moving dilemma

E

EDMAN

Member
Mar 16, 2010
85
LAKE WAWASEE
Boat Info
1999 215 EC
Engines
5L EFI 240 HP ALPHA
We will soon be retiring. We have family in the Ft. Myers area, and plan on moving there 2015.
I own a 99 215 EC. Best boat I've ever owned. My problem is moving the boat. My truck will haul it around town ok, but no way 1200 mi.A Uhaul is over $2000.00
My boat is very good on maintenance and fuel. I don't know what kind of millage i get but I'm sure its over 3mpg. I've tried to look it up but can't find any answers. The only draw back is if our boat will work in the florida environment. what kind of range can I expect to get on a 50gal tank. Are the gas pumps close enough together? Here a couple of cans of gas and I go all weekend. I know it's much different there. Going to dinner looks like it will take most of the day instead of a nice evening cruise.
It looks as though we will be trailering. We're looking for places with access though.
It almost made it to freezing today. just finished covering for the winter. Can't wait for spring. I will appreciate any feed back! Thanks
 
Not sure what you're asking Ed. Are you considering driving your boat by water from Indiana to Florida? I would think you could rent a tow vehicle much cheaper than the cost of the fuel, not to mention the time it would take. On the other hand it would be a great adventure - but you better be very compatible with your first mate in those close quarters.

Are you asking if there are enough gas docks in Florida to accomodate a boat with a range of over 100 miles? If that is the questions I think you'll be fine. Someone else will have to answer the salt water question.

SB
 
thanks
we are going to haul it down. I think. Not sure what to do. We love boating hate cold and snow.
I've had people tell me it would be ruined in no time.
I would love to drive it but that cramped I don't think I would make it to retirement. Can you say Mutiny!
 
Center or dual console with an outboard is the preferred boat in Fla. not to say yours will not work many I/O's in Fla but maint is more then fresh water. Sucking up sand will do a number on a I/O.
 
There is a lot of protected water and plenty to see and do in Ft. Myers. I don't see how one could live on the coast in Florida and not have a boat.

As far as salt water is concerned, Sea Rays are built for salt water. The boat isn't going to dissolve just because you run it here. You do have to learn and practice good flushing and cleaning technique. The storage barns here have about 600 boats in them, about 1/2 are i/o's. One of them is a Whaler with a 75 hp Mercury outboard that I have had on the coast for about 5 years. I use Salt-Away after every use, I wash it carefully, rinse it well and keep a cover over it in the winter to keep dust off. It looks as good, shows no corrosion and runs better than it did when I bought it from a lake boater in Arkansas. How well the boat hold up is dependent upon how well you care for it and how you run it.

I think the bigger issue is how will your boating change once you relocate. That may dictate whether or not you keep your present boat or move to something else, but it seems to me the near term problem is how to move the boat to Florida. You will regret selling it because you know and trust it, and you can start boating immediately.
 
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I agree with Frank. Your Sea Ray will be fine in FL and the salt water. You just need to maintain it and flush her regularly. I have boated around Ft. Myers, Sanibel and Captiva for the past several years on vacations and have seen all types of boats there. There are plenty of places to go and things to do. Hopefully it will be my retirement place too.....some day.

For an example, see the thread I started: http://clubsearay.com/showthread.php/70108-Enjoying-Sanibel-and-Captiva-Florida
 
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In my view, the biggest difference between fresh and salt water and how that impacts your boat will be how the boat is stored between uses. Lift/trailer or remain in the water. As Frank said, you need to rinse and flush after every use. Don't forget to cover the boat as well. The UV level in FL is very destructive to all surfaces, especially south FL, where you're planning to move to.
You also are concerned about whether it will take you most of the day to get to a restaurant by water. Obviously where you live will impact that but if you're moving to the Ft Myers/Naples area you won't find a shortage of waterside restaurants! My father lived there for 25 years and I have a house 70 miles north of there. Plenty of places to go and tie up.
 
As far as transporting your boat goes; if you're not confident that your truck will safely and reliably make the trip you may consider hiring the move out to someone with a suitable truck. On two occasions we have contracted new purchase moves from about 500 kms away. Both times the bill was under 800 bucks and both times it was done by licensed boat moving companies who used their pilot truck for a tow vehichle instead of the usual heavy equipment. It's worth a try. It's going to cost you a lot of money to sell and re purchase. Post some weight, horse power, and GVW figures and see what kind of input you get. I was surprised to find out Westie actually tows his 260 over the same mountain ranges as I do,,,,, with a Toyota. Up until talking to him I have wrongly assumed the need for big block power and extreme GVW's. Wish I'd have talked to him before I bought my last truck a few years ago.
 
I want to thank you all for your responses'. A lot of very good ideas and suggestions. The last time we were there we saw a lot of boats smaller than ours so I thought it would work. Once there I will be trailering it most of the time so maintenance shouldn't be much of a problem, and I'll have more time for it. I live in the land of Rinker That's the people I've heard the horror stories of salt water from. You have all helped to ease my mind. Thank you.
Now I'll have to work on transportation. I do know people with larger trucks that might like to go for a sunny cruise. I have time to work on that.
Thank you all
 
EDMAN,

The 215 isn't an overly "large" or heavy boat for most domestic trucks to haul. What truck do you have?
 
Chris Nowell said:
EDMAN,

The 215 isn't an overly "large" or heavy boat for most domestic trucks to haul. What truck do you have?
Click to expand...

i agree. a 1500 series GM truck or a Ford F150 should be able to haul the 215EC easily.

cliff
 
I have a GMC Sonoma 4x4 4 door. I don't have the owners man. but I found one on the internet that said 5000LB towing. I've towed it 20 or 30 mi at a time ok .not sure I would try 1200 and mountains.
 
When we move to Florida last year we towed our boat all the way here and then ended upd selling it to get something more suitable for the area. With that being said it was difficult to find a nice clean used boat down here. The Sun and the salt destroys them fast here. We ended up with a boat with an i/o but would have preferred an outboard but we get by just fine.
 
EDMAN, what engine do you have in your truck? Is it equipped with a transmission cooler? Does your boat trailer have brakes? What class of hitch do you have on the truck? (please don't say it's a ball attached to the bumper) You can search the weight of your boat in the "Sea Ray Archives" site and the trailer weight on the manufacturer's site. Best thing to do would be to find a commercial truck scale and weigh the combination boat and trailer. If you can provide this info it will enable you to make the safe choice regarding towing your boat on the freeway through the mountains. Westie has hauled his 260 with a Toyota Tundra and I have hauled many boats over the coastal mountains with various trucks. Post your info and let the debate begin :grin:
 
for reference i used to tow our 215EC with a 2003 Mercury Mountaineer AWD with 4.6L V8, and factory towing package. It had a tranny cooler and 3.73 gearing in both differentials and traction control and class III trailer hitch. The rated towing capacity was around 7,200 lbs. Not bad for a vehicle of this size. The dry weight of the boat is 3,800 lbs. I figured the weight of the boat, trailer, 'stuff' in the boat, and fluids in the boat i was very close to 5,500 lbs although i never had it officially weighed. The Mountaineer towed the boat reasonably well, however the vast majority of the time I was towing on failrly flat ground.

I would NOT have wanted to use that vehicle to make a long haul over any mountains. I strongly reccommend using a 1500 series truck at a minimum for this haul. It should be fairly easy to rent a truck this size.

just my $.02 worth.
 
Scott if I had a place to park it for 4 or 5 months I'd take you up on that offer.
tandem trailer with brakes. class III hitch. V6 No trailer package no transmission cooler. I have checked on several 1500's and 150s they didn't have any more towing capacity than I do. They must not of had a towing package either. I'll Find someone to haul it for me or get a different truck. thanks again
 
When we came down we towed a car on a car trailer behind the budget rental truck. You might want to look into that if you are renting a truck to move. It easily pulled the car and trailer.
 
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