Over the Road Boat Relocation

[_LifeInTheWild_]

Hi,

I have an Allied Seawind 30. It displaces about 12,000 lbs and has a 9.25 beam. It is currently on Lake Superior, but I need it on the east coast of Florida. The main issue is I work remote over VPN and would need more internet than I can get making the trip. The best option is to ship it, but the last quote I got was for about $9,500. I could just purchase another vessel, but I got a good price on this one and I like this boat.

If anyone has any ideas I would love to hear them. I am sure someone has done similar. I could see paying closer to $3,500, but as far as I can tell that is improbable.

Thanks,

Nick

[valhalla360]

The price looks pretty reasonable.
- That's a good 1500miles depending on the exact start and end points.
- Superior is on the way to nowhere so there would be a good bit of empty miles.
- Truckers are currently in short supply.

We moved our 34ftx14ft boat from Kentucky Lakes to Detroit several years back (maybe 1/3 the distance, no trucker shortage and not as out of the way) and it was $5k.

[JPA Cate]

Another way to look at it is go South through L. Michigan, then down on the Missippi, then East to FL. Lovely inland trip, on many people's bucket lists, and then the boat of your dreams is where you want. Can be a boring trip from LA east. But warmer.

Ann

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

Another way to look at it is go South through L. Michigan, then down on the Missippi, then East to FL. Lovely inland trip, on many people's bucket lists, and then the boat of your dreams is where you want. Can be a boring trip from LA east. But warmer.

Ann

Sure but from the Soo to Mobile is likely a minimum 3 weeks if weather is good and no break downs. Then another couple weeks (again, nothing goes wrong) to get to the east side of Florida. This puts a lot of pressure on moving when conditions are less than ideal.

I recall stopping by bridges in Mississippi, so we could get some cellular coverage out in the swamps. If the OP really has high internet capability needs, sections of the route will certainly be problematic.

A question for the OP: What exactly is your internet requirements? A lot of non-tech people don't realize how well they can get along with cell service...on the other hand if you really do need high speed/high volume service, it may not be practical and you will be stuck with trucking or selling.

[JPA Cate]

Thanks for the heads up, valhalla. I was looking at it from the perspective of a retired cruiser. Bad me. Many miles away, too.

Ann

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

Thanks for the heads up, valhalla. I was looking at it from the perspective of a retired cruiser. Bad me. Many miles away, too.

Ann

If he can work out the internet, I agree entirely that it makes a lot of sense to either not truck or do limited trucking (say get to Tampa and then truck to Jacksonville...depending on the final destination)

[Island Time O25]

If the move to FL is permanent $10k is very reasonable. Think about how much you'd be spending up North for each winter's storage while being without a boat for 5-7 months out of a year.

[sepharad]

Price in the EU for 1750 miles is $10,000, on a 27 foot boat.



Value of the boat is always a consideration in truck hauls.


Trucking is 1/3 the value of my boat.

[Midnight Son]

Originally Posted by Island Time O25

If the move to FL is permanent $10k is very reasonable. Think about how much you'd be spending up North for each winter's storage while being without a boat for 5-7 months out of a year.

I totally agree.
Best wishes, no matter how you decide to go.

[steffan]

If you can sail to Port Washington between Milwaukee and Sheboygan, Great Lakes Boat Transport runs back and forth from their base there to Florida a lot. Better chance of avoiding dead mileage.

[AgPilot]

A couple of years ago I had my 33' Endeavour moved 1250 miles from our farm in Southern Michigan to Port Charlotte, FL by J C Marine Transport. He did a great job at a reasonable price. I believe it was in the $5,000 range. https://www.jcmarineservices.com/

[sinnerman]

How about signing up for a satellite-based internet connection just for the trip?

Blue water cruisers sometimes use this.

It might be "expensive", but not $9K.

My two cents.

[valhalla360]

Where about on Lake Superior?

Nipigon (north shore in Canada) would be different from St. Ignace. Few hundred miles less and no border to deal with.

Likewise, Jacksonville is a lot shorter run than to Miami.

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by sinnerman

How about signing up for a satellite-based internet connection just for the trip?

Blue water cruisers sometimes use this.

It might be "expensive", but not $9K.

My two cents.

If satellite works, cellular would be faster and more cost effective.

[SV Siren]

Do you have a timeframe that you need to adhere to? I ask because usually there are a number of boats that get shipped up north from the south in the spring, every year. Sometimes you can get a dead head(empty trailer) going south in the spring for a pick-up to return to the Great Lakes. I did just that with my Columbia, which I was having transported north in the fall, as other boats were going south for the winter. All in from Tampa to Holland Michigan was around $3750 or so, this was for a 50'er, including all permits, under 12' beam. This was 5 years or so ago, btw.

I used Great Lakes Boat Transport. Hurricane Marine Transport is also very active in the Michigan Great Lakes area running South and returning as well.