqualmie Pass with my vehicle would definitely give me a shoulder ache!

If it looks nice and the price is right, why not just leave it in dayton for the rest of the winter or try to plan for a weekend trip to get it when snoqualmie isn't slushed up?

[maplemale]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

If it looks nice and the price is right, why not just leave it in dayton for the rest of the winter or try to plan for a weekend trip to get it when snoqualmie isn't slushed up?

True. I was thinking too, I could have a local trailer shop add brakes. Worst case, they'd have to replace an axle. I've had this done in the past on a dump trailer... it wasn't too bad even with axle replacement.


Still... Waiting for a weekend with warm weather would be good. My vehicle is a towing beast. But never towed a sailboat before and even so, this is going to be a heavy load for a bumper tow. Just under 10k lbs boat and trailer. I'll know it's back there! Biggest towed with vehicle so far was about 12k. Unhaul piece of junk trailer with a surge brake. From Corvallis to Newport in rain. I really hated that experience.

[epiic]

I used uship.com and hired Rick @ TheBoatExchange.com to bring my boat from Cleveland, OH to Charleston, SC.

He took me further for less money and they guy was a perfectionist.

He's been in the business for decades.

[LeeV]

Shipped ours from Victoria B.C. And have a couple of sources, but they're at home. Will send later.

[foufou]

Plenty of boats come with trailers. Need to know trailer is safe to travel. Then it is easy tow with the right truck

[UNCIVILIZED]

For trailerable boats, it helps to look for them in places where they're more common. Such as the Great Lakes for example. Though there have to be loads of them in lots of places by the ocean. And I can't imagine not being able to find one somewhere in the Puget Sound area, or in Portland. Since there are more places than you can name in those regions where boats of that size are really common.

Try creating a post here on CF which has lists what you're looking for in a boat, & folks here will direct you towards all sorts of available boats for sale. Things like length, weight, # of berths, etc.

[Jeanneau 45.2]

Fresh water Great Lakes boats IMHO, unless you are looking for something greater than 50 feet (rare in the Great Lakes).

I just shipped 46 x 15 x 6 feet between Lake Ontario and Charleston SC (almost a 1000 miles) for $7.50 a mile all in with a first class dedicated boat hauler with the owner driving. My expense may not represent the typical cost since at my width escort and/or pole cars were required in many of the states. Bidding out to the low cost general flat bed hauler ... you pays your money and takes your chances, IMHO.

[gjordan]

I know that some people have had good luck with Uship, but when I wanted my 34 foot/10 wide, boat pulled home on my own trailer, I got 2 bids from people with 1/2 ton pickups. The prices would have hardly covered the price of fuel. I dont know what they were thinking. I ended up using a local mobile home mover that had all of the wide load permits and a truck that was legal for 3 times the weight of my boat. Be very careful who you let tow your boat. _____Grant.

[Perew]

Why not simplify your boat life and get a MacGregor. We have a 26X, love it and trailer it all over for weeklong vacations. There are many different models depending on your use, older sailing ones (google sailing at Lake Powell) and newer larger inside ones. (26X, 26M, and Tatoo)

[Sidney777]

Uship people sometimes charge very little on their way home so they pay for their fuel. Also they may charge little to get to a load that pays well. Also, they carry more than one load, so they get paid for 2 or more. (Even a dog, or piece of furniture)
YOU can approve of their insurance, vehicle or anything about them .

[LeeV]

Originally Posted by LeeV

Shipped ours from Victoria B.C. And have a couple of sources, but they're at home. Will send later.

Try calling these folks, and if you do, tell him you were given his number by the guy who shipped the Corsair 36 trimaran from B.C. to Maryland!
He has various truckers working for him (our driver is based in NC, I believe), and it would be easy to drop down and pick yours up on the way back from a delivery. Worth the price of a phone call!

[maplemale]

Originally Posted by Perew

Why not simplify your boat life and get a MacGregor. We have a 26X, love it and trailer it all over for weeklong vacations. There are many different models depending on your use, older sailing ones (google sailing at Lake Powell) and newer larger inside ones. (26X, 26M, and Tatoo)

Appreciate the recommendation! The 26x however as I understand is more of a Motorsailer. We're wanting to do some serious sailing in the next few years and ocean crossings but are looking for something smaller (yet still stable in reasonable rough stuff) just for the experience building. I like the sailing part a lot... I like being in a J24 that is healed over with the stanchions submerged.


Trying to find something more stable however for the family to get used to it... but still fun to sail.

[maplemale]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

If it looks nice and the price is right, why not just leave it in dayton for the rest of the winter or try to plan for a weekend trip to get it when snoqualmie isn't slushed up?

C28 is off the list... had someone go look at it for me and it would need the keel rebuilt. They're asking an insane amount for one that needs that kind of work!

There's a 1983 Cat 27 here for the same price that I'm looking at on Thursday: http://www.sailboatlistings.com/view/60948

Guy doesn't seem to know anything about the common issues like the stepped wood core mast and keel bolts. So... we'll see.

[thruska]

Originally Posted by maplemale

I'll be here (western MT) in a few weeks to visit family... check this out!

Columbia 28 (C-28) Sailboat for Sale

Trailer sounds iffy. But, maybe with a little work? Towing that thing in winter over Snoqualmie Pass with my vehicle would definitely give me a shoulder ache!

I trailered our c28 with a 10k rated trailer. New 10 ply tires. Reinforced bed with cradle built from repurposed cradle from our horstman. 4 days to assemble on site. Packed madt myself. 3 people lifted mast onto boat. I would not pull that boat with a 1/2 ton. Make sure your trailer had brakes that work. I found my 5ver trailer locally. Get a car hauler, fit it out with a proper cradle and haul.
I have plenty pics and will share them.

[maplemale]

Originally Posted by thruska

I trailered our c28 with a 10k rated trailer. New 10 ply tires. Reinforced bed with cradle built from repurposed cradle from our horstman. 4 days to assemble on site. Packed madt myself. 3 people lifted mast onto boat. I would not pull that boat with a 1/2 ton. Make sure your trailer had brakes that work. I found my 5ver trailer locally. Get a car hauler, fit it out with a proper cradle and haul.
I have plenty pics and will share them.

Oh sweet!

Didn't even consider just renting a car hauler and a makeshift cradle. If I run into the boat without trailer that I want transported, I may hit you up later for suggestions / info on exactly how you did this... I've got the truck that would handle twice that load. Not worried about that bit.