Ship or cruise

[edbulmer]

I recently purchased a Viking 44 with Detroit Deisels. I'm trying to decide whether to ship my boat from the Florida Keys up to lake Ontario or to do it myself on the ICW. If you had your choice would you ship your boat or would you cruise to this destination. Honest answers and some reasons why or why not would be welcome. It comes down to time, wear on motors, transport fees vs. fuel and will the Erie canal be open? etc.

[gunkylump]

Merry Christmas to you and yours Ed!

I would bring it home myself. Time not being an issue.....I wish.....that's what I would do. Those Detroits will run forever, it is one heck of a comfy boat, the ICW sounds beautiful.....you only live once. If you get tired of the ICW, then look at transporting it from wherever you are at that moment in time. Heck, you did purchase it to use it, right?<grin>

Could be the trip of a lifetime....you just never know what life is going to throw at you later today...tomorrow, whenever. Bring it home is what I would do, with scads of pics and memories to boot!

Just my opinion......

gunk

[edbulmer]

Great answer, that is the plan right now. I just want to make sure I'm making the right decision.

[djmarchand]

I think it all depends on your boating style. Do you like to go fast or slow down and smell the roses. Do you enjoy anchoring out or do you always stay in marinas. Do you have the time for this cruise.

It will be expensive to truck that boat, at least $5,000. Weigh that against fuel cost, marinas, but don't worry about wear and tear on your DDs- totally irrelevant.

But the bottom line would be- would you enjoy the experience?

David

[Bowman Sailor]

If you have the time and can wait for spring, do the trip. It's great fun if you take your time and see the sights along the way. You'll burn a lot of fuel with those Detroits, (maybe 1,500 -2,000 gallons), going from the Keys to Lake Ontario. I don't know whether the Viking 44 can be shipped by road. If so, figure on about $8 per mile as this would be a permit load requiring escorts all the way. Shipping via ocean freight would probably be $10,000 - $15,000. So, assuming no major breakdowns along the way, Moving her on her own bottom is cheaper and more fun, time permitting.

Good luck,

[edbulmer]

$5000 the best price I've received is $14,000 It's quite a big boat. I do plan to cruise slowly and smell the roses or in this case dead fish, oil spills and garbage. LOL.

[Vyndance]

People dream , plan and save there entire life to do the loop. You have a reason to do half of it. 2 stroke Detroits if taken care of will run 8 to10k hours. If you have the time I believe you will kick yourself for the rest of your life if you miss that trip. I'll deliver it for free if you give me 6 months to get there.

[Amapola]

If you have the time I'd wait til spring and take her home yourself. It is the best way to gain experience. If you decide to ship, you may beable to negotiate a good deal.

I got a good shipping deal once from a company who had delivered a boat to Florida. They gave us a deep discount rather than take their rig back empty.

[River Cruiser]

Beside the enjoyment of doing the trip yourself IMHO boats this size are better off in the water than blocked up bouncing down the roads. Good Luck

[ATC]

Wait for spring then cruise up the east coast. You can always have it trucked from a closer point if you change your mind.

[tropicalescape]

Originally Posted by Vyndance II

People dream , plan and save there entire life to do the loop. You have a reason to do half of it. 2 stroke Detroits if taken care of will run 8 to10k hours. If you have the time I believe you will kick yourself for the rest of your life if you miss that trip. I'll deliver it for free if you give me 6 months to get there.

2 strokes ...?I have seen two stroke diesals before but not in a 44 cabin cruser..maybe a type-o?,,DVC

[Vyndance]

Originally Posted by tropicalescape

2 strokes ...?I have seen two stroke diesals before but not in a 44 cabin cruser..maybe a type-o?,,DVC

Except for the 8.2 which was a flop, all Detroits prior to 1987 were 2 strokes.

[1000 islands]

Ed, I think the only obstacle to cruising your way to Lake Onario, would be the condition of the Eire Canal. It received a lot of damage by the hurricane and was closed to all traffic for quite a while. Friends who normally summer here and winter in Florida, did one of 2 things. They either trucked there boat to Florida, or stored it here and drove to Florida, for a different kind of winter.

I would contact the Eire Canal Authorities and find if/when it will be open for business.


Just my $.02