Has anyone had a 390 Sundancer hauled by trailer for delivery?

marks737

marks737

Active Member
Sep 15, 2009
333
NJ
Boat Info
2005 390 Sundancer
Engines
Cummins QSB 5.9
Hello,
Just purchased a 2005 390 Sundancer. Boat is in MD. Need to get it up to NJ and weather is looking bad for quite awhile which prohibits a trip by water. Looking for input, experiences etc. One hauler told me that everything on the hard top would have to be removed ie:radar array, antennae etc. and the props would have to be removed as well.

Any input would be appreciated!
Thanks!
 
The hauler is probably correct. It is done every day. Just do homework on a good company.
 
I recommend that you wait and move the boat the way it is supposed to be moved - over water. You'll avoid all sorts of hassles and potential issues.
 
That would be a lot of work for a relatively short distance. How far is the haul?

I hate waiting more than the average guy....but I'm not sure I'd spend this kind of cabbage for such a quick trip. You gotta be able to get a weather window in the next week or two??
 
Don't truck if you can avoid it!! Find a captain to move it for you if weather is beyond you comfort zone. They are realtively inexpensive and worth every penny for a good one.

If you absolutely must have it shipped everything must come off the arch/hardtop. They will likely have to cut wires to something (radar) and the props must come off and depeding on the bridges in the area, the rudders. It adds up fast to get the boat hauled, all that pulled and prepped and reattached and relaunched on the other end.

Also. Make sure you shrink wrap it. I neglected that and the boat came off the trailer with a splattering of bearing grease and road grime that I'm still fighting to get off especially in the non skid.
 
Stee6043 said:
That would be a lot of work for a relatively short distance. How far is the haul?

I hate waiting more than the average guy....but I'm not sure I'd spend this kind of cabbage for such a quick trip. You gotta be able to get a weather window in the next week or two??
Click to expand...
It would be a two day trip. About 5-6hrs running each day. I'm hoping for a weather window in the next week but the forecast is not good.
 
On the flip side of the horror stories, mine was hauled from Pensacola Beach, FL just ahead of a tropical storm making landfall last August. All electronics from the bridge and arch were removed. The only wire cut was to the auto fire extinguishing system-the rest were unplugged.

I was there when it loaded and present when it was unloaded. Not one extra speck of dirt was present. All electronics, buttons, switches, gauges, etc, hooked back up almost to perfection. The only thing that did not work were the lights in the gauges. I found the one wire that was plugged in wrong on the back of the port 4-in-1 gauge and all good.

As stated above, "just do your homework on a good company." I had good folks on both ends and a great hauler.

Bennett
 
gerryb said:
I recommend that you wait and move the boat the way it is supposed to be moved - over water. You'll avoid all sorts of hassles and potential issues.
Click to expand...

I agree! It will save you a lot of headaches. Hire an experienced Captain to run her back with you.
 
I have a couple of experienced guys, just waiting on weather.
 
Sounds like you've answered your own question. Wait for the weather and study it while your waiting. Nothing better to do....right? And enjoy the trip.
 
I moved my 420 from Lake of the Ozarks to Lake Texoma on a trailer. They took everything off the top of the hardtop and removed the props. That's it. Boat was placed backwards on the trailer and shrink-wrapped. Went very smoothly.
 
IMG_0602.JPG


Here it is arriving in Texas
 
copb8tx said:
View attachment 58044

Here it is arriving in Texas
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply. Was there any issue removing the items on the top? Did they have to cut any wires? I have a Raymarine open array radar unit on the top. Not sure if that is a plug in unit or if they would have to cut wires. How much labor (in time) was required on each end to remove and put back together?
 
It’s all plug and play. No cutting. Like I said before, the props were a last minute loading decision for us. I was told they would have to come off and then they said no. The way our trailer was setup they fit right inside.
 
I moved my 2005 390DA from NY to Seattle with Cross Country Boat Transport. All items off the hardtop and it was all plug and play. No cutting. Open array raymarine radar as well. They shrink wrapped it from the rubrail up. Shipped it bow forward. Arrived in Seattle with shrink wrap fully intact and minimal road grime. Given your distance though, I would look at getting her transported using her own hull though.
 
Its a memorable trip and not difficult to make. From Baltimore to the Delaware Canal then down to Cape May for the night. Next day....a nice run up the ocean to NJ. Yup the weather isn't great but next Friday starts to look better. Enjoy the trip and there are plenty of great places to stop at.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,118
Messages
1,426,467
Members
61,033
Latest member
SeaMonster8
Back
Top