How feasible is trucking a boat cross-country.

[alohasailing]

Does anyone have any experience trucking their boat across-country? I'm thinking of trucking a 30 ft fin keeled sailboat from LA to Seattle. And then at a later date to ship the same boat from Seattle to Lake Erie. I'd like to know what it might cost, and any referrals to reputable companies.
Thanks Dan

[Sailormann]

I got a quote of about $4000.0 for a Rawson 30 from the West Coast to Toronto....there is a "Ship your Yacht" button on the Yachtworld home page. The company I got the quote from is listed there...

[Sandero]

It's a lot cheaper and less time consuming than sailing. Ain't it?

Jef
sv Shiva
Contest 36s

[hellosailor]

Aloha-
When you ask for quotes, ask them if there is anything you can do to get a better price. For instance, if you tell them "anytime in April is OK" you may get 1/3 off the price you would have gotten for "I need it the first week in April". Sometimes they can use your boat to fill in an empty return trip they would otherwise be making--at a large savings to you.

[cooper]

If you can make or get a cradle from somewhere then it may be possible to use a "crane truck" (the type with a crane on the prime mover) No crane hire and no "marine specialist price" . l have done it here in Oz with the same size boat but l dont know what your rules are. (except you drive on the wrong side of the road. :-)

[seafox]

The truck cost me nearly $4,000 from Auckland to Wellington when I bought my boat. Dam expensive if you ask me. I reckon Coops is onto it.

[GordMay]

A couple of quick reads:

Trucking a boat across North America ~ by John and Eleanor Coulthard
Trucking a boat across North America

”... Arrange the trip several months ahead of time. I would suggest a minimum of three months. I would recommend obtaining three quotes unless you are really comfortable with the company you have chosen and are not terribly price sensitive. The following list of trucking companies was obtained from other boaters in the Bahamas. I believe in each case the boater had actually dealt with the company and presumably was happy with the service. I used Wyskochill Marine.
* A & B Marine Trucking, Annapolis, Maryland
* Joule Yacht Transport Inc., Fl. (800) 237-0727, (813) 572-0235(fax)
* Andrews Trucking, Niagara on the Lake, (800) 263-7140, (905) 262-4223(fax), (905) 262-5335, Contact: Glen Stewart
* Wyskochill Marine, Fl. (941) 758-0223, (941) 758-4196 (fax) Contact: Ken Wyskochill
* Booking Agent: Overland - (410) 263-1312, Contact: Dave Spokely.
The trucking company will need to know the specifications for your boat. Weight and width are not typically as much of a problem as overheight ...”

and

55 mph to Windward - Truckin' Her Home ~ by Dave Fullerton (Lattitude 38)
Latitude 38 Features: 55 mph to Windward - Truckin' Her Home

[Antares]

We moved our boat from Marina Del Rey to Seattle in late 2002 after considering boats from the Midwest and NE. At that time I found $2 to $2.50 a mile worked for rough estimating. Prep before and after were extra. Figure $1000 at each end unless you do it your self. Pad everything and then pad it again. The riggers who did the boat in LA used lots of carpet and bubble rap and it paid off. We had only very minor issues with the trip. Does anyone have a newer number? I would expect it to have gone up with the fuel prices. Larry

[seafox]

We paid $700 NZ each end for riggers etc. We were not at the start end and agree about the padding etc. The rigger used packing tape. It dries in the sun and rips the coating off masts etc. Any rigging that is allowed to move as the truck turns and bounces will quickly rub the gelcoat off the boat. Electricians tape is the kindest and lots of bungee.

[jim lee]

I paid I think it was $1,400 for hauling, prep and loading on the truck. $3,000 trucking from SF Bay area up to Anacorets. Then I think less than a grand to pull it off the truck, launch, restep mast. I re-rigged it myself.

The ONLY issue was when the boat was unrigged they chopped off the end of the mast wires. (With all the connectors) Why? I have no idea. Other than that the entire deal was very quick and painless. The standing rigging was marked so I was able to put it back togather in one shot. I took out a rigger and it passed with flying colors.

If you want this trucker's number, I can dig it up.

-jim lee

[cooper]

The re rigging was a major part of why l used a crane truck. They simply disconnect the trailer and hey presto mobile crane. Because it is one and the same as your transport you only pay one set of "traveling time" at either end. You take the mast down yourself. Load the boat onto the trailer, stick the mast up with it and off you go. For pads use timber packers built up to the right size, wrapped in carpet, and then wrapped in that thin foam that they use for electronic gear. You travel with the truck (in your own vehicle) with spare padding and other "handy stuff" including the trucks mobile phone no. See somthing becoming loose ? just want to check your baby ? then ring the truck and get them to pull over at the next convienient place. To quote the manual "instalation is the reverse of the preceding steps" ! Oh by the way.......treat your driver with respect...ask sensible questions rather than assume and try and make the trip as easy as possible for them.....ie do you want me to grab lunch for you.......Is it better for you to do it in one long day or do you want to do it in two........would you like to be paid in cash..............

[kydivemaster]

What does your boat measure buttom of keel to top of cabin or whatever is highest when out of water?

I use a 36ft lowboy gooseneck trailer to make most my moves on a 34ft boat I use to own. It had a beam of 12'4" but I trailered it behind a 1 ton ford. If you have a friend or someone and you are willing to rent a trailer and cover fuel you might find someone willing to make this trip cheap like $1.50-$1.75 a mile. Trailer rentals are $40 a day. and one ton trucks don't have to stop at weight stations.

Keith

[hellosailor]

Seafox-
Possibly the best tape is what is called "Gaffer's Tape" in the US. This looks like duct tape but is about 3x the price. It is what is used by professional gaffers (electricians) when they lay television, broadcast, and lighting cables across expensive rugs and floors where any residue would be an expensive mess, but the cables absolutely must stay secured.

Electrical supply and art supply houses often sell it in the US, the adhesive is different from what you find in duct tape. Comes in a very wide range of colors, too.

Keith-
No problems with "Oversize" and "Wide Load" permitting when you haul that boat? Somewhere typically around 8.5' wide, you start to need different rules, permits, and sometimes an escort vehicle and special travel times as you hit each state.

[beachbum]

A s a heavy haul driver, I can tell you that up to 12ft you won't need escorts, unless the road in the seatlle area requires one.

From Ca up to their the permits would coast city, or co and state of Ca. 16 bucks each, Or 8 bucks and I think Wa. will be about 15 0r 20 dollars plus permit company fees if the truck doesn't have annuals. that will add about 100 bucks to the permits

[beachbum]

I also need to add you will pay anywhere from 2.5 to 4 dollars a mile for the load. I would say about 3 to 3.5 would be about right in the ballpark