has anyone trucked a 41 ft. or larger boat?

[merlin]

I'm thinking of having my 41 dancer trucked from L.A. to San Fran. (Sailing around Point Conception in winter scares me.)

I assume I have to take off the spoiler.

Do any of you have experience with the dis-assembly, re-assembly process?

Any good or bad truckers in California?

 

[fwebster]

Avoid removing the arch is there is any possible way to. Most professional boat transporters have drop deck or low profile trailers in they fleet. You just need to find one and schedule your haul for a low profile trailer.

 

[Alex F]

I've trucked my 320DA and did what Frank said. Just remember that you have number of options for the transporting process.

There're different trailers and you need the low profile trailer, but there're also different permits that cost more for higher loads. For example, (i don't recall the numbers 100%, but it's close enough) for 13.5' permits for my run was $400 and if the hight of my boat exceeded this limit, the upgraded permits would be double the price. There's always an option to have escort service for about $1.50 per mile.

After removing the props and everything from the arch, if there's no way for you to have the boat's hight under the desired limits, I would rather pay extra for the escorts instead of messing with the arch or anything like rudders.

 

[HUMPH]

PM sent

 

[jpk33]

Frank nailed it - we had ours shipped from Ft Lauderdale to Chicago on a low-boy trailer designed for hauling boats - still had all the permits and chaser vehicles to deal with.

 

[jff]

I have shipped our 48 Sundancer, as Frank/all mentioned on a low-boy tractor trailer (with permits and two chase cars). We definitely did not remove the arch, only had to remove the sat and radar. Even at that getting them both back on and working was a pain, for some reason it seems these things never go back on exactly like they came off off there. Anyway, since we know youd don't have to remove the arch, I agree strongly, avoid removing the arch at all costs (if it were me anyway).

Othe things to think about:
- pull up and stow all your carpets (and anything else that can come loose/disconnect in the cockpit area)
- shrinkwrapping is an option (pros and cons in addition to the cost)
- fyi - from what I've seen most truckers will prefer the boat to have very little fuel or water in the tanks

Regards,
Capt. Jason

 

[Alex F]

I would recommend shrinkwrapping to avoid all the mess, unless you have a cockpit cover. I was able to kill two birds with one stone when I got mine. We bought in in late fall and I used the same shrinkwrap to keep the boat covered over the winter. The only difference in the shrinkwrapping is that you'll have to run a tape around the bottom part of the shrinkwrap to have it secured to the hull. Otherwise, the wind might get under the cover and might rip parts of it off.

I agree with jff that some simple things don't go back the way you'd imagine, but I put everything back myself and never had an issue. However, the way those items were taken off the arch I wouldn't want to have the same people put them back on, to say the least.

 

[jff]

I've shrinkwrapped twice and once went without. Tough call. Paying to have it done added quite a bit of cost and getting it all off was a lot of work, total pain. I hate to say it because you can never predict this with 100% certainty - but if it rains, you will wish you had it, if it doesn't I'm not sure it's worth it. If the cost isn't an issue/concern then I would probably error on the side of shrinkwrapping. The other factor is whether the boat is shipped with the bow facing forward or stern facing forward - I've been told and it seems reasonable that if the stern is facing forward then more dust, dirt, rain, etc. blows into the cockpit than if it's bow forward (in the case when the boat isn't shrinkwrapped).

Regards,
Capt. Jason

 

[Alex F]

Jayson,

I've been towing my previous boats for thousands of miles and honestly couldn't picture any of them being on the road without some kind of cover. I would always choose dealing with the pain of taking the shrinkwrap off vs. cleaning the whole boat from all the mess that accumulated from the road.

From what I recall, the only pain was the remaining glue from the tape that went around the whole boat. But it was only on some spots and there's a special product that can help you do deal with it. Other than that I had no pain at all and the boat was nicelly protected. I would assume that if a person is capable to purchase 2003 410DA has enough to pay for the shrinkwrap.

I've heard storries when a shrinkwrap tears apart and some drivers don't advise boaters to use them, b/c it's a pain for a driver to tear the rest of the flapping piece off. But, with the tape on the bottom, other than some kind of heave and sharp object flying in to the boat, I don't see much of reasons not to use the cover.

 

[Southpaw II]

I had my 380 hauled from Tampa to MS with the arch on. Props had to be removed, as well as everything on the arch. If the boat doesn't get wrapped, you should remove carpet and anything that isn't fastened down like cushions or anything else under the seats. It pays to do the research and ask for references on this.....and when it comes to the rig-down prior to the shipment, I would suggest you be there if at all possible. You need to see and know how everything is removed and where it goes prior to shipment.

As soon as the straps lift your boat off the truck at the destination, the shipment is yours, and you have no recourse or claim unless previously noted with the trucker. Inspect your boat prior to the lift. Look for road damage especially. I had no problems, but was very concerned, as my boat travelled through thunderstorms uncovered. Good luck.

Don

 

[jff]

Alex,

While there are pros/cons (cost, extra time/effort, etc.) I tend to agree with you - I will be shrinkwrapping on my future shipments. I did skip it one time and have to admit that the boat showed up clean (it was a sunny day, shipped bow facing forward and a 600 mile run - maybe that helped). In general though, I agree, I'd suggest shrink-wrapping to ensure the boat stays clean. I've heard of a few stories of people who didn't shrinkwrap, boat was facing stern forward, it rained and the cockpit was dirty in a way that took a very, very long time to clean ....

Regards,
Capt. Jason

 

[Alex F]

I would also suggest to take lots of pictures before the boat gets trucked and after it arrived.

As others are suggesting, make sure to close/lock anything that can move during the transit. If you decide not to cover the boat I would even take the seats (the top part that comes off) inside the cabin.

 

[Searaybio270]

I'm thinking of having my 41 dancer trucked from L.A. to San Fran. (Sailing around Point Conception in winter scares me.)

I assume I have to take off the spoiler.

Do any of you have experience with the dis-assembly, re-assembly process?

Any good or bad truckers in California?

Merlin,
I just shipped a SR 400EC from Miami to Annapolis, Maryland. My first boat shipment and I was concerned and anxious. He told me what to do and not do.
The guy did a wonderful job, kept me informed and got it there earlier than I expected. My only regret - I didn't get to meet him.
If your interested PM me and I wll give you his info.

I added this. My boat was shrink wrapped from the windshield to the stern.

 

[Gofirstclass]

I shipped our boat from Detroit to Portland, OR this spring. Due to a screwup on the part of the shrinkwrapper, the boat did not get wrapped before it left Detroit. They did remove the flybridge and ship that separately on its own trailer, and the flybridge did get wrapped.

Both the boat and the flybridge were pretty clean when they arrived. The boat had some road dust on it, but nothing extensive.

Ditto to the comments about carefully inspecting and photographing the condition of the boat when it arrives and before it is lifted off the trailer. My boat settled some on the trailer and when it did, the port shaft got up against one of the supports on the trailer.

The shippers insurance paid to have the shaft removed, trued and reinstalled. They also paid for a scratch along the side of the hull (in the bottom paint area) where the boat apparently came in contact with a construction barricade or sign.

While your boat is sitting on the trailer, the trucker isn't free to leave for his next haul so he's not making any money. He's anxious to get back on the road so he'll likely cooperate with any discussions with his insurance company so he can be freed up to go make someone else happy.

 

[Deep in Depth]

I shipped a 2000 410 Sundancer from Naples FL to Alexandria Bay NY the end of June 2010. I didn't shrink wrap at the advice of the trucker because he said it would come off during the trip and the chaffing would damage the finish. I took his advice and other than spraying the boat down, all was good. One rainstorm along the way. It was about 10k for the trip plus prep, loading in Naples and unloading in the bay.

If I knew how to post pics in this reply I would.

 

[The Bill Collector]

L.A. to Tacoma....... No wrap, no problems.
Your results may very !!

 

[Bill Gillespie]

You have received great comments from folks that have done it, as have I. Let me know if you need a transport and I will give you the number of Moger Transport out of Marina del Rey. I have used them twice, the last time for a 370 Sun Dancer, and they use the low boy trailer. They are on the East Coast often.

Bill

 

[Skuza]

Gofirstclass: Those pics are at Mac Ray Harbor! Our neck of the woods. That's one hell of a relocation!

 

[Gofirstclass]

Skuza, you're absolutely right, and they did a first class job on their end of the process. I could not have been happier with their service.

The salesman, on the other hand, I don't have much good to say about. I won't crucify him publicly though so I'll keep his name quiet. If you want it, PM me.

 

[Carver370]

Skuza, you're absolutely right, and they did a first class job on their end of the process. I could not have been happier with their service.

The salesman, on the other hand, I don't have much good to say about. I won't crucify him publicly though so I'll keep his name quiet. If you want it, PM me.

I know exactly who you are talking about without saying anything.