300DA Transport Advice

jeremyandalison

jeremyandalison

New Member
Apr 20, 2009
71
Ivy Lea Ontario - Thousand Islands Region
Boat Info
300 Sundancer 2006 (2009 to present)
260 Sundancer 2003 (2009 to 2009)
Engines
5.0L Mercruiser/BIII
I've got to move my "new to me" 2006 300DA from Woodbridge VA to Alexandria Bay NY.

Option 1: Dually pickup with triaxle trailer, "conventional" hitch - $1300

Option 2: Big Rig with flatbed - $1800 (incl travellift load and unload)

Any advice? Is the big rig worth the extra $500?
 
as long as option 1 has good insurance and has a good history do the cheaper one
 
Thanks for the advice - seems a bit of a toss up to me. I just thought there might be some advantage to using a flatbed.

BTW - I talked to my insurance company and they said if something happens, a claim goes through my insurance first, no matter what insurance the carrier has.
 
Bear in mind that the flatbed likely won't launch for you so be prepared to pay hoist and launching fees at your marina to put it on a launching trailer. My marina would charge a couple hundred just for that. The other set up will likely drop it in the water for you unless there is a salt water policy where they won't do it either. Some transporters don't like to expose their trailers to that. I'm not sure if that applies here.
 
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Where are you getting your quotes from? Do the prices include all the necessary oversize permits?

Have you tried to get shipping quotes from www.uship.com?

I used uship last year, and had a flat bed trailer from VA to Central FL for $1,400. I think your haul should be quite a bit shorter.

Send me a PM if you have any questions about uship. Good Luck!
 
Insurance, Insurance, Insurance.... you are correct that you need to have your insurance up to date, but I would also make sure your carrier is well covered. I've had a few boats hauled up and down the east coast, and other than insurance, I would make sure your quote also includes all necessary OSL permits. Also they can only travel so many hours in a day so unless they're traveling with two drivers, the trip may take a day or so longer than you anticipate.
 
Who ever you hire make sure that they are an established Motor Carrier. A motor carrier will be happy to provide you with their DOT number(s). That will mean the driver has a legitimate CDL. More importantly it will mean that the motor carrier is completely responsible for the shipment (and properly insured). The big issue is not what happens to your boat, but what might be done by your boat while it is inshipment.

Let's say there is an accident and the boat comes off the trailer and T-bones a school bus - little kids hurt, or worse. If the boat is being shipped by a motor carrier on his bill of lading, everything that happens is his responsibility. Your only worry is getting your insurance to pay for the damage to the boat.

If on the other hand the 'trucker' is just a guy with a big pickup and boat trailer trying to make some cash on the side you may have a problem. In that case he could be construed as your sub contractor, or possibly even employee (labor law with respect to truck drivers and what constitutes 'employment' is quirky). In that case you might find yourself on the wrong end of a lawsuit . Now don't forget your boat insurance will pay for damage to the boat. They may not be too happy about (or willing to) paying for defending you in a wrongful death case caused by your truck driver.

My advice is to contact a motor carrier that specializes in boat hauling. Many of these companies have trailers that that are built to go into the water. Keep in mind though that if you can't be present when the boat is delivered, you may want to make launching a two step process anyway just to insure the boat got to destination with no damage.

Henry
 
I just looked at the Uship link provided by Nacho Boat. Read their 'Boat Transport Guide'. That is an excellent write up for choosing a boat transporter and going about shipping a boat.

Henry
 
go with the pro hauler and the big rig. well worth it. I recently moved a 2000 330ec from Tampa to the baltimore area. $3k. money well spent. plan on a travel lift and possible blocking and launching fee's. a screw up by someone with inadquate or undersized equipment is not at all worth the risk.
 
As long as they have insurance and the proper licenses and permits, go with the cheaper one.
I don't see any additional benefit to paying for the flatbed.
 
There is the possibility of additional wear and tear one the boat if the smaller rig's suspension is inadequate. I'd go with the outfit set up for long distances over-the-road.

I had my 320 Bayliner moved via flatbed from Michigan to Pennsylvania without issue. Not sure if I'd have wanted the boat on a small trailer when the rig went over the inevitable pothole and road imperfection en route.
 
Option 2: Big Rig with flatbed - $1800 (incl travellift load and unload)

Any advice? Is the big rig worth the extra $500?
Click to expand...
Yes, Money well spent !!. Thats just my honest opinion being a retired truck driver. :smt001
After 33yrs of trucking boats / cars / backhoe's / bulldozers and so on .:smt001 . You name it I hauled it . :thumbsup:
 
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One other thing to consider when choosing between the two haulers is the overall height of your transport once loaded. When I moved my 330 from FL to Baltimore, one trucker would have had to remove my arch b/c his trailer was higher than the low profile flat bed. I would choose NOT disassembling any day. Just my two cents. Best of luck.
 
So I've gone with the cheaper guy with the dually and triaxle - mostly on the advice of the marina that sold me the boat. They talked to the guy and just flat out preferred his equipment, probably for ease of loading. I fully recognize they probably made the call on what was easier for them but on the other hand, this is the second boat I've shipped from these guys in the last year and they have not led me astray.

Anyway, it comes up next Tues (the 27) so I'll keep you posted.
 
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