Shipping 32-36 boats across US

Brian M H23 · Sep 8, 2018

Yachworld.com pushes users toward "uship" which is an auction site. Having a trailer or not will qualify additional shippers (guys with a semi vs a semi and a universal sailboat trailer). Theoretically, the one who owns the trailer would charge more for providing it. But I don't know that to be true (it doesn't change the cost of your trip).
I think you'll find these operators would much rather haul something cross-country on a trailer they own and maintain, not something drug out of a boatyard.

https://www.uship.com/price_estimat...128&country1=US&country2=US&v=Widget&s=94&c=5

31seahorse · Sep 8, 2018

Hello Mutany and Welcome to SBO,
Try using the "search forums" in the top banner to discover the recent/past posts related to your questions. Lots of discussions on your topics.
RE: boats failing surveys......The farther away any boat is located the more complicated it will be to find a surveyor and to get your own eyes on the particular boat. Check out the pictures of any boat on line and then visit it in person. You will likely notice that it doesn't look as beautiful "in the flesh" as it did in pictures. We never photograph the worst qualities of our boats. Also, seeing the boat in person allows you to get a better feel for its spaces.
RE: 32 - 36 foot boats.....The longer and wider and heavier the boat the more permits and costs involved. Size will complicate getting out of and into marinas and towns using a truck and trailer.
We have shipped several boats, but those boats were where we could be aboard to see and purchase and then decide to buy and ship. Finding a boat you love while on vacation is a possible example. The longest move of a boat we accomplished was about 1500 miles. In retrospect (about 10 years "down the road') that purchase and move was likely a mistake. We did love that boat and enjoyed its sailing characteristics!
The forum posts on this site will remind you of the extra costs and considerations of shipping a sailboat just in case you have not factored those costs and requirements into your finances.
Bottom line (in my opinion): Continue to shop in locations you can visit easily and in places from which you can move the boat on its own bottom. Best Wishes.

dlochner · Sep 8, 2018

What kind of boat are you looking at? There should be plenty of boats in Southern California, Yachtworld.com lists about 200 boats in your size range for sale in California.

Older, lower cost boats are likely to have more issues with a survey than newer higher priced boats. Rather than spend lots of money to move a boat, it might make more sense to spend more money on a newer boat that is closer to home.

As for cost, I've only moved a boat once. About 10 years ago it cost $600 to move a 30' boat less than 50 miles. That didn't include any yard fees to lift the boat or take it off the trailer.

jssailem · Sep 8, 2018

@Mutany I would focus my search on the West Coast. From Baja to Vancouver BC you have boats galore in your size range. The sailing experience from Canada to San Diego is a down hill run. You can get a Captain at most yacht brokers to sail the boat south, I’m guessing, for the same or less than the cost of shipping. You can crew and get valuable experience. I know there have been purchases at Passion Yachts in Portland that negotiated the delivery of the boat in the boat deal.

reworb · Sep 8, 2018

Several few years ago I shipped a boat from So. Cal to Florida(about 2500 road miles) the cost was in the multiple thousands. Most recently I bought my current boat in Pensacola FL. (about 625 road miles), this time I used a delivery skipper as it was more economical and a lot of the trucking estimates I received weren't that trustworthy.

1) Boat manufacturers ship boat that size all the time. I used a professional trucker for the cross country move, the same company as Catalina used at the time. It was Joule Yacht Transportation out of Clearwater Florida very professional but not cheap. They used a regular semi truck and trailer specially made for large boats.
2) Professional boat movers have there own trailers.
3) If my experience is any indicator I would check out Joule, I would avoid U-Ship, I received a lot of crazy "bids" {home built trailers pulled by light duty pick up trucks among other nonsense, maybe it's changed}.

You mentioned abroad. There are several companies that move boats on cargo ships to a port of entry in the US. Then you would have to move the boat to where you are. In my opinion unless you sail it home yourself or are buying a new Swan not really cost effective to buy overseas.

Stu Jackson · Sep 8, 2018

Mutany said:
I live in the San Diego area, but I'm wanting to look abroad now. I have no idea what my limitations are.

This could be "telling." As in telling us and you something. IME, people shop for boats two ways:
1. I want this particular boat.
2. I just want a boat between 32 and 36 feet, doesn't matter who made it, but has to be no more than xyz years old.

Results can work for both but my personal experience was that the first is more effective.

Reason for this is that I simply find it impossible to believe that you can't find a boat that you describe within 150 miles of Pt. Loma. There are a lot.

Is there something particular or unusual you are looking for? Perhaps we can help.

"Abroad" usually means outside the USA. Is that what you mean?

jssailem · Sep 8, 2018

Mutany said:
budget, condition and requirements start limiting my choices quickly.

Buyers have two ways to go... Search on their own quietly, or shout out "I want this" and see where the universe takes the message.

capta · Sep 8, 2018

You need to transfer your thinking from ground transport to sea transport. It's usually much cheaper and more convenient if time is not of the essence. Forget about the "yacht shipping" schemes, they are very expensive. But if you price out a cradle for your perspective boat that somewhat matches the footprint of a container, then shipping a boat can be pretty darn reasonable. The shipping companies will help you with everything.
Again, with a cradle, a train can also be pretty reasonable, though nowhere near ships, but certainly much faster.

sailme88 · Sep 8, 2018

A club mate of mine bought a boat in San Diego and had it trucked across the country. Less than 150miles from home the hauler hit an overpass. Lots of damage and down time.... Another member shipped his boat to the Caribbean aboard a ship designed for just such transports.

Good luck

Newport Bob · Sep 8, 2018

I shipped our Beneteau 373 from Fla to RI in 2015. I called Beneteau factory in SC and asked who shipped their new boats. They provided two shippers they use. I felt that this way I would be using a shipper that was familiar and had experience with my boat.
Per your size question,
If I remember correctly a beam over 12 feet requires an additional chase car and there is also a height restriction over which special routing to avoid overpasses is required.
My reccomendation is, if a current manufacturer contact them for suggestions

Stu Jackson · Sep 8, 2018

Mutany said:
budget, condition and requirements start limiting my choices quickly

You have defined the parameters correctly.
In ALL of the "What boat should I buy?" & "What's the right boat for me?" boating forums I have read (thousands, if not more), one of those three parameters controls. Budget too low? No boat will meet it. Requirements? Other than a nav station desk, you haven't mentioned anything that most boats built in the past 30 years do NOT have. Every single Catalina, including the "diminutive" 30, does (although it's a stand-up one, currently making a comeback of sorts in the work place - owners too cheap to buy seats for their employees?). IIRC a C&C 34 is narrow compared to the "wide beam" of almost ALL of the other builders. Condition? We looked for an ENTIRE YEAR before we found our boat, and we looked ONLY for this specific boat, ONLY. And we limited it to only the SF Bay Area where we lived at the time. I knew of availability in LA and SD but ddin't want to do that 20 years ago. We saw many examples of neglect and abuse that we weren't prepared to even begin to address regardless of price. Those are called project boats for a good reason.

Mutany said:
I have certainly exhausted the local options. Pretty sure I have seen just about every possibility.

How long have you been looking? Boat buying is often serendipitous. Timing is everything. Have you done brokers and private? What are you calling local? Does it include LA? SF?

In any event, good luck.

dlochner · Sep 8, 2018

Stu Jackson said:
Boat buying is often serendipitous. Timing is everything.

@stujackson yes, boat buying can be serendipitous. When we bought Second Star, we really I looked at one boat. For years I had wanted a Sabre 362, but thought I would never be able to afford one. One day, in a local brokers weekly email, I saw one listed that I could think about affording and closed the deal at a price that I could almost afford. It was (and still is) a semi-project boat. Very little needed to be fixed or replaced, but lots of things needed to be upgraded.

Keep looking and let people know what you are looking for. Lots of boats sell quickly because somebody knows somebody who's looking.

MitchM · Sep 9, 2018

uship was dreadful the 2x we contemplated using them. they put it out for bid, a lowball hauler gets the bid, they want 1/2 upfront , and appear clueless about things like lowboy trailers and wide load permits. if you are in need of a land haul, go to a big marina and ask for names of the real marine haulers.

Meriachee · Sep 9, 2018

Mutany said:
Are there any places I should avoid looking at boats from? (i.e. places that freeze?)

Why would you say something like that?

dlochner · Sep 9, 2018

Mutany said:
4. Are there any places I should avoid looking at boats from? (i.e. places that freeze?)

Meriachee said:
Why would you say something like that?

Actually, looking at boats in areas that freeze is a good idea. Our boating seasons are shorter so there is less wear and tear on the boats. Most are covered for half the year, so there is less damage from UV. A lot of the boats from the Great Lakes have only seen freshwater, therefore, less corrosion than with salt water boats.

Kings Gambit · Sep 9, 2018

Before doing all of that shipping stuff, I suggest looking at Long Beach Yacht Sales or Heritage in Long Beach. LBYS has been, and I think still is, the principal clearing company for repossessed yachts in So.Cal. I've seen many boats for sale there at the Shoreline docks at reasonable prices. A bank trying to retire a bad loan is sometimes willing to make the good deal for you. The best ones go fast, of course. Check with them every few days or leave your name, or both. You can request on specific boats or general classes. For it to work, you need to be ready to "pull the trigger" on relatively short time lines.

Shipping is expensive for you must decommission (est. $1,000), ship (est. $5,000 for 1200 mi), then recommission ($1,000) the boat in its new home. Shipping is basically (proportionally) distance x weight plus extra costs for escorts on oversized (too wide) vessels. "Buying" boats from a-far adds up as well b/c of the lemons that you ultimately pay in travel to see and then reject. I know--I've tried it a couple of times myself. Hasn't worked yet for me.

Crazy Dave Condon · Sep 9, 2018

As a former dealer who use to have boats transported I offer some tips. Although professional I found companies like Uship and others coming into my yard with improper equipment nor the expertise. I would refuse to load the boat until the owner gave permission relying on his insurance if anything went wrong after pointing out my concerns.

If using anyone insist on seeing permits and insurance. Companies like joule are excellent as I used them in the past

When tying down the professional touch
truckers would use at least for straps to secure the boats to trailers with one leading backward from the bow and one from the rear forward to prevent the boat from sliding forward nor backward.

A lot of good advice was given good.