Anyone has transported a boat from the East to the West coast?

[douglasl]

You guys know I'm searching for an early 1970s 53' Hatteras MotorYacht. My budget is up to $120k.

Here on the West coast, there are slim pickings, and the ones available are overpriced, in my humble opinion.

I drool at many of the 53' MY available on the East coast, at very reasonable asking prices. From $79k up to $115k.

I may bite the nail and get one from the East coast, but haven't found a reputable, and safe, transporter. I've contacted the guys that eBay recommends. 2 weeks later I'm still waiting on bids. Does not give me a fuzzy warm feeling.

Long story short, has any of you had experience transporting a similar vessel from the East coast to the West? If yes, how much did it cost you? Any problems, how fast did it arrive, etc?

Thanks,

Douglas

[jim rosenthal]

There is no easy answer for this question, which has been asked a lot. Now you know how Christopher Columbus felt.

Overland would be very difficult with such a large boat. You might ask Hatteras how they got to the West Coast in the first place- my guess is deck freight through the Panama Canal- but maybe such a boat could go by rail. Certainly delivering it on its own bottom would be very expensive. And you would add huge hours to the total number on the boat. We had a post recently that pointed out that Chris Craft and Roamer used to ship yachts by rail, so that might be a possibility. I don't know if the beam of 53 MYs precludes rail shipping.

You might ask SeaEric on this forum. He has sold a couple of boats to OZ, so he might know something about how they got there. They went as deck cargo on large ships, and he might know the names of the transport companies.

[gbharrington]

I looked into ocean shipping 5 years ago. It was roughly 1 dollar per pound from S FL to Ensenada, as one port had to be non US due to the Jones Act.

[Canuck Dennis]

I got a quote last year from Ft L to Vanc..90c per lb.

[capttonyf]

Talk to a company like Dockwise. They'll quote you a rate and it's a standard rate which maybe a little more than you want to spend, but then again it may be fine depending on how busy they are. That being said my understanding of how they work is sort of like an airline on their rates. They start a little lower than standard if you book early and the ship is still nearly empty. As the ship fills up the rate starts to climb and if the ship is full with a waiting list the last boat on board will pay the highest per foot or per pound rate. That being said though, if the ship is nearing departure date and it's not full they will reduce the rate drematically just to fill it out. A nearly full ship at a reduced rate is better than a nearly empty ship with high rate yachts on board.

I loaded a 1998 65 Hatteras Conv. heading to Mexico/CA years ago which is still out there and is currently for sale by the way. If I remember correctly the original quote was like $50,000 but the owner wasn't in a hurry so he said he'll just wait it out and see what happens. About a week before the scheduled departure date of that particular ship they called and offered the reduced rate. At first it was like $35,000 and he said he'd look at his schedule and get back with them. Two days later they called back and I think he ended up shipping a 65' boat for like $25,000.

In short I think it's a fluxuating market, so to try to nail down a number is difficult. Maybe call around to get a general idea, then if the numbers work out go find your boat. I would just take your time after the purchase and enjoy the boat in FL for a little while until a deal opens up shipping wise. Just keep in mind if you buy a boat in FL the 90 Day State Sales/Use Tax clock starts ticking unless your in a yard spending money. Then you can get more time to keep it in FL until you have to ship it.

Tony

[douglasl]

Thanks guys for the information. I'm getting the feeling it'd be between $50k and up to ship it.

I'd love to navigate her across the Panama canal, but the 4,500 miles from Florida to Los Angeles, would get me about $16,000 on fuel alone (4,500 x 1 gph @ $3.60 per gallon). The food and time I don't mind, I just take it as a vacation. But $16k on fuel? Wow. It maybe less, but who knows, it could be way less on fuel.

Anyone done the Panama Canal crossing (about $2,000 in crossing costs, if I'm not wrong)? If so, how much did fuel cost you from the Gulf Coast to Southern California?

Douglas

[captddis]

1gph?

[douglasl]

LOL. I meant to write 1 gallon per mile, not per hour.

Funny!

Douglas

[drburke]

If you are going cheap, look into U-Ship

DAN

[Canuck Dennis]

I did it in '91, fuel was a dollar a gallon, and we did 6600 mile Florida to Vancouver, Panama cost me 500.00 including an agent for paperwork, I doubt you have fuel range for Costa Rica to Mex without stopping at Nicaragua. Risky stops

[jim rosenthal]

I think you are better off shipping it as deck freight or using Dockwise, if they are still around, and if you want a vacation, see if they have an extra cabin in the ship. Ought to be fun.

[BOATER BOB]

I was at Huckins last week and a 58 had arrived from Ca. to Jacksonville Fl. Might call them and get detail's.
Bob

[Georgie "J"]

Hello Bob, I'm quite new to the forum here but I'll throw in my one cents worth, I think the advise about dockwise, expensive but I think the 25k -30k is typical (and there is a couple more cheaper ones...not FO/FO's) but do a search for transport co's..is your best chance, you are going to get some boat ride time anyway because you have to steam to the departure port and you may want to come around to the GOM to leave from (Houston) check out stay aboard w/shore power options and lightering policys and then they will drop you wherever the next destination is for them and your off on your own to homeport. Non-taxed died diesel in Tx is about $2 right now probably true for the gulf states from fl-tx at every shrimp boat dock. put it on the calculator, then go make an offer on the one right down the street from you that you really like,,all they can say is....no! But you might be surprised. oh and by the way I work for the largest rail carrier in the US and I can tell you with 99.999 % certanty it aint going on a flatcar. Best of luck to you.....Capt Georgie "J"

[yachtbrokerguy]

If you buy a boat in Florida you can keep it there without sales tax due for 180 days. The sale has to be through a licensed dealer who will file a Non Resident Removal Affidavit with the Department of Revenue. The cost is $425 for the decal. If you stay 90 days or less then the cost of the decal is only $20.00
Without the ability to be flexible for shipping dates costs to load on a ship from South Florida to Ensenada is a little less than $1,000 per foot. A less expensive boat will also cost less as the insurance is less.

[Ross Macdonald]

Just another FYI. I purchased a 58 Westbay Sonship in Seattle in Dec. of 2013 and Washington allowed us to stay for 45 days without their sales tax liability. We used Raven Yacht Shipping whose head quarters are in Seattle. Rick Gladych is the contact guy. I had heard horror stories about the major shipping companies out of Florida. We moved the boat to Victoria B.C. just before our 45 days were up and finally loaded the boat aboard the ship on Feb. 1, 2014. The loadmasters were employees of Raven and really did a nice job. The boat was off loaded in Ensenada about 3 weeks later. (Ship washeld up in Portland because the Columbia River bar was closed for a week with bad weather. The same loadmasters who loaded the boat were in charge of off loading. Rick's partner was also there. They are present at all on and off loads. They off loaded 3 boats in Ensenada and still had at least 10 more on deck headed for Port Everglades. The total cost including insurance, cradle, on and off load was 30K. I would definitely recommend Raven. Just my 2 cents. Ross

[Freeebird]

There is no easy answer for this question, which has been asked a lot. Now you know how Christopher Columbus felt.

Overland would be very difficult with such a large boat. You might ask Hatteras how they got to the West Coast in the first place- my guess is deck freight through the Panama Canal- but maybe such a boat could go by rail. Certainly delivering it on its own bottom would be very expensive. And you would add huge hours to the total number on the boat. We had a post recently that pointed out that Chris Craft and Roamer used to ship yachts by rail, so that might be a possibility. I don't know if the beam of 53 MYs precludes rail shipping.

You might ask SeaEric on this forum. He has sold a couple of boats to OZ, so he might know something about how they got there. They went as deck cargo on large ships, and he might know the names of the transport companies.

Hatteras didn't pick a 15'10" beam without good reason. That reason being the boat can be transported over the highway as the maximum width for such transportation (without VERY expensive permits and restricted highways) is 16'. My guess is they shipped new 53's by truck to the west coast, and I would have to think that would be more cost effective..

[Dolandbill3]

Hey guys, last week when i need to ship my boat from west to east coast. I saw this thread in my search.


I check your suggestion and it was helpful.
And after doing further research i transport my boat from Washington (https://citizenshipper.com/boat-transportation/washington) using Citizenshipper service which i like it.
So i think to tell my experience at the place where i start my research.


You can ensure to choose a company that provides accurate insurance for your cargo. In addition, you can also look out for additional coverage the company offers on your boat.

[oscarvan]

Hey guys, last week when i need to ship my boat from west to east coast. I saw this thread in my search.


I check your suggestion and it was helpful.
And after doing further research i transport my boat from Washington (https://citizenshipper.com/boat-transportation/washington) using Citizenshipper service which i like it.
So i think to tell my experience at the place where i start my research.


You can ensure to choose a company that provides accurate insurance for your cargo. In addition, you can also look out for additional coverage the company offers on your boat.

Do you have any financial involvement with this company?