Haulage to NE Spain

[richardknight]

We're looking to get our 30ft yacht moved from the UK south coast to NE Spain and are currently looking at three options: road, sea by delivery crew and sea by container ship. Although we're aware that the canals are an option, we don't have the time unfortunately to do the trip ourselves and aren't aware of companies who ship via this route(?).

Any ideas on relative costs of each and indeed of companies who provide road haulier services of sea feight services? On the road option, we're also interested to find out how much difference it could make cost wise if she was loaded up in N. France rather than the UK...any ideas?

Thanks for your help.

Richard

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[colvic]

Your best bet is to try the frms advertising in the back pages of PBO under transportation. You'll need to have a definate marina/port that can unload you and put you in the water and you'll need a berth. At 30 ft you should have a bit of a chance but you are going to have to move quite quickly.


Phil

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[lindsay]

When I moved my boat to the South Of France trucking from North France down cost less than one third of what it would have cost from the UK south coast. Contact the three French transportation companies: Morlin, Morineau or Augizeau and see how far they can take you towards NE Spain. Get them via internet under yacht transportation.

If they only take you to the the French-Spanish border sail the rest!

Good luck

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[richardknight]

Lindsay - thanks very much. Although French hauliers had crossed my mind I hadn't realised how different the cost might be. I'll look into them immediately.

When you did this, did you have a choice of which port to go to in France and if so, was it a simply thing to organise a lift-out and onto a trailer there?

Thanks,

Richard

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[lindsay]

I went with Morineau but they later passed me on to Morlin because of scheduling, with the same quotation. No problems with either. I simply sailed to Calais and then started contacting the French hauliers from scratch. Obviously better if you are pressed for time to set a pick up date beforehand, but since I was retiring to the Med and had the time ...!

Hauled out at Calais but at that time had to organize an outside crane. No real problem. However, maybe better at another port. Pick one that is convenient to you and ask the haulier if this is OK. The haulier will pick you up where you want and drop you where you want, more or less that is, but I suspect it is within the French borders. That means you may be dropped off at Biarritz or a bit further West, but this I do not know.

The whole thing is much less trouble than it seems, but obviously you have to be there on the spot to organize. From memory the crane costs both ends were under 130 pounds and transportation for the 29 footer 800 pounds from Calais to Hyeres. Balance this against the alternatives. Quotes from well known firms on the UK South Coast were 2600 to 3000 pounds. I hope they have become rich.

Once you have established the current costs from the UK and North France, since times a change and the pound/euro exchange rate works for or against you, my advice is; as Nike says, just DO IT! since the French yards and hauliers are literally doing this all the time, crisscrossing across France from North to South or West, or from West to South etc.

Dont get hung up on the language if you are not comfortble in French. Franglais, English and schoolboy/pidgeon French will get you there.

Good Luck

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[Ecartar]

If you prefer a UK arrangement then suggest you contact Thames Valley & Interboat Transport, Reading. Speak to Jenny on 0118 941 2112.

No vested interest. Just a very satisfied and happy past customer!

Regards,

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[LaurenceK]

Just had my 30ft power cruiser transported to Costa Blanca . Started out with Etrans who collected the boat on the 25th April with a delivery date of 1st or 2nd of May. Without telling me they dropped it off in Southampton for another company to take to Spain. This company eventually delivered my boat at close of play on the 23 May. So advice is collect a lot of personal references as you can and get some penalty clause in the agreement.

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