Advice on moving boat across land, N.C./north to Erie, N.Y.

[Lynx]

I have a plan to do the Erie canal from West to East but I need to move my boat across land to Erie, N.Y. from somewhere on the East Coast - N.C. North - sometime after 1 July.

Anybody know any good boat haulers to move my MacGregor 26M - 26 LOA, 8 foot beam, 1 foot draft, 4000 pound boat with an 8 foot dinghy and myself?

This is my first time doing this, Anything to watch out for?

[AdriftAtSea]

Umm... why are you looking to hire some one to haul a trailerable boat???   Buying the trailer for the boat is probably cheaper than paying someone to haul it would be, and then rent a u-haul or large SUV to move the trailer, if you don't have a friend that has one you can use.

[nmwarren]

If you don't go the trailer route, this is an easy site to get bids for shipping, or to at least get an idea of what it would cost (you can see bids for other moves):
http://www.uship.com/

[AdriftAtSea]

The other pluses of having a trailer for the boat is that you can launch it yourself, and store it for the winter on the trailer, reducing your winter storage costs, even if you normally leave the boat in a dock slip during the season. :)

[Lynx]

I have a trailer but it is in Florida and renting a truck to pull a boat is a bit hard. I was hopeing that I could find somebody to do it cheeper than moving the boat via water there. I know somebody moving a 34 footer for about $ 5 per mile. I was hopeing for a lot less.

[CharlieJ]

Find a Macgregor dealer in that area- you can do that from http://www.macgregor26.com/ . Call them and see if someone around there has a 26M they'd help you out with by loaning ( or renting) you the trailer.

[nmwarren]

You can get quotes for one-way rentals from Uhaul very quickly from their website.  I believe that all of their trucks have full hitches. 

You could also put bids in on Ubid for someone to take your empty trailer from Florida to NC.

[AdriftAtSea]

Most of the U-Hauls, Ryders and Penske rental trucks have trailer hitches and can handle a trailer the size and weight of a Mac 26M.  If you rent one from Florida, and use it to drive to NC, pickup the boat, and then drive to Erie, you could do it as a one-way rental.  It wouldn't cost you anything other than a one-way plane ticket to florida, gas and the rental of the truck.

[s/v Faith]

James,

  If you are interested I can tow your trailer to NC depending on the time frame (and where it is in FL).  Shot me a PM so we can talk. 

Craig

[Lynx]

Craig, Thanks, I will let you know. It looks like my price without the trailer is 2 to 3 dollars per mile. With trailer about 1/2. It may not be worth the trip.

[Grime]

What I would do is put feelers out on craigslist looking for someone moving to the Erie area. Then have them split the cost of the UHaul. This way you cut your cost in half.

[macdiver]

Don't forget that if you use your trailer it will be left in Pa. while you transit the canal.  You would then need to get your trailer back to Fl.