Boat / Trailer Transport from down South?

[Motor Fish]

Anyone have any experience transporting a boat long distances?

I've been looking for a used boat for quite some time, and there seems to be much more availability down south. Boat prices seem cheaper as well.

Curious as to the costs?
Is it just towed up or put onto a flatbed?

[Moses]

I can't remember specific names but when I was looking at Ed's Supermarine down in VA, I inquired regarding the same thing. They gave me the names of a transport company (ie 18 wheeler/flatbed) and a couple of local guys who would simply just hook the trailer to their truck and tow anywhere along the east coast.

[Little Round]

I had my boat shiped from key west for $1800 door to door.
I don't think I could fetch it for that myself.

[MTC]

I'm picking a boat up in Virginia Beach next weeked. I'm having the seller bring it up to there. It makes it about 10 Hour 580 mile trip. I'm leaving Fridat around noon, inspecting the boat with the owner on Saturday, and should be back by midnight on Sat. I am going to shrink wrap the boat in VA. I'm reselling the boat but know 2-3 people that charge $.50 per mile down and $1.00 back.

You could also rent a Nissan Pathfinder from Enterprise and fly down and drive back. The new Pathfinders all have 2" hitch recivers. Don't let them know your doing this!

[ktugboat42]

I bought a 22' boat in Miami 3 years ago and it cost me about $800 in gas and tolls with an F-150 round trip to the Cape.

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by MTC

You could also rent a Nissan Pathfinder from Enterprise and fly down and drive back. The new Pathfinders all have 2" hitch recivers. Don't let them know your doing this!

Don't forget your own ball & drop piece ...

I used Ammarals out of Mattapoisett to bring my 23 up from Cape Coral for about $800 plus it was about $150 to load the boat & trailer in a sling onto the trailer. The guy kept the cost down as he brought another boat back up at the same time - would have been more coming back solo.

If you have some flexibility so that a boat carrier that is running boats from NE down to FL can bring yous back on the return trip you can save some coin...

[afterhours]

don't forget that boats are cheaper down 'cause they usually get twice the use, longer season.

[teaser]

Cost me $1400.00 for my boat and trailer to bring it here from Grant, FL. on a flatbed. When it got here I got $500.00 back from the company because they brought 2 boats (mine & somebody else's) and my boat was bigger so they put the small boat up front and they didn't notice that it leaked gear oil before they left, they arrived here with both boats on the trailer and I saw RED! The boat they put up front lost all it's gear oil on the trip, guess where it landed? Yep, all over my boat, from bow to stern inside and out it was covered! The guy was alittle surprised when I bitched about it and made him call his boss.

I got it cleaned nice though, I took the boat and trailer to one of those carwashes that still actually have people wash your car and asked if they wanted to make $300.00 to wash my boat, they were like ants all over it cleaning it. It was done in an hour and a half and looked like it just rolled out of the showroom.

They even put 2 pine tree airfresheners on the center console for giggles.

[fishermanjim]

my father-in-law trailored his 20ft. wellcraft up from fla.got to the caroliners and all hell broke loose on his trailor,,,the rig was loaded on a flatbed and made the rest of the trip that way,,,got very expensive,,,the trailor could not have been maintained too well also,,, i haul my 20ftr everywhere,,, NH. Maine, cape cod,,,

[Mr. Sandman]

There are a glut of boats down there...Many people can't get insurance and are force to either pay off a loan and go naked or sell the boat. My brother picked up a nice aquasport with 40 hours on it for less then what was owed. He made the trip up and back and towed it. It was a long ride but it worked out for him.

[Mr. Sandman]

Originally Posted by MTC

You could also rent a Nissan Pathfinder from Enterprise and fly down and drive back. The new Pathfinders all have 2" hitch recivers. Don't let them know your doing this!

Jezzz...talk about a potential nightmare....just don't get in an accident.

[MTC]

I left Friday at 8 am arrived in VA Beach at 7pm.
*am Compression tested engine, Checked hull and Shrinkwrapped the boat. Heading north at 10:30 am after spending $100 at Ocean East Tackle...

As of 8:49pm we were crossing the RI line. Had a trail light fues issue on Jersey Turnpike... Cost us a half hour...

Should be at the house at 10pm..

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[danno1]

I`m looking for the same thing. Just bought a 25 Mako off e-bay. The boat is in Stuart, Fla.
The prices I recently got was for 1600.00. I`m leaving it down there because my marina has no room until end of Feb. So I`m flexible when to ship. I`m also looking for a hauler to fit it on a half load trip.

[MTC]

I had extra tires, hub, tools. Shrinkwrapped it before I left Vrginia. Trip went perfect and I did not use any of the extras but was glad I had them... FL. would not of worked in one weekend. I'm looking at an other boat for me this time and I am going to do the same thing. I'll have the owner run it to Virginia beach. This time I'm bringing Rods... Need to sell my boat first...

[BassyiusMaximus]

I've a new boat I'll be driving down to FL and pulling back up here to MA. I figured all the gas, motels and food will total me $1,400 on the high side figuring $60 a night for the motels and more for food than we will probably need as well as gas. I'm figuring two days down, two days there and maybe 3 days back. I have to check the boat out before towing it home anyway and pay the builder so it will be an adventure.

[MTC]

As Jack Sparrow said.... It's not the destination it's the Journey...


Do we have an accord?

[fishermanjim]

someone has been watching too much of pirates of the carribean,,,thats funny

[MTC]

ARRRR...

[MTC]

If you make the trip I'll let you use the hub and spare...