Sailboat Transport

[MatildaMouse]

Has anyone had GOOD results trucking a sailboat (SW area)? In other words, the boat did not fall off the truck on I-5 or I-8, it got to its destination in good condition, the price estimate was on target, the truckers were kind and gentle (!), etc.

Thanks for giving me some transport names and sharing your experiences. I may truck a sailboat from San Diego to Arizona.

[Pblais]

How big a boat do you need to transport? The loading of the boat is most all there is to it aside from unloading it on the other end. Once loaded it's just a driver hauling a load. If you get into really large boats and need over sized loads then you need all the extra guide vehicles as well as permits. There isn't really anything special about the actual transport. So the bigger issue is who would load and unload the truck and prepare the boat for hauling.

[Stevens 47]

All of the ones that I have been involved with have turned out fine. Have heard of problems such as the person preparing the boat for shipment did not isolate the hot battery cable, bounced around and made a spark, the end result was the boat burnt down about 100 miles from its destination. This was not the truckers fault.

From my experience you pay the driver/trucker at the destination, be wary of ones wanting a deposit up front. I have heard stories of people paying the deposit then waiting a long time.

[Cheechako]

actually the loading and unlaoding have not been the issue for me. A hole was rubbed in my alum mast once due to the mast not being checked along the way.
A mast tends to cycle up and down on the road with the bumps in the road etc, that's a lot of movement in a few thousand miles. A hole was rubbed in my hull for the same reason another time.

[sweetsailing]

Our friends hauled their Island Packet from Maryland to Minnesota. One tip that was passed on to them and I will pass on to you. Bugs get splattered on the boat as it travels down the road. Those bugs are very hard to clean off of the chrome areas of the boat (i.e. stanchions, etc). Well worth the effort is to put blue painters tape (low adhesive tape) on all the chrome parts of the boat prior to transport. Much easier to remove the tape then trying to remove the bugs.

[Stevens 47]

Sweetsailing reminded me. Stone chips can make a mess.

[MatildaMouse]

The boat is 28'7" -- I really need some names. If anyone can recommend a trucker I would really appreciate it! Thanks for the tips especially about not paying up front -- that's probably exactly what I would have done.

[Bash]

Originally Posted by Pblais

Once loaded it's just a driver hauling a load.

We once had a boat picked up in Florida (destination California) by a driver who wasn't feeling well. So, without mentioning it to anyone, he unhooked the trailer at a truck stop and then drove the tractor home and went to bed for five days. He didn't think it was worth getting anyone worried that the boat was sitting unattended in a truck stop, so he kept this information to himself. The first we heard of it was when a Florida state trooper called and asked whether or not we were missing a boat.

Maybe not a bad idea to check references?

[Stillraining]

Dudley Boat Transport...first rate.

[Chief Engineer]

Make sure you are there when they take the rig down.

Take pictures

Make sure the mast is padded

Make sure that the de-rigging yard doesn't just cut the wires to the mast....I have seen that way too many times

Make sure all your canvas/biminis etc is taken down

You can do a lot of this yourself and save $$$$

[unbusted67]

Quit beating around the bush, tell us what kind of boat you bought so we can look it up on yachtworld.

[nautical62]

I had these folks transport a boat from Florida to Wisconsin and they did a fine job at a good price. I'm not sure what their geographic area is, but here's their info:

Move your boat or yacht with confidence with Joule Yacht Transport

[MatildaMouse]

TU very much -- I contacted both carriers mentioned on this thread.

[Stevens 47]

A local guy in San Diego is Bob at Cal Western boat movers. He moved my mast for me from Watsonville, gave me a good price as it was a back load. I have used Dudley before the owner is now Gerald met the old man loading one day SD. They mostly haul north south but not always. Your best bet for price is to see if you can get a back load price. If you want a recommendation on a local rigger let me know.

[Stillraining]

Originally Posted by Chief Engineer

Make sure you are there when they take the rig down.

Take pictures

Make sure the mast is padded

Make sure that the de-rigging yard doesn't just cut the wires to the mast....I have seen that way too many times

Make sure all your canvas/biminis etc is taken down

You can do a lot of this yourself and save $$$$

Where were you when I needed that information..