C-Forum

Does anyone out there in internet land have a solution to shipping boats around the US and Canada?
Usually our customers come and collect a boat, or we take it with us on our way to a paddling trip. On this occasion though - this isn't feasable.

We have been exploring the various options with shipping companies (FedEx, UPS, Purolator, DHL, etc) they either won't take it or want a ridiculous amount of money ($600 from NY to NC!).

Hopefully someone out there has solved this problem and wouldn't mind sharing the info.......

Thanks
Gwyn

LTL Trucking brokers are about the best bet. If your boat is under a certain length you can put it on Greyhound bus freight. I know we've had playboat kayaks shipped to Maine from Tennesee for less than $100

I've shipped canoes with Old Dominion Freight Lines at a very reasonable cost compared to the others. I also know of others who have shipped boats with Greyhound buses. Apparently greyhound fills up the cargo area under buses when space is available with packages for long-distance shipping. My buddy shipped a playboat to Colorado from Pennsylvania for less than $100 through Greyhound. I think Greyhound will only ship items under 7 feet though.

Another vote for Old Dominion. Be sure to check with them. Then make sure the boat is wrapped in bubble wrap and has some sort of warning about not stacking anything on it.

Hey there. I bought the Cascade on the FS thread where you also inquired about the other boat that was listed. We use Conway where I work, among other LTL carriers. I am getting the Cascade shipped from New Paltz NY to Cleveland OH for $58. It should be a one day trip to boot.

Getting another Cascade (a more used one that I'll leave at our cottage) from Wisconsin and it is the same $58 rate.

Agreed on having it wrapped. This isn't so much to protect it per se, as it is to then be able to tell the carrier that if the wrapping is torn, it was their fault. If not wrapped and it shows up with a gouge, they'll say it was loaded that way.

Old Dominion Freight Lines has been very good to me. However, this has been through a special deal for "personal race boats" with USACK/ USA Wildwater.

http://www.usawildwater.com/news/2008/0 ... _USACK.pdf

But it does suggest they are boater friendly, and maybe able to work deals, especially since your boats are shorter. And yes, I felt lust when I saw the ex-team Pagan for sale....edg

All shippers cost if you found something for $60 bucks jump on it, with all the over lenght charges and other fees it can be costly and there is a chance the boat will arrive with extra drain holes provided by the trucking co.

Haven't shipped a boat, but did ship a Yakima Rocket Box which was darn near as big via ODFL - it was the best price we came up with and they have a terminal nearby (picking up there made a big difference)

Forward Air worked great a few years ago from CA to NY.

The other option is finding someone going south:) If it were near a fest date, or the Armada, things can usually be worked out... I've lost count of the number of boats I've brought down to the Armada from New England, and I've certainly had lots of boats appear there for me to pick up....

I have a boat and a mold to get to TN. They may end up going separately, but it sounds like if someone from upstate NY wanted a partially paid paddling trip south it could be made to happen... if they had room for two boats and a mold:)

I've shipped a number of boats through Old Dominion and they have been stellar to deal with. If the boat is under 12' long there is no surcharge and tell them that the boat is "class 200", as they will be scratching their heads to figure that out.

I shipped a Maxim (8'10") from Atlanta to Pennsylvania for around $100 using Old Dominion.

Thanks for the tips everybody!

Old Dominion came through great, $181 (including insurance) from Syracuse NY, to Hickory NC.

On top, they were very helpful - great service.

Gwyn wrote:
Old Dominion came through great, $181 (including insurance) from Syracuse NY, to Hickory NC.

Thanks, Gwyn. Good news for south of the border, but am wondering about north of 49.

In keeping with the intent of this thread, I started doing some northern research, but, being currently homeless in the middle of a move, I had to bail, cuz I have no phone.

Hey Canucks -- any bright ideas?

Rick