Contessa 26 retrieval Canada-USA

[Epic1969]

I am on the verge of purchasing “Wave Rover” a Contessa 26 that was refit into a truly stout boat 5 years ago located in PEI Canada. Essentially all refitting is done and it’s ready to sail across oceans. The storage/insurance is paid through May 1 23’ at which point it needs to be picked up.

My First hurdle is I cannot currently enter CA with vax requirements so as of right now sailing back to the states via St Lawrence/Great Lakes or outside in Atlantic is impossible.
My only option other than having delivered on water is to have it shipped back on a flatbed which I am currently waiting on estimates.

Any ideas about ways to get it to US or options I am missing appreciated! I plan on keeping her a while first sailing on Erie then across oceans in 2-3 years.

Is this too much of a hassle?

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Why not hire a Canadian delivery boat captain who has all required shots sail her to Maine? Then you could bring her down to the Hudson and complete the journey. Probably the simplest option would be to ship the boat via trailer. I'm not familiar with the vax requirements necessary for travel from Canada to US and back.

 

[dlochner]

Taking it to Lake Erie from PEI via the St. Lawrence could be a long frustrating experience as you will be traveling against the current and against the prevailing winds.

Having the boat trucked or sailed by a captain to a US port would be the only viable solution.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

If you are going to do any of it by water this year, you better get started! But if you wait till next year, what harm is there in re-upping insurance?

 

[Epic1969]

Long story short. The location where boat is being stored wants it out by 5/1/23.

 

[dlochner]

You really don't have many options. Because it is so late in the season, trucking is about it. The cheapest option for trucking will be to truck to a yard in Maine and then you can retrieve it next spring.

Alternatively, meet the vaccine requirement for entry to Canada and put it in the water in April if the ice is out. Then sail it yourself.

 

[DArcy]

You have time to get vaccinated (if you are willing to go this route). If you are planning on sailing international waters you will need to deal with vaccinations at some point. The cheap way would be to rent/buy/borrow a trailer to haul the boat and do it yourself. If the boat has a cradle then a flat bed would work, if not then a sailboat trailer will be needed. If you don't have a truck with the towing capacity you could rent one. A friend of mine did this with a Viking 28, lifted the boat and cradle onto a flat bed, strapped it down and towed it about 300 miles. The harbours at each end had the lifting facilities but you could hire a crane if needed. Hiring someone to haul the boat for you may cost as much as the purchase price of the boat.

I wouldn't want to deliver the boat by water from PEI to Lake Erie. That would be a long, slow trip motoring most of the way up stream and up wind. Once you are in Erie the trip back to the Atlantic would be much more pleasant either through the lakes and down the St. Lawrence or down the Erie canal to the Hudson.

 

[Epic1969]

You have time to get vaccinated (if you are willing to go this route). If you are planning on sailing international waters you will need to deal with vaccinations at some point. The cheap way would be to rent/buy/borrow a trailer to haul the boat and do it yourself. If the boat has a cradle then a flat bed would work, if not then a sailboat trailer will be needed. If you don't have a truck with the towing capacity you could rent one. A friend of mine did this with a Viking 28, lifted the boat and cradle onto a flat bed, strapped it down and towed it about 300 miles. The harbours at each end had the lifting facilities but you could hire a crane if needed. Hiring someone to haul the boat for you may cost as much as the purchase price of the boat.

I wouldn't want to deliver the boat by water from PEI to Lake Erie. That would be a long, slow trip motoring most of the way up stream and up wind. Once you are in Erie the trip back to the Atlantic would be much more pleasant either through the lakes and down the St. Lawrence or down the Erie canal to the Hudson.

The boat is on a cradle with lifting capability at its location so the rent-truck flatbed idea could work. As far as the CA CV19 vax requirement being lifted by May is a wild card.

Maybe if I can get this thing to the US I’ll be Stuck doing a non-stop Erie to Cali around the horn (joking) if the vax mandates continue indefinitely. My 25th wedding anniversary is next June and I wanted to take the wife to her dream Paris which looks like it will remain a dream for both of us!
But! There is always Paris TX!!!

 

[Epic1969]

Just checked France does not require vax as of August 1! Sorry for error.

 

[Epic1969]

Just to bring this one to a resolution. I finally found a shipper with the necessary knowledge and gear to bring it back to the US. @ $4500 to ME and $6500 to Lake Erie Ohio. I’m looking at $14500 for a completely refit (5 years ago) Contessa 26. What I like about this one is the whole refit-recent Atlantic crossings (2) are documented in the “Wave Rover” YouTube series. I guess next best thing to seeing it in person.

 

[Davidasailor26]

Congratulations on your new boat! I’ve seen many of the Wave River videos and clearly you’re getting a very capable vessel.

 

[DArcy]

That's less than I expected for shipping to Ohio, not cheap but sounds like a good deal.