Moving my sailboat from the west coats to the east coast

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Oct 24, 2011
258
Lancer 28 Grand Lake
My work will pay to move everything i own.. or at least most of it. If that were not the case I would absolutely sell it.
Another way of doing it, by sea freight. I got a quote to ship a 35 footer to the UK it was about six or seven years ago, they quoted 5000 GBP which about 7000 dollars, The company in the UK, told me, they would supply a cradle for the boat, and it would go as deck cargo on a freighter, they specalised in shipping boats all over the world, but as cargo. I didnt do it, the biggest problem was, that company would only accept a boat for delivery from Norfolk, so I would have had to get it to norfolk. Besides that, UK customs and excise wanted 17% of the value of the boat as an import tax, made it just not worth it.
 

gpd955

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Feb 22, 2006
1,164
Catalina 310 Cape May, NJ
Never had a boat shipped but when you get out this way I would be glad to help you get it to where you're planning on putting it. Have done several deliveries from Maryland/Del/PA and Delaware River side of NJ to the NJ coast. If you need info on marinas, etc., I can do some research for you.
 
Feb 10, 2012
9
Bravado 40 Islander Peterson Everett
Never had a boat shipped but when you get out this way I would be glad to help you get it to where you're planning on putting it. Have done several deliveries from Maryland/Del/PA and Delaware River side of NJ to the NJ coast. If you need info on marinas, etc., I can do some research for you.
Well that would be awesome. It's still a little ways out and I dont if I'll be moving to NJ or not. It's a good possibility though. If I do move there, It'll be to Morrestown. I should know by April.

here's two marinas of interest: www.philamarinecenter.com or www.thepiersmarina.com. I dont know. Does any one have any good info on that area?
 

MDO

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May 14, 2007
15
- - Poulsbo, WA
I just shipped a Beneteau 331 last month from Seattle to Newport, RI. I used Manning Truck Center out of Marysville and was very pleased. They were experienced, professional and delivered on time, and as promised. Dudley Boat Transportation in Tacoma was highly recommended when we transported the same boat from San Francisco to Seattle in 2009, but they were unavailable at the time. With current gas prices, plan on doubling the estimates being discussed in this thread.
 

gpd955

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Feb 22, 2006
1,164
Catalina 310 Cape May, NJ
here's two marinas of interest: www.philamarinecenter.com or www.thepiersmarina.com. I dont know. Does any one have any good info on that area?
Moorestown is only a few minutes away from those marinas. There are some options on the Jersey side along Riverside/Riverton/Delran that are really nice and you would save some $ in tolls. The section of the river up there is really nice and theres less commercial traffic.

As far as those marinas go, its a decent area off of Columbus Blvd. which is close to pretty much everything. There is a USCG station just south of the marinas. I moved a friend to Philadelphia Marine Center a few years back. It's easy access and pretty secure. The only problem there was that the building to the right is a Dave and Busters and a parking garage. There were problems with drunks relieving themselves over the edge of the garage onto the main pier and sometimes it was noisy at night. Never dealt with Pier 3&5 but it has the same type of access to everything the city has to offer. I will be in the city over the weekend if you want me to scope them out for you.

I can also head up toward the Burlington County riverside marinas if you want more info there.

Don't know what your plans with the boat are but the coastal side of the state is about 1 hourish (Ocean County/Atlantic City/Brigantine/Ocean City) to 2 hourish (Wildwood/Cape May) travel time on a good day. Obviously Fridays will take a little more time. I'm familiar with most of the sailboat friendly marinas along the coast as well.
 
Feb 10, 2012
9
Bravado 40 Islander Peterson Everett
Jack,

Thanks for all the info! Definitely appreciate it. We wont know if were moving to that area until April. Currently we live in a quiet marina (32nd street, Port Of Everett for anyone familiar with the area) so living in a busier and louder place would be different, but we're not opposed. Actually, I'm going to start a new thread asking opinions on some of the areas we potentially could move to. thanks again for all the help.
 

Mulf

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Dec 2, 2003
400
Hunter 410 Chester, MD (Kent Island)
About the Delaware River

I'm not knocking the area, just providing my personal experience with a sailboat on the Delaware. I lived on the Jersey side of the Delaware near Philadelphia most of my life. After many years of sailing my then O'Day 222 sailboat on the Barnegat Bay on the ocean side of NJ, we sold our weekend place there and I put the boat in a marina in Riverside, NJ, 10 minutes from my primary residence. Seemed like a great idea to have the boat so close. In that marina I got invited to crew on another sailboat in the weekend races. One weekend, we went out to get the feel of the winds pre start and they were pretty light. While the tide was running out, the first leg was set up for up river. When they fired the start gun all you heard was the rattle of anchor chain so the boats would not go backward while waiting for strong enough wind to overcome the outgoing tide. In addition, the river around Philly is mostly concrete bulkheads so there is a lot of chop from rebound of all the power boat wakes off the sides. Not my idea of a good time. After that one summer I moved my boating to the northern Chesapeake and never looked back. I do not think Philly is a great place for a sailboat your size. I'd encourage you to include the Chesapeake or the Jersey Coast. Keep in mind the Jersey Coast would mean mostly ocean sailing for a 40 footer. Good luck with potential move.
 

BillyK

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Jan 24, 2010
502
Catalina 310 Ocean City, NJ
I'm not knocking the area, just providing my personal experience with a sailboat on the Delaware. I lived on the Jersey side of the Delaware near Philadelphia most of my life. After many years of sailing my then O'Day 222 sailboat on the Barnegat Bay on the ocean side of NJ, we sold our weekend place there and I put the boat in a marina in Riverside, NJ, 10 minutes from my primary residence. Seemed like a great idea to have the boat so close. In that marina I got invited to crew on another sailboat in the weekend races. One weekend, we went out to get the feel of the winds pre start and they were pretty light. While the tide was running out, the first leg was set up for up river. When they fired the start gun all you heard was the rattle of anchor chain so the boats would not go backward while waiting for strong enough wind to overcome the outgoing tide. In addition, the river around Philly is mostly concrete bulkheads so there is a lot of chop from rebound of all the power boat wakes off the sides. Not my idea of a good time. After that one summer I moved my boating to the northern Chesapeake and never looked back. I do not think Philly is a great place for a sailboat your size. I'd encourage you to include the Chesapeake or the Jersey Coast. Keep in mind the Jersey Coast would mean mostly ocean sailing for a 40 footer. Good luck with potential move.
I agree with Mulf. Its not the best place for sailing.. its not quite large enough for sailing and the ship traffic will be a constant issue. Around the whole area there is a lot of junk in the water too.. railroad ties, trees, and i've seen my share of 55 gallon drums floating just below the surface. The Delaware bay is not well loved either due to its steep shop. We keep our boat over by Ocean City NJ and love it there.. we can sail in the inside when the ocean is too rough.. and when the ocean is nice, its wonderful and freeing to be out there with the dolphins and seeing AC from the water along with all the shore towns..
 

gpd955

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Feb 22, 2006
1,164
Catalina 310 Cape May, NJ
I can attest to the wind (or lack thereof) on the Delaware. Took a few sailing classes there and did not have one day with wind! However on a delivery in a gale (yes, bad idea) there was plenty in the bay! Not a big fan of the Bay either, except when we moved my 310 from MD to AC and probably had the best sailing of my life that evening/night.

I love being on the coast and will most likely stay there! Hardly a day without some kind of wind out there!

I would also recommend coastal NJ as opposed to the river side. Nothing personal!
 
Sep 25, 2008
544
Bristol 43.3 Perth Amboy
gpd955 said:
I can attest to the wind (or lack thereof) on the Delaware. Took a few sailing classes there and did not have one day with wind! However on a delivery in a gale (yes, bad idea) there was plenty in the bay! Not a big fan of the Bay either, except when we moved my 310 from MD to AC and probably had the best sailing of my life that evening/night.

I love being on the coast and will most likely stay there! Hardly a day without some kind of wind out there!

I would also recommend coastal NJ as opposed to the river side. Nothing personal!
I think raritan bay is the best place to sail in nj. Lots of options for short cruising and well located to head north to cruise the cape.
 
Feb 10, 2012
9
Bravado 40 Islander Peterson Everett
First and foremost, our sailboat is our home and second a sailing vessel for pleasure. We live on it to to save money to pay off our loan we used to buy it and also save money for the 2-3 year cruise we're in the process of planning. The only reason I would even go to NJ is because my pay will increase substantially. It also wouldn't be my first choice out of the severally possible locations I may be sent. It's a wide range of locations, includuing: Hawaii, San Diego, Dahlgren VA, or not moving at all and continuing to live in the Puget Sound. Moorestown is kind the odd ball situation for me so I'm trying to gather info to prepare a plan should I go there. If I end up there, I'm going to live in one of those marinas just because my boat is basically my house. If that were not the case, I would mostly take your advice!
 

BillyK

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Jan 24, 2010
502
Catalina 310 Ocean City, NJ
Tony Bravado said:
If that were not the case, I would mostly take your advice!
well you asked for it so you got it.. You do what you want with it now.
 

KD3PC

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Sep 25, 2008
1,069
boatless rainbow Callao, VA
Tony

you may want to check for a liveaboard marina prior to committing to a job relocation....things are different on the east coast. There are very few liveaboard slips available, even fewer commuting distance to the big job centers at a price one can normally afford.

If your pay is subject to taxes, NJ may result in less pay in your pocket...their taxes are VERY high on everything..
 

gpd955

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Feb 22, 2006
1,164
Catalina 310 Cape May, NJ
KD3PC said:
Tony

you may want to check for a liveaboard marina prior to committing to a job relocation....

If your pay is subject to taxes, NJ may result in less pay in your pocket...their taxes are VERY high on everything..
None that I know of in SJ. Many don't even allow boats to stay in the water. Farley State is probably the closest you can get to live aboard and the contract requires you to vacate for 24 hours every 72 hours from Nov 1-Mar 31. Our slip side water is also turned off in the off season. Granted, they rarely check the 72/24 thing but it's new management now so you never know. I'm not sure any of the NJ riverside marinas allow you to live aboard. At least none that I've heard of, but I could be wrong.

There is winter access to your boat at Philadelphia Marina near Dave and Busters.

For being a coastal state, NJ is not very boat friendly as far as amenities and access goes. It's also not a very employed-person friendly state either!! :)
 
Feb 10, 2012
9
Bravado 40 Islander Peterson Everett
you may want to check for a liveaboard marina prior to committing to a job relocation....things are different on the east coast. There are very few liveaboard slips available, even fewer commuting distance to the big job centers at a price one can normally afford.

If your pay is subject to taxes, NJ may result in less pay in your pocket...their taxes are VERY high on everything..
Well, as stated before, I have a year before my relocation. I certainly wont commit to any job relocation without extensive research of the area (which is why I started this thread ;)) The 2 marinas that I have contacted (listed above) currently have availability and allow liveaboards, so I suppose I'm not too concerned with that aspect should I choose to move there. They're also sufficiently close to the job location.

I'm in the US Navy so taxes on my pay wont be an issue. But I'll definitely do some research on any other taxes for that area and take that into consideration before I make my choice. Thanks for the advice!
 

KD3PC

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Sep 25, 2008
1,069
boatless rainbow Callao, VA
Dahlgren TDY, (they just got the rail gun in for tests next month) will be like getting a 25-35% pay raise compared to NJ....you can actually live in MD or VA, check out tax on boats/etc for each.

Best of luck and welcome to the right coast.
 
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