Hire Captain to Deliver from MD to FL?

[Paul Annapolis]

When did you do this? Only $450 to pull the stick and wrap it seems pretty low. I was charged $500 last summer for a 50' mast to pull and then $500 to restep at a smaller, out of the way DIY yard. That of course did not include wrapping or placing on the boat either--that's why I estimated 2k for both operations on your boat. Certainly there are times when trucking makes sense both financially and aesthetically (romantically?) but in some cases it makes more sense to cruise yourself. Sounds like you got a good thing with your experience.

[Empty Pockets]

I'm missing something. You bought a boat to go cruising on, then the first question you ask, and most of the advice you get is on how to get it the quickest and cheapest from point A to point B? The ICW would be a fantastic way to learn your boat and get started cruising! Inland waters, protected anchorages everywhere, things to see all day! 50 miles or more a day is easy. I routinely get up, put on water for coffee, and start the engine. When coffee's ready, pull up the anchor, and on your way! Coffee and breakfast while watching the world go by at 6 kts. Come cocktail hour, you drop the anchor and enjoy the evening! Can you tell I like the ICW? Sure you can move your boat cheaper or more quickly, but you won't have as much fun. And that's why you're starting this adventure, right?
My $.02

[Captndave1]

I am a delivery captain and have done that trip over 20 times, but the reality is, this time of year, bringing her down on her own bottom would be costly due to short days and some bad weather. I have done it in the winter and would not want to do it again. My recommendation is to truck it or wait until it warms up and the days are longer.

[Hudson Force]

I think some questions remain about timing and urgency. What happens to the boat in New Port Richey? Would you be cruising right away? Is there work to be done on the boat? Would you be paying dock fees in Florida? I would be tempted to cruise south in the Spring; enjoy some of the Chesapeake, the Waccamaw & Charleston, etc. Along the ICW or with distances offshore, choosing the weather, trips like these can be the reason we have boats. Of course, you may not have cruising time available, but that seems to b the best choice.

[JPA Cate]

While it is true the OP could leave his new boat where she is, and have her delivered on her own bottom later, can you imagine how hard the waiting would be? Stuck in a day job, waiting for weather, etc.? In this case, I fall in the put her on the trailer, camp, and discuss carefully with the yardmaster what is necessary in the way of a cradle for the boat. Being well cradled cuts down on transport damage. s/v Hylite's experience was really good. Other people we know have reported damage, even on short hauls. Make sure it is insured for transportation damage, maybe invest in a rider on the policy for this one trip.

Ann

[Gareth Hughes]

Originally Posted by Captndave1

I am a delivery captain and have done that trip over 20 times, but the reality is, this time of year, bringing her down on her own bottom would be costly due to short days and some bad weather. I have done it in the winter and would not want to do it again. My recommendation is to truck it or wait until it warms up and the days are longer.

I'm a delivery captain too, and I agree with the above. It's an older boat and you may well have problems along the way. Otherwise I'd take a serious look at trucking it.

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by Paul Annapolis

When did you do this? Only $450 to pull the stick and wrap it seems pretty low. I was charged $500 last summer for a 50' mast to pull and then $500 to restep at a smaller, out of the way DIY yard. That of course did not include wrapping or placing on the boat either--that's why I estimated 2k for both operations on your boat. Certainly there are times when trucking makes sense both financially and aesthetically (romantically?) but in some cases it makes more sense to cruise yourself. Sounds like you got a good thing with your experience.

Last few times we pulled or put up our mast (43') it was $150-200. We were there so we tied everything off but even at $100/hr shop rates, $450 sounds reasonable.

[Hudson Force]

Hey, I'm not a delivery captain, I've done the trip over 25 times, most recently on a 43 year old boat, and I'm always ready to accept problems. I'm ready to accept problems on a new boat! If you can make the trip, then you can make it an enjoyable experience. If you can't make the trip, then you can delay the trip or truck it! My thought is that it can be a "cruise" and not a "chore", but then, having a good time traveling on boats is what I do best.

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by Empty Pockets

I'm missing something. You bought a boat to go cruising on, then the first question you ask, and most of the advice you get is on how to get it the quickest and cheapest from point A to point B? The ICW would be a fantastic way to learn your boat and get started cruising! Inland waters, protected anchorages everywhere, things to see all day! 50 miles or more a day is easy. I routinely get up, put on water for coffee, and start the engine. When coffee's ready, pull up the anchor, and on your way! Coffee and breakfast while watching the world go by at 6 kts. Come cocktail hour, you drop the anchor and enjoy the evening! Can you tell I like the ICW? Sure you can move your boat cheaper or more quickly, but you won't have as much fun. And that's why you're starting this adventure, right?
My $.02

I suspect (he hasn't made it clear) you are missing the fact the guy is still working and the boat is new to him and he hasn't had a chance to work the bugs out.

That said, 8-9hr days get old real quick, if you only have a month and it's 50miles every day rain or shine, good weather or bad, god forbid something breaks.

Now if I'm misreading it and he has no job and plenty of time on his hands taking it home himself is the logical choice.

[dwedeking2]

First, thank you for this thread and everyone's answers. I'm purchasing a boat and was also trying to figure out the best way to relocate it after purchasing. I didn't realize trucking was so inexpensive so this opens a lot of opportunities for me.

Originally Posted by Empty Pockets

I'm missing something. You bought a boat to go cruising on, then the first question you ask, and most of the advice you get is on how to get it the quickest and cheapest from point A to point B? The ICW would be a fantastic way to learn your boat and get started cruising! Inland waters, protected anchorages everywhere, things to see all day! 50 miles or more a day is easy. I routinely get up, put on water for coffee, and start the engine. When coffee's ready, pull up the anchor, and on your way! Coffee and breakfast while watching the world go by at 6 kts. Come cocktail hour, you drop the anchor and enjoy the evening! Can you tell I like the ICW? Sure you can move your boat cheaper or more quickly, but you won't have as much fun. And that's why you're starting this adventure, right?
My $.02

In my case I'm 9 years out from cutting all ties to the landlubber life. I'm looking forward to spending those 9 years preparing the boat and my skill set for that, so am looking for an older almost project level boat. The issue I kept running into was how to work around a full time job at my current location and relocate a boat at the same time. If it was a matter of just taking the time off I could work around it, but when you factored in flights back and forth to get the boat up to snuff to sail then it became a deal breaker. Or worse "chancing it" either with myself or risking someone else to sail it to my location with so many unknowns with a new-to-me-boat. So while I live an adventurous life there is a line where it just becomes fool hardy.

[Scott Berg]

All the comments seem about right; I do this for a living as do others... Figure $400/day for captain and one crew; assume 7 weeks but with good weather 5... 1500 miles @ 5kts = a lot of engine hours but no big deal for a good diesel. That said if it were my boat I'd (in descending order):

Take her down the ditch myself and my wife
Truck her to Stuart and take the cruise though the lake if time mattered
Truck her all the way
Hire me (or someone like me)

While delivery captains like the trip a boat that can be trucked without escort is usually cheaper to truck it... and save the wear and tear.... let us know what you decide!

[Paul Annapolis]

To the Op...are you still here? What have you learned? What have you decided? Hullloaha???