Transport or delivery question (Seattle to Portland, 24-27')

Qorgyle

Qorgyle

.
Jul 14, 2022
46
Catalina 30 MkII 4876 Portland, OR
I'm attempting to broaden my available market by including Seattle results for my boat search (coastal cruiser, 24-30'). While I do have a few likely hits, it occurs to me that getting it down here may be more expensive than is worth. I've never sailed on the ocean, nor have I done any sort of extended trip yet so I'm not sure whether even providing my services as crew would save me anything.

I'm not even sure what sort of seaworthiness assessment would have to be completed before undertaking delivery...

Any recommendations for either road transport or oversea delivery? Any gotchas to be aware of? Just looking for general information on the subject, or pointers to same. Thanks!
 
SycloneDriver

SycloneDriver

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Jul 23, 2009
879
Beneteau 31 Oceanis Grand Lake, Oklahoma
I'm sure you could find a coupe of competent guys from the local sailing club that would be happy to assist you on the trip.
 
Qorgyle

Qorgyle

.
Jul 14, 2022
46
Catalina 30 MkII 4876 Portland, OR
SycloneDriver said:
I'm sure you could find a coupe of competent guys from the local sailing club that would be happy to assist you on the trip.
Click to expand
Sure. I don't live in that area though, so if anyone knows anyone .... ;)
 
FastOlson

FastOlson

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Apr 8, 2010
2,091
Ericson Yachts Olson 34 28400 Portland OR
Do you live in the Portland OR, area?
There are excellent boats in that size range for sale here. As for a delivery from Sea-Tac to PDX, it's pretty straight forward altho best to have a professional skipper run it the first time with you as crew. (No, not me. I have about 30 deliveries, but as crew or skipper of my own boat... no USCG license.)
 
Qorgyle

Qorgyle

.
Jul 14, 2022
46
Catalina 30 MkII 4876 Portland, OR
FastOlson said:
Do you live in the Portland OR, area?
There are excellent boats in that size range for sale here. As for a delivery from Sea-Tac to PDX, it's pretty straight forward altho best to have a professional skipper run it the first time with you as crew. (No, not me. I have about 30 deliveries, but as crew or skipper of my own boat... no USCG license.)
Click to expand
Good info, but short on details. :) Or, as the Wikipedia folks say, [citations needed].
 
jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
22,799
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Lots of boats up in the Seattle area.

Required? Sound boat with mast and rigging that is sound.

Sail is a down the coast about 40 hrs. To Columbia river entrance. Down the roller coaster to the Graveyard of the Pacific.

Then there is the Bar. A pussycat at the right time.

the question. Can you find the right boat.
 
Qorgyle

Qorgyle

.
Jul 14, 2022
46
Catalina 30 MkII 4876 Portland, OR
jssailem said:
Lots of boats up in the Seattle area.

Required? Sound boat with mast and rigging that is sound.

Sail is a down the coast about 40 hrs. To Columbia river entrance. Down the roller coaster to the Graveyard of the Pacific.

Then there is the Bar. A pussycat at the right time.

the question. Can you find the right boat.
Click to expand
Well, the one I'm looking at has been recently re-rigged. Buuut it is a mere 24 footer.

I'd say the more relevant question is whether I can find the right skipper (i.e. someone who will look at the boat and be able to yay/nay it and then take us safely down - or not, of course). :) I do not have the experience to make that call.
 
jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
22,799
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Depending on the boat the idea of trailering a 24’ boat the 200 miles is a very practical choice.

Where in the Puget Sound did you discover this gem ?
What is her age?
 
Qorgyle

Qorgyle

.
Jul 14, 2022
46
Catalina 30 MkII 4876 Portland, OR
jssailem said:
Depending on the boat the idea of trailering a 24’ boat the 200 miles is a very practical choice.

Where in the Puget Sound did you discover this gem ?
What is her age?
Click to expand
Couple of potentials are in Everett, the other (27') is in Olympia (so even closer, technically). They're both from the mid 70s.

So far got a quote of ~3k for trailering it, and that's of course without haul-out/launch. Guess I'm just going to have to look closer, that's going to end up being half of the boat cost :p
 
FastOlson

FastOlson

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Apr 8, 2010
2,091
Ericson Yachts Olson 34 28400 Portland OR
What is the budget? Initial vs expenditure by end of second season? Those two numbers can vary by a factor or 2X or 3X, keep in mind.
If you post up a decent number, like about 25K, you can get a turn key 25 to 30 foot boat, or you can buy a money pit of a 35 footer.
Everything depends on build quality and present state of maintenance. Everything.... !
Once you get down to under 10K, it's a total crap shoot.
There are several good boats for sale from my YC now, email me via the site private messaging option for leads. People like to say that it's hard to find a boat this year, but there are good ones for sale if you look around and tamp down on preconceived notions.
 
capta

capta

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Jun 4, 2009
4,907
Pearson 530 Admiralty Bay, Bequia SVG
If one considers any trip up or down the left coast of the US, the trip from Seattle is probably the easiest anywhere on that coast. As long as you do not plan on any stops.
It's been a very, very long time since I was up that way, but I don't think there are many, if any, safe places to get out of the weather in that trip. I'd suggest on planning for at least three days, well offshore. Practice heaving-to, as you could needed it.
It's around 175 Statute miles , so if you can keep her moving at 4 knots or more (motor sail if needed), you're looking at a day and 3/4. That should be possible in most weather windows for that trip. Being from Portland, I assume you have the Columbia River Bar wired.
Two people could do that with ease, three would be a bit cramped, but not impossible. Have fun, this is how one really learns to adventure under sail.
 
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LloydB

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Jan 15, 2006
927
Macgregor 22 Silverton
If transporting your boat is going to cost you 1/3 of your used boat budget I am wondering if you plan on parking it wet in Portland somewhere after the purchase. If that is the case you might find the your best option is to look at boats with A 1/3 higher price tag already at a marina. Being a lurker of Craigslist myself I have noticed that from time to time a trailerless Unicorn will lift it's head and expose itself at PDX. Tempting the pirate within me to become an underfunded sailboat baron. Just thought I'd ask before Fern Ridge dries up again.
 
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Qorgyle

Qorgyle

.
Jul 14, 2022
46
Catalina 30 MkII 4876 Portland, OR
LloydB said:
If that is the case you might find the your best option is to look at boats with A 1/3 higher price tag already at a marina.
Click to expand
That is in fact the conclusion I am reaching myself. Although there are ways around having to use a dedicated shipping company, there's still having to take down the mast and putting it back up (all with people who have never done it before), putting a larger boat on a trailer (ditto, and I suspect this is a lot more tricky with a keelboat than my previous dinghy-only experience :D) and getting it back in the water ... and then driving the trailer back. And then myself back again. I'm exhausted just thinking about the logistics. :p

I've added a few more boat listings to my search for now, it's expanded the Portland offerings quite a bit. Thanks all!
 
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