Shipping..er.trucking costs

octanetwilight · #1 (**permalink**) 08-29-2006

Hi Folks,

We are in the process of purchasing a catamaran and having it transported to Lake Pleasant in Phoenix. We are considering a Gemini 105M as there are a few in CA and TX to choose from. Does anyone out there have any experience with having a 35 ft catamaran shipped?

Thanks for any info.

Tim

sailingfool · #2 (**permalink**) 08-29-2006

I would think you should talk with someone like http://www.brownellsystems.com/sub_c...nd%20Transport they should be able to answer all questions, including any number you may not know to ask.

Let the board know what you do find out as I would think the beam of that cat would be a Wide Load.

Artwerke · #3 (**permalink**) 08-29-2006

Not a Cat, but I had a 38' monohull shipped back in April, $4.00 per mile plus permits, plus haul out & launch. May be higher now with current fuel costs. Goodluck, Art.

octanetwilight · #4 (**permalink**) 08-29-2006

Art and Sailingfool,

Thank you for the prompt response. I will use that link S-fool and hopefully have something substantive to report.

We are looking forward to moving aboard by years end (assuming we strike a deal on something) and already have a spot at the marina that can accomodate a "Wide Load"...

Thank you again,

Tim

hellosailor · #5 (**permalink**) 08-30-2006

Tim, you an often save 1/2-1/3 on trucking costs if you let them know that you can be flexible about shipping dates. That way, if they've got an idle truck earning nothing, or a return from a one-way haul coming back empty, they can fit you in and will give you a heavy discount because it is at their convenience, saving them from a total loss on the run.

No matter who or how you ship it, make sure that YOU or someone you can trust is there to supervise the loading and unloading, and sign off on the condition. You'll also be expected to bundle it up for the trip, and any loose, unsecured, or rubbing equipment will be damaged, so secure it well.

sailingdog · #6 (**permalink**) 08-30-2006

One other thing. Most catamarans are shipped with the hull tilted at an angle, to reduce the effective width. IIRC, that is how Performance Cruising trucks their Geminis from the factory.

If this is what your company is going to be doing...make sure you stow everything inside the boat securely for which ever angle of heel that the boat will be under. You'll have to unstep the mast obviously, but you should make sure whoever is there to see it loaded onto the truck takes a digital camera and clearly documents how the rig is setup and how it goes back together. BTW, setup time on stepping the mast on a Gemini is only about 45-60 minutes if you know what you're doing.

octanetwilight · #7 (**permalink**) 08-30-2006

Hi folks,
Just wanted to thank everyone for such great feedback. For the record to have a Gemini Cat (14' beam) transported to Lake Pleasant, AZ from Annapolis is approximately $6,000.00.

Ya know, that ain't bad considering that we paid $3500.00 back in 1992 to have an 8000 lb. powerboat trailered out here from a marina on the Magothy River.

Thanks again

capnjim02 · #8 (**permalink**) 09-03-2006

I just recently got two quotes to ship my 30" sailboat a grand total of 45miles, from Havre De grace, md to Honey Brook, pa. $1250, thats a whopping $28/mile. what gives? 6 grand for cross country, 1250 for 45miles.
s/v Que Pasa?

hellosailor · #9 (**permalink**) 09-03-2006

"$1250, thats a whopping $28/mile."
Bad math. Shipping a boat consists of a loading fee, an unloading fee, and then the mileage in the middle. If it takes an hour at each end to load and unload and lash and unlash, and only an hour in the middle to move it...
Your $1250 could represent $420 in mileage and the rest in loading/unloading fees. Or, it could be based on $200 at each end, and a minimum one day of committment for the truck--since they can't do anything else with it on that same day. So perhaps the $1250 means "two hours of loading and unloading and up to eight hours of tying up the truck", i.e. $125/hour but you've bought an eight-hour minimum committment.

Without knowing how they price it up...you can't just say you are comparing mileage on the truck as the only price factor.

If you figure 2500 miles "cross country" at 100 hours of transit time for six grand, that's $60/hour for six grand. Or maybe ten days at $600/10hr.day. Or maybe $1200/20-hour day, if there are two drivers keeping the truck in motion. Versus your $1250 for the day.

Many ways to figure the charges, and those are all before you start to figure the deadhead (empty) return run, or what they have to do to get the truck back after a trip.

catamount · #10 (**permalink**) 09-03-2006

FWIW, the bill to have my mast unstepped, disassembled and stored at yard, boat hauled out of the water, bottom pressure-washed, boat loaded onto truck, and then delivered to my inland home 120 miles away was about $1220. The trucking portion of that was $95/hour for 6 hours, or $570.

Does your $1250 quote include un-stepping the mast? hauling boat out of the water? How long is the mast? If it overhangs the trailer by a lot, an escort vehicle may be needed, etc...

Regards,

Tim