Boat Transport

[gandy]

Hi,

One disadvantage of living up here, is that all the boats seem to be down South. We're now wondering whether we should seriously look at boats advertised down in England.

What would our best way to get a rough idea of transport costs for a 26 footer, bilge or lift keel, say around 3 tons, from the South coast up to NE Scotland?

Tony S

 

[SQUIRRELS]

Many variables for both road and by sea. For road depending upon whether you can be flexible with dates, i.e. affording the transport company opportunity to ordanise return load then the cost maybe in region of £800; no return load then budget up to £1300 given that you are in looking to take to NE Scot. Remember thats only the start you may also incur lifting out, loading and lifting off, either in or laying up as well as mast stepping costs. Bottom line budget up to £1.8K!! as a rough estimate.

If however you manage to locate a suitable boat thats well equipped and suitable for sea delivery by professional crew (maybe with you!), say on the east coast then that may be an option, budget in region of >£800 - £1K but watch for weather bound delays that will bump up the cost. Again rough estimate.

I guess the most significant factor has to be finding right boat for you at right price and as you say in NE Scot you are a bit limited. However have you seriously looked on the Clyde with a view to sailing it yourself back via the Cally Canal or even Forth & Clyde / Union through to the Forth given that you aren't thinking about anything with too deep a draught? It's coming up to the run of 2nd hand boat shows on the Clyde, perhaps an early (i.e. before shows start!) look around might be an idea, that way you get the pick if anything takes your fancy.

If at the end of the day you do decide that you'll look for a boat in the south, phone/email for some quotes based on the info you gave in your post, as well as possible collection port and rough timescale to those adverting in PBO/YM etc.

For me, given the size, type of boat you are looking for, I'd give the Largs, Kip and Ardrossan boat shows a serious look before heading south.

 

[gandy]

Thanks for your comments. The second hand shows will be worth looking at, although last year they hardly had anything under 50K, and I don't remember any bilge keels at all. Currently Opal, Euroyacht and Rhu don't have anything listed. Of course I'll contact them to ask (and there's Caley Marine and Port Edgar as well). Is there anyone I've missed out on the West, there?

Anyway, sailing back from the Clyde via the Forth and East Coast sounds possible (although the Forth and Clyde canal sounds a bit tedious, from hearsay).

Thanks, Tony S

 

[PaulJ]

What Squirrels says is probably about right but why don't you ring one of the transport companies for a "ballpark figure". Admittedly it was a much shorter journey but I recently used "Shoreline Transport" of Chichester..... http://www.boat-trans.co.uk/ Terry Ollerton gave an excellent service.... very meticulous and careful, also flexible with my needs and arrangements..... and competitive.

I have no connection with the company, I am just a satisfied customer and would happily use them again.

Paul.

 

[Dougie_the_Mate]

Must agree with PaulJ. Terry Ollerton brought our boat, a 26ft Westerley Centaur, up from the Solent to Kippford on the Solway last summer and could not have been more helpful. The cost was around £1,300. Like Gandy Goose we found few bilge keelers in Scotland that compared with the wider variety down south for price.

 

[SQUIRRELS]

Hi Tony

I'm sending you a PM

 

[awol]

Clyde Carron Canal: (was Boat Transport)

[ QUOTE ]
Anyway, sailing back from the Clyde via the Forth and East Coast sounds possible (although the Forth and Clyde canal sounds a bit tedious, from hearsay).


Went through from Bowling to Grangemouth last weekend in a Contessa 32. Occasional touch on the bottom but certainly not "tedious". None of the hearsay problems - natives smiled and waved and the sail-thru chippy shouldn't be missed. Service from BW was amazing and the sun even shone.
Will I do it again? Yes!

 

[gandy]

Re: Clyde Carron Canal: (was Boat Transport)

Where did you get the mast lowered/lifted? Or can you do that yourself?

Tony S

 

[awol]

Re: Clyde Carron Canal: (was Boat Transport)

[ QUOTE ]
Where did you get the mast lowered/lifted? Or can you do that yourself?

Tony S

[/ QUOTE ]

Bowling end has a crane operated by BW staff, cost included in transit fee. Grangemouth end has crane on a pontoon on the Carron seaward of all bridges (naturally) that cost £27.50. Others have used the crane at Port Edgar or with deck stepped masts just used the jetty.