Cost to Ship an Ericson 32 over land

I am considering purchase of an Ericson 32, however, it would entail shipping the boat half way across the country (about 1400 miles). Has anyone done this recently?

Any idea what it would cost to (a) haul out, (b) prepare the boat for shipment, (c) transport, (d) unload at marina, then (e) reassemble to make ready to sail? What about insurance cost (per $1000 of boat value)?

Is this a routine undertaking, or am I taking too large a risk, ie. should I buy closer to home? It seems like a lot of work to me, with many potential pitfalls, but if routine, perhaps I shouldn't worry. I am trying to get a quick idea of costs, so I can factor that into a buying decision.

I recognise that there are many online outfits that will quote the cost to ship, but I want to hear from real people that have done it, so I can rest assured that I have considered everything.

Thanks in advance.

I shipped my Ericson 32 from San Diego to Erie, PA in 1995. I think it cost $2500 but expenses these days could easily be twice that. Costs for haulout and launch vary widely, entirely by location. Boat prep took me two full days and I already had a lot of stuff disassembled because I had owned the boat for a while and had planned to make the trip for some time. The actual hauling and relaunch was very easy. The carrier should have insurance, I'm pretty sure I didn't pay anything extra to my insurer.

Unless you are getting a truly amazing deal on the boat or on the shipping, or the boat is seriously unique, or the boat is already prepped for the trip, I would not recommend doing it for a boat of Ericson vintage that you don't already own. (Same advice probably pertains to shipping a car.)

I would almost definitely recommend finding another boat, if this is your first.

Our cost to move our new-to-us boat by truck in 1994 will not help you much now... We did have yard costs for hauling and loading at one end and launching costs here.

but you need some useful data points.
First, call several of the national boat haulers and just dialog with them. Be prepared with destination and starting point. How flexible your timing will be will also affect the cost. If you can spare a week or two either way to catch an empty back-haul you can save 50%.
As a second sort of reality check, find a boat of same size and type and location in the Yachtworld listings and click on the Transportation estimate icon. You will shortly get several bids that will likely range widely, but will give you some more data to chew on.

Best,
Loren

Shipping costs

I shipped an E-28 in November 2006 from Jacksonville,FL to Chicago for $800.
The broker suggested a good marina who did all the prep work to ready the boat for the trip, also winterized it. Cost was about $300.

I was flexible on time so I got a break on the price. I got several Transporter recommendations from the marina - guys they had worked with before. Prices ranged from $2600 to $800. So shop around! The transporter will have the insurance you need. My move went without a hitch.

Good luck,
Lan

SeaDreamer said:

I
I want to hear from real people that have done it

Click to expand...

I'm not a real people, but I play one on tv.

But seriously, I shipped our E35 from the SF Bay Area to Seattle, summer of
'05. The transport was handled by Dudley - one of the best on the west coast. Here's how it broke down:

Anderson Boat Yard (haulout - drop stick; I did mast prep) $740
Dudley----------------------------------------------- - $2700 (680 miles)
Seaview East (receive boat, store, replace mast, launch 1100
(The yard was also contracted for additional services)------------------
---------------------------------------------TOTAL: 4540

This should give you a rough ballpark to work with. An E32 is lighter, so it may be slightly less costly to transport, but the logistics remain similar.

You can save money by doing as much decommissioning/recommissioning yourself, but you should check with the transport company on their requirements. They're pretty specific in how they like the mast disassembled, de-rigged, and packed, and the boat prepped for transport. If the driver isn't satisfied with your DIY work, he'll finish the job (either himself or direct the yard to do it) with charges acruing accordingly.

Hope this helps.

Capt Dan G>E35II "Kunu"

Shipping Experience

Here's my real experience.

I purchased an E-29 on Ebay that was in the water on Lake Erie (Sandusky, Ohio). Then the money started flowing--as I was living in Arkansas and wanted to launch the boat in the Ozarks (Beaver Lake) and was not available in Northern Ohio for the work. (Purchased Oct 2007--delivered Feb 2008). Thus all this had to be coordinated from afar--by phone and trust!

1) Haul Out and Winterize engine and Plumbing $500
2) Remove Sails, Clean and Repair as needed $200
3) Take Mast down and inspect and replace standing rigging as necessary (needed a couple of turnbuckles and roller furling foils and repairs) $1200
4) Dry storage at Marina until haul off $500 (a little over 4 months)
5) Estimate to build cradle for flat bed truck haul 1000 miles and crane time to lift on and off truck $4000
6) Estimate to have a custom built dual axle trailer by LoadMaster (Port Clinton OH) $6000
7) Decided to have trailer custom built
8) Cost to lift boat from jack stands onto custom trailer and secure mast to trailer $250
9) Cost to hire a 1-ton truck to haul boat 1000 miles $1000
10) Wide Load Permits $100
11) Relaunch of Boat in Arkansas 1-ton truck to haul to lake in Arkansas after bottom paint and numerous other below waterline repairs and replacements $100
12) Hire Crane and operator to lift and place mast ($65/hour with operator) $200

I have not added up the total--as I truly DO NOT want to know the exact cost--but suffice it to say--I agree with a couple of the earlier posts--that unless you have a unique boat or special attachment to a boat--it is DEFINITELY cheaper to buy the boat at the final destination.

My wife and I first sailed on a friends E-29 in the late 70's and it has always been one of our dreams to trade in our Hobie Catamaran days for an E-29--(an E-27 would not do, or other size Ericsons would have been the same)--it had to be an E-29. We still believe we made the right decision--even when the costs exceeded our budget. We are obsessed and consumed by the joy of our E-29 ownership.

I hope my experiences help you make your decision.

I have had Freyja shipped twice, first 2000 miles from San Diego to Pensacola in 2001, then the most recent being in 2004 to go about 1200 miles, total cost that time was about $5000 - $6000 as I remember. The only damage was one of the rub rails working loose. The work involved in the move was considerable.

I am assuming that the 1400 miles you mention is California to Texas, and it could be worth the shipping if you get a great deal. Another factor to consider is the state of the boat - if you can use taking the mast down as an opportunity to replace corroded wiring in the mast, or if the standing rigging needs replacing anyway, that would mitigate much of the cost and effort. You will also have to remove the lifelines, the same applies.

It could also be worth watching what comes available on the Gulf coast that you could sail home, as the E32 is a fairly common boat.

Gareth
Freyja E35 #241 1972

CaptDan said:

I shipped our E35 from the SF Bay Area to Seattle, summer of
'05.

Capt Dan G>E35II "Kunu"

Click to expand...

I had never noticed you had moved - it must have broken your heart not to sail there.

gareth harris said:

I had never noticed you had moved - it must have broken your heart not to sail there.

Click to expand...

Not really; the 'uphill' course ain't so wonderful. Besides, I couldn't spare the time with everything else that was going on.

Interestingly, the issue may be coming up again in the not too distant future.

Capt Dan G>E35II "Kunu"

a year ago last august I moved my Ericson 32 from south florida to Knoxville Tennessee. I got several quotes but ended up using the local hauler who was recommended by the haul out marina, my broker, and my surveyor. Getting good recommendations is really important as someone in my club recently contracted to move his boat and the hauler dropped his boat off the truck before they even left the marina.

the hauling worked out to $4.00 per mile.
the prep and haul out was about a grand. Make sure you take lots of pictures and label all your rigging too.
Putting the boat back in the water was about 500 bucks.
I did as much rigging/derigging as I could.

Beware of the internet haulers as lots of them are merely brokers for Billy Bob the trucker

crew or self made trailer

Would it be cheaper to higher someone to sail the boat to Houston - say if it came from the east coast or gulf coast? Or perhaps you have a specific one from another part as mentioned earlier.

Randy R might comment on this. He has a trailer for his E29 he uses. Has an efficient way of transporting it. Seems like he made it or had it made? That might not work for a 32, or would it?

Moving the Boat

As mentioed earlier, I purchased LAYLAH in Philadelphia and had her moved home to Charlottetown, PEI several years ago. Knowing what I know now, I probably would have had the trailer built to make the initial move and would likely have come out ahead. In my situation a dedicated trailer became a necessity since we'll ultimately lose our shoreside boat storage in the next year or so. With the carrying members beneath the keel as low as they are I can lay the mast atop the boat for transport and the total height does not exceed 13'-6", which is typically the legal limit.
Following images demonstrate the road options;
Loading on a commercial "boat haulers'" trailer.
<img src="http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-1/1138028/swinging40percent.JPG">

Loaded and made the trip home.
<img src="http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-1/1138028/ArrivalCYC.JPG">

Dedicated Trailer, minus the boat a domestic car can handle it.
<img src="http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-1/1138028/trailer1web.JPG">

Home in the Yard, safe and sound.
<img src="http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-1/1138028/trailer2web.JPG">

LAYLAH, an Independence 31 weighs something around 12,000 lbs, the trailer should add to that another 3000 lbs. A combination of horsepower and braking capacity is necessary, the Dodge (3/4 Ton) 3500 Duallies are suitable. Still likely to be a couple of dollars a mile even with a truck such as this.