I am considering buying a 1983 Hunter 27 for 10k which is slipped at G. Winters Marina in Riverside N.J. across from Philly. I want to move the boat to Elizabeth City N.C. The total cost including survey, dropping mast, haulout, shipping, restepping mast and launch runs around $3500. Sailing may be about half that with a time commitment of one week. Either choice is not appealing. Is there a possibility someone might have a trailer they could rent or loan me to be pulled by my chevy suburban? Any other suggestions on how to view this? I'm thinking on passing on this excellent boat as it does not seem that the cost of moving it some 300 miles is worth it. Opinions please and thank you.
Shipping or Sailing Hunter 27
- Thread starter hank288
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You say "not appealing". What is unappealing about sailing your H27 to Elizabeth City? I am not familiar with the Delaware River. Can you get to the Chesapeake-Delaware canal with the mast up? Seems like a great trip to me.
My friend Mike finished his cruise at Pelican Marina. I picked him up there last October. He left recently to bring his H37C back to Lake Erie. I passed by there on my own H37C after going through the Dismal Swamp on the way to Florida.
My friend Mike finished his cruise at Pelican Marina. I picked him up there last October. He left recently to bring his H37C back to Lake Erie. I passed by there on my own H37C after going through the Dismal Swamp on the way to Florida.
Hank - Think about what you are really saving IF you can find a trailer. You still need a survey, you still need to drop the mast & restep the mast, you still need to haul out and launch. Seems to me the only "savings" is the shipping cost. If you add the cost to rent a trailer plus round trip gas I doubt you will be saving much, if anything. The trip from NJ to Elizabeth City is not difficult. Go for it. The only other option I can think of is to hire a captain to sail the boat to Elizabeth City for you.
Captain Chuck Dickhut
USCG Lic Master
Captain Chuck Dickhut
USCG Lic Master
I've seen a Hunter 27 on a trailer. But that was for winter storage, and short moves. It's not really a "trailerable" design. At 7000 pounds plus gear plus the trailer, I don't think a Suburban would be the right towing vehicle if you could find a trailer.
So I'm with the take a week, and sail her crowd - you'll have fun, and you will know your boat by the time you finish!
By the way, our cruising budget for two of us is way below $1,750 per week!
So I'm with the take a week, and sail her crowd - you'll have fun, and you will know your boat by the time you finish!
By the way, our cruising budget for two of us is way below $1,750 per week!
Depends
I did drive trucks and tractor trailers before retiring and it's not so much the pulling it's the stopping that boat and trailer with your surburban.
Your suburban is really light duty for that load and would barely do the job and maybe do more damage to the tranny brakes or engine ,I saw a sailor on this forum pull a 32 ft sail boat with a new heavy duty pickup truck.
If you can't take the time off to make the trip sailing it or get some one to sail it for you or you will need to have it trucked by a pro.
I did drive trucks and tractor trailers before retiring and it's not so much the pulling it's the stopping that boat and trailer with your surburban.
Your suburban is really light duty for that load and would barely do the job and maybe do more damage to the tranny brakes or engine ,I saw a sailor on this forum pull a 32 ft sail boat with a new heavy duty pickup truck.
If you can't take the time off to make the trip sailing it or get some one to sail it for you or you will need to have it trucked by a pro.
Hank,
This is not a hard delivery and it is one you would probably enjoy. Depending on how much time you have if you motored all the way including stops each night you could pull it off in 5 days. If you had a mate and didn't stop it's a three day delivery assuming you can maintain five knots while on the diesel. For ease I would go thru the C&D and down the Chesapeake. If you look at the charts I don't think it would be much further than taking the Delaware all the way to the ocean and then to Norfolk. As you probably know the lower Delaware Bay can be a bitch and the ocean is unpredictable this time of year. On the other hand going thru the C&D is easy and riding down the Chesapeake is safe. It's like a highway this time of year with all the boats heading south. You'll have lots of company. Besides the fun and adventure (assuming you have the time) you'll save all that money you were writing about except for maybe a few hundred bucks.
Good luck with your decision.
Joe Mullee
This is not a hard delivery and it is one you would probably enjoy. Depending on how much time you have if you motored all the way including stops each night you could pull it off in 5 days. If you had a mate and didn't stop it's a three day delivery assuming you can maintain five knots while on the diesel. For ease I would go thru the C&D and down the Chesapeake. If you look at the charts I don't think it would be much further than taking the Delaware all the way to the ocean and then to Norfolk. As you probably know the lower Delaware Bay can be a bitch and the ocean is unpredictable this time of year. On the other hand going thru the C&D is easy and riding down the Chesapeake is safe. It's like a highway this time of year with all the boats heading south. You'll have lots of company. Besides the fun and adventure (assuming you have the time) you'll save all that money you were writing about except for maybe a few hundred bucks.
Good luck with your decision.
Joe Mullee
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