A SeaCraft owner again!

[Fr. Frank]

Thanks Tim. I have it listed on Uship to get bids on shipping it here rather than driving up and back. I have to get it out of the owner's yard by the end of August, and it has no trailer. I was worried I might have to pay to have someone put it on a trailer and move it to a storage lot and block it up if I cannot get it shipped in a timely manner.

I have a 19-21 single axle aluminum drive-on trailer here to put it on. My 20' Chaparral is in the water, and the trailer sits empty, so it's ready for the Seafari.

Previous owner is the 2nd owner, having bought the boat in 1976. He says everything works, but it has only been run on a hose quarterly or so from 2002 to 2010, when it was winterized, and he thinks the manifold and riser need to be replaced, as well as the impeller. I'll just do a major service on the motor and drive, including bellows and gaskets, etcetera.

The fuel upon which the motor was last run in the spring of 2011 was put in the tank back in 2002, (along with regular Stabil or Seafoam, again he's unsure), but the motor started right up 8 1/2 years later, he said. He says the tank is over 3/4 full, and it is the 28 gallon tank. I'll need to drain that and inspect it. Fuel tank was replaced with a new aluminum tank in 1995, same time as the transom was re-cored and trim tabs added. he's not sure, but he thinks the new tank was not foamed in place.

Water Rat, he says the galley seat was there behind the helm when he bought the boat in '76.

He also said the original engine wiring insulation is getting brittle, and it needs to have a complete new harness made for the motor. (The boat wiring was replaced in '96).

The canvas Navy top is custom made by the PO himself and his wife, and dates from around '96 or '97. I wouldn't know how to copy it, but if you really want to copy it, I'll lay it out and take extensive photos when I get it here.

I'll keep you all updated. Right now, I wait anxiously....

[flyingfrizzle]

[500UOTE=Bigshrimpin;229891]Frank - $10.40 WTH . . . That has to be a new record low price for a seafari. I can help move it if you have a place to store it. You might consider Uship rather than the drive. I'll bet you could get that delivered to you door for about $800.[/QUOTE]

U - ship is a good option but best price I could get on my seafari from Massachusetts to NC was $1200 with most phone quotes from local movers costing $2000-$2800. Most shippers will want at least $2.25 at a minimum to over $3 a mile so you can do the math. I rode with my neighbor who was a professional shipper for seafox and payed his Gas in a new diesel 3500 plus tolls and gave him $300 for his time and ware on his truck. The tolls up north were $200 bucks and that's going around many of them. He knew the way to save on the tolls but said I 95 all the way would be close to $300 alone. NJ turnpike is like $80 or more for the one toll alone pulling a two axel trailer so if you pull a single it will be less. Diesel for the 850 miles X2 was around $500 alone. You are twice as far so figure on a $1000 in gas and at least $200 in tolls so your figure of $1200 is right on the money but maybe more definitely not less. NO body will do this for $800 or any less than $2000. I would figure on at least $ 2500-$3000 to get it shipped to your door. You could do it for half and save money if you had the 3-4 days to ride the road. Still a nice boat for a GREAT deal either way you go. If you can find someone pulling to Massachusetts that needs a load back then that may be your best bet. Hope it works out well for you and if you make the trip yourself let me know if you need help in NC if you have problems passing threw. I will be glad to help.

[McGillicuddy]

Another vote for finding the right guys through uship.com. In my experience, pro boat movers tend to think that everyone that wants to move a boat is a millionaire...

I got my 21 delivered from Detroit to SD for less than 75 cents a mile using uship. Fortunately, no major toll roads that i know of. I had several bids to move it for less. One guy went to look at it with an F150 and retracted his bid saying that it wasn't a 21... Must admit I was blown away by its size when it got here.

Due diligence before trusting someone with your new old SeaCraft goes a long way.

[castalot]

I can lend a hand as well if needed and could possibly give it a place to rest until you get here I have 4 boat stands if needed as well

[Fr. Frank]

So far, uship bids are running around $2500-$2800, mostly. Some of them are ludicrous. The very first bid was for $4200, but he said I had to book within the hour as he was leaving home and wouldn't be able to contact me thereafter. I respectfully declined.

I have already pulled this single-axle trailer empty over 500 miles to help someone else move their boat, so I know I generally get 15.9-16.1 mpg at 55-60 mph. 53 gallons up
I figure fuel economy pulling this boat on a single axle trailer should be similar to or better than what I used to get pulling the Fishalot II on a tandem trailer with the same F250 diesel truck, about 12.5-13.0 mpg at 55-60 mph. 66 gallons comin back
That works out to about 120 gallons of fuel, RT, plus my "fudge factor" of 15% = 140 gallons x $4.00 per gallon average = $560 in fuel costs.
Add in 4 nights in a motel, $65 per night average, or another $260 (with my Clarion clergy discount).
5 days of on-the-road meals for my wife and I = $200.
Tolls & Miscellaneous expenses $180.
Total = $1200 not counting my time.

If my wife insists on a day touristing in Mass, add 25% to that total to reach $1500. [at least ]

[cdavisdb]

Good find, congrats!

You are going to like that aft canvas.

[Toteboat]

Something to keep in mind on hiring a boat mover. Get a copy of their Certificate of Insurance, make sure it's commercial/for hire insurance, not just a personal policy, because he is "for hire" and falls in different category. Get a DOT number from them too. Good luck! Nice find!

[Fr. Frank]

Thanks, everyone. I'm currently planning on making the trip myself, as I'm frustrated with Uship already. I had one person insist his fuel costs to run to Florida were more than $2000, and that didn't include his getting paid.
I also just realized that my ZUMA GPS says its 834 miles to East Weymouth, but Google says it's 1399 miles.
????
I think I better recalculate...

[castalot]

If I'm around and you need a hand getting loaded let me know

[gofastsandman]

Nice find Padre. Even has fish on the rear altar.

You have to see the area if you have never been before.
Fly in and rent a car for a couple of days. Throw her in the back of a u haul and drive home. Leave at 9 pm and you`ll be in Carolina before rush hour.