How far would you drive to pick up and new to you boat?

[aka619er]

I'm thinking of picking up and new /used boat that doesnt happen to be in my area. Actually its not even on the same coast. 1800+ miles away. Not that AZ is actually on a coast. I'm considering taking some time off and driving to pick it up and hauling it home, or flying and renting a truck to bring it back my way. Or just shipping it?

Obviously the price is right and its my tunnel, openbow, outboard style. But!

How far would you drive to pick up a new to you boat?

 

[Yellowboat]

I went to Detroit, but had a company ship it.

 

[Tom Brown]

I have learned that I will not drive 13,000 kms to pick up and deliver an old resto project to someone else, for free.

I'm not sure what my limit is but it's less than that.

 

[Paul65k]

I bought a boat in Northern California (Folsom) and determined that it was cheaper and much less hassle to have Douggiebear (on here) pick it up and deliver it for me......he did it for about what the gas would have cost me to make the trip up and back and he even stopped and washed it before he delivered it to me.....he is the absolute best :thumbup::thumbup:

I was able to make the deal and pay for the boat in person on a business trip so I did see and drive the boat before buying it so for me this was the perfect solution.

Good luck!!

 

[Tom Brown]

I went to Detroit, but had a company ship it.

So by the time you got there, the boat was already gone and you had no choice but to judo chop the seller.

 

[Yellowboat]

Exactly

 

[Tom Brown]

The boat I bought from whiteworks went from Parker, AZ to Regina, SK. That's a trip of 2600kms, one way.

It was worth it, though. That same boat would have cost another couple of hundred around here.

 

[Guest]

I have learned that I will not drive 13,000 kms to pick up and deliver an old resto project to someone else, for free.

I'm not sure what my limit is but it's less than that.

 

[Guest]

I drove from Atlanta to Gilbert AZ. and back...to pick up my Eliminator....thru Hurricane Katrina!...:thumbsup

 

[Abc123]

I bought my 19 Ultra in Walnut Creek. I drove there and back in one day. I left at around 3am and returned home at 8pm. Roughly 800 mile round trip. Completely worth it.

I bought my 21 Ultra in Coflax. I stayed in a hotel in Folsom and came back the next day. It was a good 7-8 hours each way. Totally worth it.


A guy I know at work flew to Florida a month ago to take delivery of his new RV. He brought his wife and kids and they had a nice two week trip back to CA in it.


There's deals to be had if you're willing to drive. Both of my trips were boring as hell (straight up the 5 Fwy). Still worth it.

 

[Tom Brown]

I don't know why I added, "for free" in that line. I just wouldn't do it. It has nothing to do with money.

The thing is, I'd love to do it. It would be a cool adventure and a lot of fun but it would be more appropriate for a retired person who can spare the month of time it would take, round trip.

 

[ka0tyk]

my biggest worry is that when/if I drove 1800 miles is that the boat would look nothing like the pictures. There was a bahner for sale on here and other forums and is STILL on craigslist. The guy posted pictures that were like a year old and someone drove all the way out to his place in egypt to look at it and pick it up and was super upset with the fading in the gelcoat and overall condition of the boat... ended up putting the guy on blast i think on pboats. I'm glad i didnt end up being that guy... make sure you get hundreds of pictures, hell even do a facetime or a skype with em before buying.

 

[koenig]

I would go down as far as Phoenix for the right boat. Farther away then Northern Cali it has to be rare, below market value and good shape. Few months back saw a Donzi Minx 20 for sale in Phoenix, met all except condition. Still almost did it, but it sold before I made my mind up. Mostly stick to the area of my cottage in Eastern Washington because people tend to price them to sell being so far from Seattle.

 

[DaytonaBabe]

I'm thinking of picking up and new /used boat that doesnt happen to be in my area. Actually its not even on the same coast. 1800+ miles away. Not that AZ is actually on a coast. I'm considering taking some time off and driving to pick it up and hauling it home, or flying and renting a truck to bring it back my way. Or just shipping it?

Obviously the price is right and its my tunnel, openbow, outboard style. But!

How far would you drive to pick up a new to you boat?

Shoulda saved yourself some miles and bought my Ultra tunnel open-bow OB when it was for sale . Had a guy drive out from Austin for it.

 

[TPC]

Would have been $2500 in fuel alone to pick ours up from the factory in Kentucky, they delivered it for $2100.

 

[aka619er]

Shoulda saved yourself some miles and bought my Ultra tunnel open-bow OB when it was for sale . Had a guy drive out from Austin for it.

Trust me DB I was seriously thinking about it. I think your FIRM scared me away. I love haggling and didnt want to put myself in a position to offend you. Kind of hobby actually. Although I'm looking at the exact same boat but its a DCB.

 

[Nord]

I had my Schiada shipped from Alaska. I strongly recommend going to see it in person before pulling the trigger.

 

[LakeTrash]

Lets see - the boats I still have - from Shreveport, La. to

San Francisco - Jones ET
Duluth, Min. - Jones KT
Kansas City - Jones 20T
Spokane - 31' Warlock
Chicago - STV Euro
Cincinnati - Lotus I

I do not seem to have a limit for something I really want.

LT

 

[Stainless]

From Tucson to Lake Cumberland...very fun trip as I took my young daughters and we left day after Christmas. Got back in a week so they didn't miss any school. Only regret is trailering boat that far caused some stress cracks in deck. Pulling with a 3500 Dually and some rough roads was the cause.

 

[HTMike]

My HTM.. paid to have it delivered From Havasu to NW Indiana.

 

[DaytonaBabe]

Trust me DB I was seriously thinking about it. I think your FIRM scared me away. I love haggling and didnt want to put myself in a position to offend you. Kind of hobby actually. Although I'm looking at the exact same boat but its a DCB.

Understood Ultimately we didn't end up having to come down on the price hardly at all.

Good luck with your purchase! Maybe there is someone on the boards that is local to the boat that can check it out for you to see if it is worth it for you to make the trip to go and get it? Keep us updated if you get it! :thumbup:

 

[Wicky]

I'm thinking of picking up and new /used boat that doesnt happen to be in my area. Actually its not even on the same coast. 1800+ miles away. Not that AZ is actually on a coast. I'm considering taking some time off and driving to pick it up and hauling it home, or flying and renting a truck to bring it back my way. Or just shipping it?

Obviously the price is right and its my tunnel, openbow, outboard style. But!

How far would you drive to pick up a new to you boat?

I drove to the chain of lakes in N. Illinois...1800mi one way. Made it roundtrip in 3.5 days.

 

[TBI]

From Salt Lake to Northridge to get my Sleek back, but I made my little brother drive so I could drink all the way

 

[River Lynchmob]

My dad drove from Arcadia, CA to North Carolina and back to pick up the red Mandella...couldn't find anyone he trusted so he made a week out of it checked out several NASCAR teams facilities and got tours and saw a race...an old family friend lives back there and works for Robby Gordon and knew a bunch of teams so he showed my dad around...turned out to be a cool trip.

 

[B-RAD77]

Left Salt Lake at 9:30 pm drove straight to DCB visited,kicked tires drank two cornas with Dave while his guys rigged my truck headed for home stopped in a Rancho something town slept 3 hrs be lined home next day. I'll be doing it again 15 years later only to Valencia , CA real soon I hope

 

[plaster dave]

If the deals right I think anywhere is fair game.

 

[ChiliPepperGarage]

A few years back my buddy and I drove from Simi Valley, CA to Ontario, Canada to pick up my Cigarette. Left on a Friday afternoon in 80 degree weather in February towing my 20' Outlaw and arrived in Ontario on Sunday afternoon with below freezing weather. Got held up crossing over in Buffalo, NY at customs. The guy wanted what a couple of Harley guys in a lifted truck with CA plates was doing hauling a speed boat into Canada in February and why we were only wearing shorts and T-shirts!

We told him we were headed to the east coast to work construction for the summer and I wanted my boat with me. We were just making a detour to see a friend. He asked if we were 81's, how many Harleys we owned and if we had any guns with us!?! Then he asked if I was going to sell the boat in Canada. I told him no and technically I was right because I was doing a trade deal for the Cig!

Anyway, he finally lets us cross and didn't even search us. So we proceed to the first exit to our designated meeting spot and the other guy is not there. Give him a call and he says he missed the last Canada exit and had to cross over to the US. He had to turn around and cross back over at the very same checkpoint we just went through but he got through with no problems.

We meet up and do the deal but now there is no way I can go back the same crossing pulling the Cig. I'm going to get pulled over for sure because the customs guy going to remember seeing these boats going trough towed by different trucks. We had to drive up farther and cross at Niagara Falls. It was cool to see the falls all frozen.

Any, headed home and hit a blizzard in Ohio. Had to stop because we couldn't see anything but snow headed straight at us. It was like in Star Wars when they went into hyperspace. Continued on and finaly stopped in OK City and got a room. Left the next morning and went through to Amarillo when I noticed a spring perch on the trailer had busted. We were at Hooters for some dinner and a couple locals were checking out the boat. They made a call to a buddy who showed up with a portable welding rig and fixed it up. Wouldn't take any money or beer or anything! Texans are :thumbup:

Stopped at the Route 66 and Devil's Rope (barbed wire) Museum in McClean, TX which was cool. Then straight home, 5000 miles in 5 days!

 

[dougiebear111]

Lets see - the boats I still have - from Shreveport, La. to

San Francisco - Jones ET
Duluth, Min. - Jones KT
Kansas City - Jones 20T
Spokane - 31' Warlock
Chicago - STV Euro
Cincinnati - Lotus I

I do not seem to have a limit for something I really want.

LT

Hey, how are you guys doing. Hope Desert Storm was all it was cracked up to be. It was good to meet you and I hope to see you when I drop off Troys Suzuki. How did Mr. Jones take someone modifing one of his boats? Glad I could hook you up with Brad.

 

[Crazyhippy]

From Vegas, to North of Toronto... 2400+ miles each way

 

[cole_skier]

From St George UT to Bend OR. 1600 plus miles round trip.

 

[Classic Daycruiser]

Tow my families 14' Alumacraft 1000 miles, to save it from being sold.

 

[25Elmn8r]

Drove to north of San Francisco twice for my Daytona. First in the econo box to test drive and make the deal, then the following week to pick it up after i had the cash ready. Both were turn around trips done in a day.

 

[Ibeplumbing]

I just drove from Phoenix to just south of Albuquerque to get my warlock sxt. Was worth it

 

[Maestro]

Having my raysoncraft shipped, not sure on price. My brother is going over the trailer to ensure its road worthy.
We where gonna meet up but we are having a hard time getting our schedule situated. Kinda bummed wanted to do some white water rafting in Utah...

 

[H20 Toie]

I flew to Oklahoma to look at a boat from Los Angeles then two weeks later I drove out and picked it up
My formula I got from New Jersey but had it shipped

 

[alohajeff]

I drove to Winter Haven (Florida) from Irvine (California) and back in 5 days for mine. I would do it again for the right boat at the right price.

Aloha

 

[Abc123]

A few years back my buddy and I drove from Simi Valley, CA to Ontario, Canada to pick up my Cigarette. Left on a Friday afternoon in 80 degree weather in February towing my 20' Outlaw and arrived in Ontario on Sunday afternoon with below freezing weather. Got held up crossing over in Buffalo, NY at customs. The guy wanted what a couple of Harley guys in a lifted truck with CA plates was doing hauling a speed boat into Canada in February and why we were only wearing shorts and T-shirts!

We told him we were headed to the east coast to work construction for the summer and I wanted my boat with me. We were just making a detour to see a friend. He asked if we were 81's, how many Harleys we owned and if we had any guns with us!?! Then he asked if I was going to sell the boat in Canada. I told him no and technically I was right because I was doing a trade deal for the Cig!

Anyway, he finally lets us cross and didn't even search us. So we proceed to the first exit to our designated meeting spot and the other guy is not there. Give him a call and he says he missed the last Canada exit and had to cross over to the US. He had to turn around and cross back over at the very same checkpoint we just went through but he got through with no problems.

We meet up and do the deal but now there is no way I can go back the same crossing pulling the Cig. I'm going to get pulled over for sure because the customs guy going to remember seeing these boats going trough towed by different trucks. We had to drive up farther and cross at Niagara Falls. It was cool to see the falls all frozen.

Any, headed home and hit a blizzard in Ohio. Had to stop because we couldn't see anything but snow headed straight at us. It was like in Star Wars when they went into hyperspace. Continued on and finaly stopped in OK City and got a room. Left the next morning and went through to Amarillo when I noticed a spring perch on the trailer had busted. We were at Hooters for some dinner and a couple locals were checking out the boat. They made a call to a buddy who showed up with a portable welding rig and fixed it up. Wouldn't take any money or beer or anything! Texans are :thumbup:

Stopped at the Route 66 and Devil's Rope (barbed wire) Museum in McClean, TX which was cool. Then straight home, 5000 miles in 5 days!

:thumbup: Pretty cool story.

 

[LuckyStrike]

I'm thinking of picking up and new /used boat that doesnt happen to be in my area. Actually its not even on the same coast. 1800+ miles away. Not that AZ is actually on a coast. I'm considering taking some time off and driving to pick it up and hauling it home, or flying and renting a truck to bring it back my way. Or just shipping it?

Obviously the price is right and its my tunnel, openbow, outboard style. But!

How far would you drive to pick up a new to you boat?

I live in AZ and have Bought Several of my Boats in Fla

 

[Dan Lorenze]

I would call Dougiebear and have him do the driving for the right boat.

 

[Riverbound]

I would call Dougiebear and have him do the driving for the right boat.

That's my thoughts as well. The time it would take me to drive and get a boat could be used to work and make more $ to pay for said boat.