J27 #150

Bringing the boat home

The story begins in late November 2007 with an accepted offer and deposit and then continues thru to pick up of the boat in May 2008.  This boat was purchased based on verbal descriptions and a written inventory list and subject to no survey.  A risky proposition but also a great tool for the seller to have guaranteed sale at an attractive price to purchaser.  By taking the risk of no pre-purchase inspection trip the purchaser also kept overall costs lower.  In the case of a 20 year old 27 foot boat this could be as much as 10% of the final cost.

The boat has no trailer or cradle and the jack stands on which it sits belong to the marina where it is located.  To further complicate the issue it is located in a different country than it new home and is 1300km by road.  

Leaving Nova Scotia in a freak May Snow Storm

Early Steps

Step one is to determine how the boat will find its way home.  Shipping costs are estimated at $4000+ using a commercial hauler.  This represents a very large percentage of the boat's value. Alternatively the buyer could use a flat bed trailer with a cradle and retrieve the boat.  This would require three things to happen.  Find a suitable flat bed trailer, find a cradle and find a suitable tow vehicle.

Three suitable trailers were eventually found.  However with deck heights of 36 and 30 inches clearance on the roadways would be an issue.  The shipping height of the boat was then found an was reported at 8.5 feet.  This would require removal of stanchions, pulpit and push pit for transport.  This would do if needed.  Then the third trailer with an 18 inch deck was found and the transport height issue was solved.

To have a cradle built a machine shop was located that builds marine cradles.  However no measurements were available for  a J27.  Locally the two J27 were on jack stands or different cradles than those desired.  User groups offered no measurements.  Finally the Marine Cradle Shop in Markham,  Ontario was found using the internet and had built cradles for J27 in the recent past.  A cradle was then ordered and shipped.

A tow vehicle for a 1300 km journey must be a lot sturdier than one for a 100km journey.  My Jeep would do but at 6 years old and with a tow weight nearing the vehicles capacity was not the ideal vehicle.  Then a friend with a heavy duty Chevrolet Silverado diesel with 14,500 lb towing capacity offered to use his truck for the trip.

We now had truck, trailer and cradle.  Of the three two were loaned at no charge and made the trip possible.  

The 8 x 20 foot flat deck trailer and cradle used for the trip

The Trip

On the first of May the cradle was loaded on to the trailer and we set off on our journey thru a freak May snowfall.  We arrived at the marina at 7AM the next morning after driving all night.  This afforded us an hour to inspect the boat with no seller or marina staff on hand.  This accomplished we set off for breakfast to await the yard to open for business.

By 12 noon we had the boat loaded on the trailer, had met the seller and had all the sails, cushions, motor etc... loaded.  Another two hours had the mast , boat and cradle secured and we were ready to leave the marina for the last time.  The previous owner had provided me with all the papers tracing ownership of the vessel back to original factory purchase as well as invoices for work that had been done.

We stayed overnight and departed for home at 4AM the next morning.  The trip home took two hours longer than the trip to the marina as we had to stop more frequently for fuel and had a lengthy stay at the border as the boat cleared customs.  Thankfully the purchase was well documented and notarized and all receipts were on hand.  After paying 13% of purchase price in taxes we crossed the international boarder and headed for home.

Total costs for fuel were $900 and other misc expenses of food and accommodation a further $300.  On top of this was a marina fee of $200 despite the promise by the marina that loading was already paid.  Total costs $1400 plus the taxes at the border.  Roughly one third the cost of commercial hauling but only possible due to the generous loan of vehicles and time.

As first seen in marina.  A lot of shuffling required to get it out.

Loading on trailer with Travel Lift

Loading the mast with boom truck.  Marina charged extra for this.

At the motel ready to travel

After clearing customs.  Boat almost home.

View from my dining room window