Getting a boat from Europe to the left coast?

[LaughingWarrior]

If you bought a boat in Europe, and wanted to get it to the PNW, how would you go about it, and why?

To normalize the discussion, let's assume that whatever the boat, the purchase price and relevant costs are within your budget, and the boat capable of making the trip. Assume a cruising monohull sailboat of 35-45'.

That said, it's a long way, and there's a pesky continent in the middle.

Would you sail it yourself? Hire a delivery crew (or possibly several, owing to the distance)? Have the boat shipped as cargo?

Why would you make your choice vs. the other available methods?

If your choice was to self sail the journey, which route would you choose and why?

[Pete7]

Well do you have a year of spare time?

Europe, Canaries, Windward Islands, Panama, Hawaii, Vancouver is probably the route, or if you like gambling then the Northwest Passage but it might cost you your boat if it goes pear shaped.

However, surely there must be a boat nearer that you want to buy.

Pete

[Dennis.G]

Not really an answer to your question, but if I bought a boat in Europe it would only be if I was going to spend a few years cruising Europe before considering bringing boat over to USA. To bring boat over without first cruising Europe would be a crime I think.

[Dennis.G]

Another route would be Canaries to Windward Islands, then on to Florida. Then have boat shipped via truck to PNW. Of course you would then missing cruising central America, Mexico etc. Would shorten trip by about a year however.

[Pete7]

Good point, he might decide to stay, locals friendly and the wildlife doesn't as rule eat people.

Pete

[Eder]

I met a guy 2 years ago in La Cruz that bought a 50' Hanse in Europe, hired a hand to get across the Atlantic.



He had no previous sailing experience. He took it through the canal and had been traveling about 6 weeks if I recall correctly.


He hired a Mexican kid while in La Cruz to get the boat to Victoria after staying only 2 days to provision.


His reason was the amount of money he saved on his purchase.

[LaughingWarrior]

Thanks Pete.

That's the thing; IF I were buying today, the boats I truly want, and are within striking distance financially, are found mostly in the UK, Scandinavia and the Med.

The reality is that I won't be purchasing (likely) until next year sometime, so a boat that checks all the boxes may in fact appear. But should that not happen, I'd like to better understand my options vs. compromising on my boat choice due to location. (It's easy to hate the hard fact that life is full of compromises!)

Being self-employed, the time to make the voyage myself could be carved out, though I would do a CBA vs. hiring delivery crew before I made the decision.

I had a laugh at your comment about the NW Passage. That would be a polite NO THANKS. I'll leave those parts to the Inuit.

[LaughingWarrior]

Originally Posted by Dennis.G

Not really an answer to your question, but if I bought a boat in Europe it would only be if I was going to spend a few years cruising Europe before considering bringing boat over to USA. To bring boat over without first cruising Europe would be a crime I think.

If I were about to fly to Europe, cash in hand to purchase a yacht, some cruising would be in the itinerary for certain.

My best lifelong friend now lives in Sweden, and I haven't visited since his wedding there in 2014. I'd very much like to see Norway for the first time, and visit Denmark and Germany again.

[roverhi]

Here's a place to start looking. https://www.sevenseasus.com/how-it-w...t-on-float-off

With the world wide adoption of container ships, finding a ship to transport a boat as deck cargo is getting very hard to find. The specialized 'Float on/Float off' ship is a possibility though shipping from the EU to the Salish Sea is a pretty far piece and won't be cheap. Might might be easier shipping to Texas, road transport to SoCal and then on it's on bottom up the coast to the PNW or direct from Texas to you.

[LaughingWarrior]

Originally Posted by Pete7

Good point, he might decide to stay, locals friendly and the wildlife doesn't as rule eat people.

Pete

Heh, I suppose one never knows what might happen! I've managed to live to my 40's in Canada (much of it Northern) without having been eaten yet, despite all the bears, wolves, and cougars about.

[LaughingWarrior]

Originally Posted by roverhi

Here's a place to start looking. https://www.sevenseasus.com/how-it-w...t-on-float-off

With the world wide adoption of container ships, finding a ship to transport a boat as deck cargo is getting very hard to find. The specialized 'Float on/Float off' ship is a possibility though shipping from the EU to the Salish Sea is a pretty far piece and won't be cheap. Might might be easier shipping to Texas, road transport to SoCal and then on it's on bottom up the coast to the PNW or direct from Texas to you.

Thanks; it didn't occur to me to consider breaking up the shipping option into pieces like that - part via ship and part via OTR transport.

[Chris777]

We did just this in 2017, 1/2 of it anyway. Bought the boat in Sweden and sailed her to Emshaven (netherlands) then shiped her as deck cargo to Jacksonville FL. 10-14 days and 10K. Short time across the Atlantic, and with time off, insurance provisioning etc, etc I probably broke even on the cost. Once in Jacksonvilel we brought the boat to Sarasota our selfs. In your case maybe truck her to PNW. We shiped onboard a dutch vessel who has lots of experinse with this, the whole process was documnted on film from the moment the slings got in the water untill she was secured on deck.. Boat name is Stadiongracht..

Good luck

[Paul Howard]

I have used Seven Seas for transporting a boat to Victoria, B.C. (PNW). They were very careful and the boat arrived on time and without a scratch.
As to the cost, if you sail the boat across yourself, think of all the wear and tear on sails, engine hours, fuel, marinas, maintenance and Panama Canal fees.
Our boat, a 39ft catamaran, was 'lift-on, lift-off.'
We motored to the side of the ship, they sent a diver down to arrange the slings on the bottom, lifted the boat onto the deck, welded chocks to the deck to hold in place. Paper work was easy.
If the objective is to get from point A to Point B, it is the easiest and fastest. If you want to cruise on the way there, that is a different objective.

[Uncle G]

LaughingWarrior said: "Being self-employed, the time to make the voyage myself could be carved out, though I would do a CBA vs. hiring delivery crew before I made the decision."

I don't understand a lot of the acronyms people use on here, but usually an online search throws up the answers. This time I'm stumped. CBA ?

Can't Be Arsed CBACoffee Break Arcade (gaming site) CBACertified Bad Ass CBACan't Be Asked CBACollectif Bled'Art (French band) CBACrates Before Attack (online gaming rule) CBACelebrity Best Advice (book series)

[LaughingWarrior]

Originally Posted by Uncle G

LaughingWarrior said: "Being self-employed, the time to make the voyage myself could be carved out, though I would do a CBA vs. hiring delivery crew before I made the decision."

I don't understand a lot of the acronyms people use on here, but usually an online search throws up the answers. This time I'm stumped. CBA ?

Sorry, that would be a Cost-Benefit Analysis.

I'm self-employed as just a dumb carpenter (well, maybe not so dumb), but my education and background is in business administration, and I still do occasional startup business plans for entrepreneurs, so the lingo leaks out from time to time.