Stupid shipping question...Please advise

[Apathetic]

Hi,

I am eying a Wellcraft Scarab III (34') that, if bought, has no trailer. I will need to have the boat shipped. Does anyone have a rough idea of how much a non-trailered boat will cost to ship from approximately 400 miles away. More importantly, does anyone have a company that recommend?

I thank you in advance for your time and suggestions.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Stupid shipping question...Please advise

If it has to go on the back of a semi, I'd bet all of $5,000.
That's not including the loading and unloading.
Let us know what you get for a quote.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Stupid shipping question...Please advise

goggle boat shippers. i just got quotes, to take an 18 ft boat,motor, trailer. from Jacksonville, FL to Miami. some wanted to flatbed it, others were going to tow it. prices ranged from $250 to $1000. so i negotiated with the buyer, and got a free Miami vacation, $450. and stopped in Cocoa Beach, and pickup up another project boat on the way home.

 

[Apathetic]

Re: Stupid shipping question...Please advise

For those following along, I used "FindAHauler" (I think that's correct) and have found a guy who has a trailer who will, apparently, deliver boat for $700.00

So, if you are buying a boat without a trailer, I would suggest using the site above and things may work out very well.

My newest problem is that my broker is pathetic at communications and continously asking for the deposit and contract but without answering any basic mechanical questions or even the hull ID. To put it mildly, I'm extremely frusterated with him, and if I can find a similar boat for a similar price elsewhere I'm going in a different direction.

So, if we do get the boat and I do use the hauler from FindAHauler I will come back after the ordeal and let you all know how it worked out in case anybody else finds themselves in a similar situation. As far as the Hauler, he has been absolutely first rate.

 

[eli_lilly]

Re: Stupid shipping question...Please advise

For those following along, I used "FindAHauler" (I think that's correct) and have found a guy who has a trailer who will, apparently, deliver boat for $700.00

For what it's worth, a regular tractor trailer runs about $1.50/mile, depending on the lane and season. So your price sounds very fair.

-E

 

[bayman]

Re: Stupid shipping question...Please advise

I saw this link on the iboats home page (this same site) at the bottom:
http://www.uship.com/ship/boats/?r=137149

Might want to try them. In the past when I had a larger boat I had a friend who I hired sometimes. So, maybe ask a truck driver if you know one. I also found a company that did large freight when I sold that boat. It was moved to the Great lakes...cost around $3,000 several years ago. $700 seems reasonable...make sure anyone you go with is insured.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Stupid shipping question...Please advise

I think for a purchase of that type, and since it's only 400 miles away, I'd consider going after it myself. At least that way you can check it out in person before the sale is complete. If something sound fishy, it probably is. If it's super cheap and the broker is avoiding giving you answers, I'd be a bit suspicious of the deal.
I bought a boat a few years ago down in VA, I had gone down and looked at it, it had no trailer, but it was in decent running shape, so I chose to drive it back here, but fuel wasn't $4/gal then either.
Do you have a trailer that can haul the boat yourself? 34' is getting up there when it comes to easily trailering too. Even if you still go the route of using a carrier to ship the boat, I would still think its worth the trip to make the deal in person? ( I live in NJ and bought a car once in TN, I drove down, with a car trailer, picked up the car and drove back over one weekend, it was about 20 hours each way of driving and a nights stay in a motel, but I've also done the same with a second driver and gone round trip taking turns driving. Each time it was well over 1600 miles round trip. Again, with todays fuel costs, it may still be cheaper to ship.

 

[Apathetic]

Re: Stupid shipping question...Please advise

Thanks guys, I have two companies I can go with presently and should my purchasing the boat ever work out (that's looking dim at the moment thanks to me getting tired of the broker constantly asking for the contract and deposit without having yet answered my questions).

imported_reelfishin, I don't have, nor does the boat come with a trialer. But even if I could get my hands on a trailer I'm not confident I could safely trailer it (without jeoperdizing other people) that far in what could be very heavy traffic, etc. Now, once it is here, I can trailer it save for near certain because I live in a still mainly unpopulated hick area. The biggest boat I have *trailered* is a 21' so a 34' is not something I would like to learn in an area where I could potentially hurt someone. I should have stated that in my first post but neglected to point out my inexperience with trailering this large of a boat.

Thanks guys!!

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Stupid shipping question...Please advise

One consideration is the Beam..road load width is either 10 or 12 feet, if more needs an oversize escort. But pretty sure thats a trailerable width boat no prob.
I'd get someone to do it..too much hassle otherwise