While it's out of the water, you will want to consider a bottom paint and hull wax. It's easier and cheaper to do it as part of the move then to splash then haul out again. Also, any below the waterline maintenance should be done now since boats tend to stay in wet slip year round in Texas. Zincs, blisters, through hulls installed/rebed, speed/depth instrument maintenance, fix the Catalina smile
, prop swap if you have the oem fixed two-blade, the list can go on and on...
Some other considerations:
1. If you going from fresh water to fresh water in Texas, you have to be concerned about zebra muscles. Any muscles found attached to the hull must be removed and the boat quarantined for 3 days at the point of origination, not the destination. You will have to pay for storage on the hard during this quarantine. Another good opportunity to have the bottom painted.
2. Taxes and registration are due in Texas within 30 days of the sale. If this is a private party sale, the buyer has to go to TPWD to transfer title, register and pay sales tax.
3. The lift and mast crane expense is on both ends. Make sure you have quotes from both marinas. I recently moved a 30ft. The travel lift and crane costs were 3.50 per foot + $250 per hour. It will take at least an hour if you have knowledgable folks to drop the mast, load on the trailer, prep for travel. Budget for 1.5 hours on both ends.
4. If you don't have a lot of experience with the rig on a 30ft, try to find a professional rigger to help set up and tune the rig. You don't want a rig too loose or too tight. The rigger will do a rough tune at the dock and fine tune underway. $100 per hour is a fair price. Budget for 3 hours.
5.Your destination marina will want proof of insurance with $300K or more property coverage. They will likely want first and last month's slip fees up front.
6. No one will touch a short haul like this for less than $2K, more than likely $2,500.
So moving the boat is going to be several thousand dollars. Make sure you factor that into your decision to buy and move or buy local.
Best of luck to you,
KBG