Shipping a boat

[wpcv1776]

Hi Everyone!

We just bought a 2004 31TE. We're having it shipped from Maryland to SoCal and are having a hard time finding good information on both the boat and shipping companies. So.........first question. Does anyone have a good recommendation for a shipping company? The one I'm leaning toward now is Finesse Marine Group. If you've ever used them please give me the good and the bad.

Also, I'm getting mixed info on the exact weight and height of the boat. I'm hearing everything from 13,500 to 16,000 on the weight and 11'5" to 13' on the height. I don't really want to do a separate haul out just to measure the height. Any help is appreciated!

Also, I've never shipped a boat before and can't be there myself to help get it prepared. Any advice for me or the boatyard preparing it would be appreciated.

Blue Skies!

[DougSea]

I believe the published info on draft is accurate, so you just have to pick your flavor (are you a single or twins?) and then add in your above the waterline height. The single will have a skeg that will need to be accounted for by the shipper.

Also, the difference in heights could be explained by an arch on/arch off measurement. Generally an arch is removed and placed in the cockpit for shipping. Boats are often shipped bow down to help reduce their height on the trailer. Also, for a trip of that distance I'd be considering having the boat shrink wrapped or otherwise covered.

EDIT:

Forgot to add, Congratulations!

I looked up the specs.
Draft single 3'10", twins 3'3"
Airdraft (which is measured from the waterline) to top of pilot house 9'3", to top of arch 10'3" (no radar, rod holders, etc). So a single with the arch is 14'1" from top to bottom.
Beam 12'4"

[RobS]

She's a single screw. Not 100% sure but I think arch will need to come down. 13'6 might be max ht. Hauler will know for sure.

[slimjim]

call Mark at ASSOCIATED BOAT TRANSPORT 800- 247-1198 They are true pros who use semi trucks with huge able to carry wide loads and their prices are very very fair.

If your boat is over 12ft wide, you will need a chase car that adds about $2 dollars a mile, if the boat is over 13'8 ft high you will need a pole car added (another $3 to $5 dollars a mile. Keep the boat under 14ft high and 12ft or less and you save a ton on shipping.

Mark has a fleet of trucks and is based back east but runs all over the USA. His company has hauled boats for me and he just did a 35ft by 14ft boat (20,000 pounds) for my friend and all went very well.

He is a upfront no bs guy.

[slimjim]

btw he is based in Maryland. so he is in your back yard.......

[Pitou]

First off, congratulations on the new boat and welcome to the AOG.

I shipped a single screw 31 TE this past winter. The arch will have to come off and be stowed. I had it hauled with a tractor with the boat on a hydraullic trailer, the skeg riding 6 inches off of the pavement and the bow down we were just at 13' 4"+. Picture attached below. Your beam is 12' 4" rubrail to rubrail so that means an escort vehicle.

Hire a real pro and don't be jaded by a low price .. just my opinion. Lots of restrictions when hauling a wide load with certain roadways shutdown completely or restricted hours and an occassional call for additional escorts on certain roadways. A class 1 service will have it all figured out.

Here are some dimensional specs on your new joy from my Albin Specs bulletin:

Length of hull and deck: 31' 8"
LOA with pulpit: 33' 0"
LOA with swim platform & pulpit: 34' 9 "
LWL: 27' 9"
Draft with single skeg: 3' 10"
Air Draft with arch: 10' 3"
Air Draft to rooftop: 9' 3"
Standard Single Displacement: 12,000 lbs. (add in for liquid in tanks , any extra options:< ie; pilot house doors were an option>add ons and gear:< ie; anchor, rode & windlass> / electronics, etc. ... )

Have a safe trip!

12.6.2013.jpg

Launch 6.11.2014.jpg

[slimjim]

They can't tow at night or on the weekends as well when load is that big just an fyi......

[whwells]

You really do want to pick the best for the job. When bringing my boat out from Canada east to west I tried to save a few thousand.
The additional difficulty far outweighed the savings. Best works and cheap does not for a long haul.
whwells "Howard"

[irishwake]

I had my 31TE hauled from Fort Lauderdale Florida to Pensacola Florida ( about 700 miles) for $3500. The radar arch had to come off, but other then that there were no problems. It took 2 days, and the boat was a little dirty and needed a good cleaning. The company was :

Pro Yacht Transport
321-431-7497
Derek Hoskins

Hope this will help you.

[wpcv1776]

Thanks DougSea! I was unable to access the specs when I first posted this because I was not yet a supporting member.

slimjim I called Mark at ASSOCIATED BOAT TRANSPORT and got a quote. Thanks for the lead

RobS, Pitou,whwells and Irishwake Thanks for the input. Very helpful info from everyone.

I've read a lot of mixed reviews on shrink wrap and it looks like sometimes it does more harm than good. We haven't made a decision on that yet.

It could take several weeks to get the shipment scheduled in which case we we'll probably fly to Maryland/D.C. and cruise the boat there for a couple of weekends.

Thanks again for all the input.

[DougSea]

...
It could take several weeks to get the shipment scheduled in which case we we'll probably fly to Maryland/D.C. and cruise the boat there for a couple of weekends.

That sounds like an EXCELLENT idea!!

[slimjim]

Thanks DougSea! I was unable to access the specs when I first posted this because I was not yet a supporting member.

slimjim I called Mark at ASSOCIATED BOAT TRANSPORT and got a quote. Thanks for the lead

RobS, Pitou,whwells and Irishwake Thanks for the input. Very helpful info from everyone.

I've read a lot of mixed reviews on shrink wrap and it looks like sometimes it does more harm than good. We haven't made a decision on that yet.

It could take several weeks to get the shipment scheduled in which case we we'll probably fly to Maryland/D.C. and cruise the boat there for a couple of weekends.

Thanks again for all the input.

I have had 6 boats shipped from back east to the west coast over the last few years and never had one shrink wrap and never had a problem. If Mark ships your boat the bow will be down low behind the driver with the back of the boat at end of trailer. You should have no problem.