Any suggestions for shipping from Miami to Ponce, Puerto Rico

[BigNut]

Good morning,

We need to ship 5 x 600’ spools of line, about 300lbs, as stated in title. There is no marina here, only a club, and we prefer to anchor out. We have no contacts for delivery in PR, but can get to San Juan if needed.

Any suggestions on the best / simplest / most effective way to get our shipment here? The supplier stateside will deliver to any shipper in Miami.

Thanks!
Steve
s/v Not All There

[Hud3]

When I lived in the Caribbean, I used Tropical Shipping with good results. For example, we had a washer and dryer delivered from Lowes to their Miami terminal, and then hired a customs agent in Nevis to clear them through customs and deliver them to our home. There are a number of other shippers. If you need quick delivery, check out Amerijet.

[skipmac]

I'll second the recommendation for Tropical. Used them to ship an engine to USVI and used them commercially for shipment stuff to/from the Caribbean. They are pretty much the only option for complete Caribbean coverage from south FL.

[BigNut]

Thanks [emoji120]. I’ll look into them.

[DnA9413]

USPS, UPS and Fedex will all ship to one of their stores/offices and hold the package for you. Check to see rates and locations for all of those organizations to see if they can get your package to you.

[BigNut]

Originally Posted by DnA9413

USPS, UPS and Fedex will all ship to one of their stores/offices and hold the package for you. Check to see rates and locations for all of those organizations to see if they can get your package to you.

Thanks. Have checked UPS already. Was hoping for cheaper. Will keep working the angles.

[Davidhoy]

Steve, let me know if you need me to pick up the spools to take to Tropical - they're not too far from my office.

-David

[Davidhoy]

Just spoke to Tropical, they cannot ship to PR, the shipment would have to go through Canada due to some arcane laws about where ships are flagged and where they can go.

-David

[BigNut]

Originally Posted by Davidhoy

Steve, let me know if you need me to pick up the spools to take to Tropical - they're not too far from my office.



-David

Thanks, David.

Checking out local options also. The prices are higher than US, but shipping might be the poison arrow!

[BigNut]

Originally Posted by BigNut

Thanks, David.

Checking out local options also. The prices are higher than US, but shipping might be the poison arrow!

Turns out Tropical doesn’t ship to Puerto Rico. Go figure.

[Davidhoy]

Originally Posted by BigNut

Turns out Tropical doesn’t ship to Puerto Rico. Go figure.

I guess their vessels are not US flagged. US law requires that shipping between US ports must be done on US flagged vessels. I found another company, Crowley Shipping, that may be able to help. Waiting for a callback from them.

[BigNut]

No, they only ship to PR from Canada. No questions about flagging even asked when I called.

[BigNut]

Oh wait, I misread. Got it.

[GinTonic]

I have used USPS Priority Mail , they deliver door to door, subsidized by uncle sam

[Dooglas]

Originally Posted by GinTonic

I have used USPS Priority Mail , they deliver door to door, subsidized by uncle sam

The maximum weight for Priority Mail is 70 lbs. Bignut says his lines weigh 300 lbs. Packaging each spool separately, Priority Mail would be about $90 per spool, or $450 total. Going Parcel Post only saves $20-25. Not very cost effective. Priority Mail works best for light weight items or using flat rate packaging.