Delivery Skipper Los Angeles to Seattle?

[Auklet]

Originally Posted by mvweebles

Final thought. If a boat is small enough to truck without surgery and heroic measures such as lifting powerlines, trucking will usually be the most reliable method. Smaller boats that fit on trailers are slower and usually mot as well suited to open open conditions. A delivery is all about getting to Point B as quickly as possible.

Frankly, I never really bought into the argument of trucking to avoid wear/tear and engine hours. Boats deteriorate faster when not used than used. And trucking carries its own risks including road grit wearing away gelcoat. Trucking companies are also notoriously unreliable - chose wisely and not on price. Pluses and minuses between delivery and trucking wash out

Peter

Trucking requires that the yachts be decommissioned at origin and then recommissioned at destination. Add that to the time and expense of trucking. You have to figure about $2,000 or more on this end and probably the same or nearly so at destination depending on how much disassembly/reassembly is required. Base yard rates in LA county these days are > $120/hr. They’re a little better in Ventura county last I checked. The trucking quotes I’ve received for basically the same trip were around $12,000, or a little higher. (This is because of the required escort vehicles in CA.) Add those separate costs up and you have $16,000. You should be able to get a berth on United Yacht Transport for that, or perhaps not a great deal more. (But if you get a substantially better trucking quote, please let us know!!)

Delivery is probably the least expensive cash option, but with due respect to those skippers whom I admire, there could be some downsides. With the first two you receive a firm quote and a fairly certain delivery time. With delivery skippers you get a daily rate, sometimes a separate per diem rate for the crew added, plus expenses; in other words, an estimate of the cost rather than a firm quote. That’s just the way it must be, usually. Also, the delivery time is not certain. Going far on this trip with the usual weather lay-overs it could all add up and require many weeks. It depends.

The skippers may ask for certain equipment that you would have to purchase for the trip. I know of one downhill delivery from Bellingham to Ventura where the owner had to buy a “gale sail” that was not used (but it might have been). Of course, if the yacht breaks down along the way fixing it can be $$ and who knows how long depending on where.

I recognize that deliveries are widespread, successful, and not to be impuned. They are great services with great skippers. Just pointing out some of the variables to consider relative to the other options. Peter is welcome to correct me if I’ve inadvertently misrepresented here. But from someone who has studied this transport of a similar-sized yacht, IMHO, have the boat delivered to Ensenada or take it yourself (an easy trip), put aboard the transport, and pick it up in Victoria, BC three days later if you want it soon. The option with the fewest number of unknowns, the fewest articulations, and the speediest. But be sure you learn from United what “preboarding” costs there might be, etc.

[mvweebles]

Originally Posted by Auklet

Trucking requires that the yachts be decommissioned at origin and then recommissioned at destination. Add that to the time and expense of trucking. You have to figure about $2,000 or more on this end and probably the same or nearly so at destination depending on how much disassembly/reassembly is required. Base yard rates in LA county these days are > $120/hr. They’re a little better in Ventura county last I checked. The trucking quotes I’ve received for basically the same trip were around $12,000, or a little higher. (This is because of the required escort vehicles in CA.) Add those separate costs up and you have $16,000. You should be able to get a berth on United Yacht Transport for that, or perhaps not a great deal more. (But if you get a substantially better trucking quote, please let us know!!)

Delivery is probably the least expensive cash option, but with due respect to those skippers whom I admire, there could be some downsides. With the first two you receive a firm quote and a fairly certain delivery time. With delivery skippers you get a daily rate, sometimes a separate per diem rate for the crew added, plus expenses; in other words, an estimate of the cost rather than a firm quote. That’s just the way it must be, usually. Also, the delivery time is not certain. Going far on this trip with the usual weather lay-overs it could all add up and require many weeks. It depends.

The skippers may ask for certain equipment that you would have to purchase for the trip. I know of one downhill delivery from Bellingham to Ventura where the owner had to buy a “gale sail” that was not used (but it might have been). Of course, if the yacht breaks down along the way fixing it can be $$ and who knows how long depending on where.

I recognize that deliveries are widespread, successful, and not to be impuned. They are great services with great skippers. Just pointing out some of the variables to consider relative to the other options. Peter is welcome to correct me if I’ve inadvertently misrepresented here. But from someone who has studied this transport of a similar-sized yacht, IMHO, have the boat delivered to Ensenada or take it yourself (an easy trip), put aboard the transport, and pick it up in Victoria, BC three days later if you want it soon. The option with the fewest number of unknowns, the fewest articulations, and the speediest. But be sure you learn from United what “preboarding” costs there might be, etc.

No arguments with anything stated. There are pluses and minuses to any method of transport. There is wear and tear with each. I believe I said that if a boat is small enough to be trucked without surgery and heroic measures (such as multiple pace cars), it's probably a bit small to economically move at delivery pace up the coast. Not to day it can't be successfully cruised st a leisurely pace, but it's size means its slow going and ergo expensive via a delivery crew.

When I was delivering, I stayed very busy. If a boat was halted for extended wx or repairs that I couldn't make myself, 4 times out of 5 I could leave the boat and move a different boat to stop the meter for the owner. Because half my work was for new boats (mostly Nordhavn trawlers), I often did a 100 hour engine service to evacuate break-in oil. The owner also received a very detailed report on general condition and items to keep an eye on. This type of service is routine with professional captains - boats regularly get delivered in better condition they when they were picked up.

Shipping would be my third choice here. While Ensenada is only 140 nms away or so, it will involve going through Customs and getting a TIP. Because timing is variable, it often involves a local delivery captain. An damage while on the ship is not unheard of, though not common. Process is reversed of course in Victoria, though Customs hassle is reduced.

There is no free lunch. Each situation is different as is owners preferences. Many owners - especially those with fewer years of experience, worry about engine hours so will lean towards either trucking or shipping.

Peter