Boat Road Haulage

[Yorkshire Exile]

Good morning all. Could you suggest companies for moving a 26' bilge keel yacht from the South West to Suffolk please?

 

[tillergirl]

Peter Downs Home - P J Downs

 

[Tranona]

There are many competent operators that can do this . Google boat transport and get quotes on line. You will likely be shocked at the cost but if you are in no hurry then find a return load.

 

[Major_Clanger]

+1 for Peter Downs.

Unless there's a good reason though, you should consider sailing her round. Apart from anything else, it'd be very much cheaper than by road.

 

[Tranona]

+1 for Peter Downs.

Unless there's a good reason though, you should consider sailing her round. Apart from anything else, it'd be very much cheaper than by road.

That depends on how you calculate "costs". If the boat is seaworthy and ready to go and you have a strong delivery crew to do in one go maybe. However if you need to do things at a distance before you set off and take it steady with an unknown boat it may well take as long as 2 weeks with overnight stops in expensive marinas plus loss of earnings if for example you are self employed.

You need to know the circumstances before deciding which is the better option.

 

[Major_Clanger]

That depends on how you calculate "costs". If the boat is seaworthy and ready to go and you have a strong delivery crew to do in one go maybe. However if you need to do things at a distance before you set off and take it steady with an unknown boat it may well take as long as 2 weeks with overnight stops in expensive marinas plus loss of earnings if for example you are self employed.

You need to know the circumstances before deciding which is the better option.

Of course. I agree with all you say. That's why I prefixed my suggestion.

 

[potentillaCO32]

+1 for Peter Downs.

Unless there's a good reason though, you should consider sailing her round. Apart from anything else, it'd be very much cheaper than by road.

That works if you don't have to stop in a marina. Last time i cam from south coast to east coast i had to leave the boat at ramsgate for 2 weeks which cost a fair chunk.

 

[wombat88]

Worth checking with Shiply.com

 

[SaltIre]

There are many competent operators that can do this . Google boat transport and get quotes on line. You will likely be shocked at the cost but if you are in no hurry then find a return load.

Ballpark will be £1,750, or £2,000 if no return load.

 

[Tranona]

Ballpark will be £1,750, or £2,000 if no return load.

Sounds about right. I paid £1500 in 2022 from Neyland to Poole. A 26' bilge keel will probably fit on a HIAB equipped truck which might bring costs down. Lifts and mast handling will likely add £5-600 to transport costs.

 

[Yorkshire Exile]

Thanks everyone. The quotes are trickling in. And yes, it is exepnesive. But we only live once.

 

[Gargleblaster]

But we only live once.

You should have bought a cat then instead of a bilge keeler.

 

[Purple Velvet]

South West Boat Transport from Plymouth did my Targa transport to Portishead. I was very impressed and happy with a very good price. Jeremy couldn't do enough to help and advise.

 

[oldgit]

Not only companies who only move boats that will give you a quote.
Needed to move a Princess 35 from Conwy to Medway. The most competitive quote came from a general road haulage firm in the Midlands, who appeared to move just about anything.
The clincher was they could move it this week rather than in rhe next few weeks of all the dedicated boat shifters.
Had to arrange lift and removal of props at one end and lift off at the other.

Was also advised on this forum to bring her back on her own keel, which by all accounts involved somewhere called Lands End.
After lifting off transport and relaunch, halfway back to home mooring fortunately only about 20 mins upstream , one engine decided not to play anymore.