Joe,
Agree with you; $9K is ridiculous! The information that I have is outdated; however, seven years ago, I paid $2900 to move my boat from Charleston, NC to New Orleans, a distance of 800 miles. After adjusting for inflation, That would put you in the $3500-4000 range strictly for transport.
Front end costs include haulout, pressure wash, blocking, & yard storage.
Additional front end costs include unstepping mast & derigging as well wrapping mast, standing & running rigging with bubble wrap &
& shrink film, removing canvas, etc. And, finally loading onto flatbed trailer. You will incur several days to a few weeks yard storage
because the boat has to be ready for loadout when the truck arrives. It will take a few weeks to get a truck to the yard.
Plan on $1500 to $2000 on the front end.
Back end / Destination costs include off loading from trailer, blocking, and yard storage fees as well as restepping the mast
and installation of standing/running rigging, reinstalling canvas and finally splashing the boat. Basic back end costs could be $1000
or more depending on how much of this is DIY. Cost that are not directly related to the move are costs that are typically had
during a normal haulout. Unless your bottom & topsides are in excellent shape, you will no doubt have to repaint the bottom
and compound / wax the topsides. This work can be done at the front end or at the final destination, and again the cost will
be dependent on whether you DIY or have the yard do it. So, assuming you pay the yard to do these tasks, you can likely add
another $1500 to 2000 for a total back end cost of $2500-3000.
Total costs could range from $6500 to 9000; likely more on the West Coast. Yes, its expensive to move a boat.
The transport company that I used was Deep Water Transport in North Carolina. Their estimate was competitive and the office
staff and driver were professional and experienced They operate nationally and will likely stage your move when there is a truck in the
western region. You can call them at 252-946-1215 / 866-602-6889 or visit their website
www.deepwatertransport.com
Good luck with the move.