Transporting a boat

TRG

TRG

Member
Jul 20, 2022
60
Vancouver, WA
Boat Info
2000 SeaRay 400 sedan bridge
2011 Mastercraft X45 (for sale)
Engines
(2) CAT 3126 diesels
Looking at purchasing a new to me sea ray boat. I live in Portland and am looking around the PNW for boats. I have a 400db boat I’m interested in but I am in Portland and boat is in Tacoma. Wondering what I would be looking at for transportation fees. Would it be better to transport by land if this is even possible or hire a captain to deliver boat?
 
If I read correctly, it has a beam of over 14 feet, putting it into a different realm as far as transporting overland. As others can tell you, Oregon is difficult to get oversized load permits. Tacoma to Portland is around 400 water miles, so that might be the easier/cheaper route. Besides, running through the San Juans would be a great trip!
 
It can be transported over land, but for a db that’s too much disassembling and reassembling. Call the local captains and see how much they would charge to bring it home for you.
 
Agree with the water delivery. Mileage wise, Tacoma to Portland ~150 miles. The shear trucking cost is nothing. The breakdown and put it back cost is where it will get you.

Bennett
 
400 miles over water @ 0.5mpg, $6.00/gallon, roughly $4,800 in fuel. Do 150 miles a day, make it a long weekend?

I'm not sure you could truck a 400DB 150 miles for less than $4,800. I had a 340 hauled 200 +/- miles 8 years ago for $2500 +/-. That required zero prep, zero disassembly.
 
We were in Olympia, WA at Swantown Marina and yacht club had their boats hauled up I-5 from Portland and boat ramp launched. All 30-40’. There is also a big yard there with sling launching available.
 
We did that run in the opposite direction on my 550DB, starting in Pasco and ending up in Seattle. The long run from Ilwaco to Port Angeles made for a long day (0800-2200), but it wasn't too bad.

Tacoma to Port Angeles - 100 miles (fuel up here)
Port Angeles to Ilwaco (If Neah Bay is still closed) - 233 miles
Ilwaco to Portland - 100 miles

If you want any info about the trip just PM me.

Mike
 
TRG, if you make that trip check first to find out if Neah Bay has opened up. It's an Indian town and has been closed to non-Indians to keep the risk of COVID down. If it's open, it's a nice harbor and a cheap place to fuel up because the Indians don't have to pay all the taxes.
 
My concern is that this is my first boat over 26’, I haven’t traveled the ocean before except charter fishing, and I’m not a mechanic if anything were to happen. I have a quote from a company for 6k for overland minus the haul out and in fee. Wouldn’t I just have to take the bridge canopy down?
 
TRG said:
My concern is that this is my first boat over 26’, I haven’t traveled the ocean before except charter fishing, and I’m not a mechanic if anything were to happen. I have a quote from a company for 6k for overland minus the haul out and in fee. Wouldn’t I just have to take the bridge canopy down?
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What was the price to pay a captain to do it? I had one hauled via a truck. I wish I would’ve hired a captain and joined him. You’ll get the travel experience and first hand knowledge/training on how to use the boat.
 
jmauld is spot on with that tidbit of advice. What better way to learn about your new boat than to cruise for a few days with a captain. Plus, it would be a trip you would never, ever forget. Just think of the memories you would have.

If you want to see a trip log of what my journey was, check this out...
Want to go for a boat ride? | Club Sea Ray
 
Couple questions about captaining the boat. When you have your stops for the night are there public docks you can tie up for the night? Is there a good phone app that shows fuel stations, tide tables, and obstacles and sand bars / shallows to avoid on the route?
 
I just trucked my 2001 Sundancer 310 from Iowa to Michigan for $3200 this spring. I used www.davesmarinetransport.com and he had the ability to pick up and deliver via boat ramp, which saved me haul-out, put in fees. No idea if they travel in your area. I had to clear my radar arch and that cost me $200 in labor because I couldn’t get down there to do it myself.
 
TRG said:
Couple questions about captaining the boat. When you have your stops for the night are there public docks you can tie up for the night? Is there a good phone app that shows fuel stations, tide tables, and obstacles and sand bars / shallows to avoid on the route?
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Yes on the public docks. There are docks upstream from you at Camas and Washougal and also in PDX around Hayden Island. I'm not aware of any right in Vancouver though.

I'm also not aware of a good phone app that does all that but you don't have to worry about sand bars or other obstacles. Those will show up on the boat's GPS/Plotter. Your captain will show you how to use the GPS/Plotter. I'd also suggest you check online and find a Safe Boating Course.

It's a WA requirement that you take it and I'd suggest you take it in a classroom setting rather than online. In the classroom setting you will pick up a lot of good information from the other boaters who are there. I've taken the boater safety course five different times and have learned new stuff every time I've taken it. If you have a significant other, have her take it with you. It will build confidence and knowledge in both of you. My wife and I took the course together and it helped to remove a lot of her uneasiness about boating.

Also, don't forget to arrange for moorage space in PDX or Vancouver for when you get the boat home.
 
Gofirstclass said:
Yes on the public docks. There are docks upstream from you at Camas and Washougal and also in PDX around Hayden Island. I'm not aware of any right in Vancouver though.

I'm also not aware of a good phone app that does all that but you don't have to worry about sand bars or other obstacles. Those will show up on the boat's GPS/Plotter. Your captain will show you how to use the GPS/Plotter. I'd also suggest you check online and find a Safe Boating Course.

It's a WA requirement that you take it and I'd suggest you take it in a classroom setting rather than online. In the classroom setting you will pick up a lot of good information from the other boaters who are there. I've taken the boater safety course five different times and have learned new stuff every time I've taken it. If you have a significant other, have her take it with you. It will build confidence and knowledge in both of you. My wife and I took the course together and it helped to remove a lot of her uneasiness about boating.

Also, don't forget to arrange for moorage space in PDX or Vancouver for when you get the boat home.
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Thanks, I have all this as we are active boaters in the pdx/Vancouver area. Thinking more along the lines of the travel between Tacoma to Astoria/illwaco
 
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