Transporting the boat - advice needed

[ES]

Hi, I have a dilemma..this is a new one for me, but I am sure several of you already went through the same. So, looking for your advice.

It looks like we will be moving our boat from Lake Gaston (northern NC side) to Lake Norman (NC).
I don't have a trailer for the boat, since I bought it on the lake and just stored it in the boathouse.

Should I buy a trailer or just ship the boat? (2010 210 SANTE)

I know there are a couple of used trailers I could buy from members of this site, but I am debating whether that makes sense for the longer term.
I will probably need to move boat sometime this year or first half of next year and then store it (marina? storage place?) until we get a new place on the lake, probably in Summer or Fall next year.
If I ship the boat (how expensive is it?), I will need to find a marina where to store it. Not a big fan of keeping it in the water while at the Marina and need to look at covered storage (though I imagine it would cost a fortune).
If I buy a trailer, I can probably store the boat in a suburb, covered storage place, until I need it. Which would be cheaper, but obviously less convenient if the family wants to just drive to the Marina and enjoy a quick boat ride.
Any ideas/suggestions are welcome - thanks for your help.

[Paxdad]

Do you have a vehicle that is well equipped to tow it with is my first question back to you??

[ES]

Do you have a vehicle that is well equipped to tow it with is my first question back to you??

Good question, yes I do, hitch included.

What would you do in my shoes?

[mcbridek]

Hello ES - I am also on Lake Gaston - I have a 196 trailer, but that will not help you.... I would not ship, but would borrow a trailer from the nautique dealer on the lake and move it myself (since you have a tow vehicle). If you can find a reasonable priced used, that is an option - but that is hard to find. If I would avoid a trailer, if I could. Also - what ever trailer you use - tires have to be 5 years old or less (I had a blowout on RT 85 towing and it is no fun and a risk to your boat)..... If I can help - keanmcbride@gmail.com

[Nautiquehunter]

How far is it from your lake to Norman?

[ES]

How far is it from your lake to Norman?

About 210 miles

[ES]

Hello ES - I am also on Lake Gaston - I have a 196 trailer, but that will not help you.... I would not ship, but would borrow a trailer from the nautique dealer on the lake and move it myself (since you have a tow vehicle). If you can find a reasonable priced used, that is an option - but that is hard to find. If I would avoid a trailer, if I could. Also - what ever trailer you use - tires have to be 5 years old or less (I had a blowout on RT 85 towing and it is no fun and a risk to your boat)..... If I can help - keanmcbride@gmail.com

Thank you. I guess this is why I am on the fence: I don't think it makes sense to buy a trailer, assuming I would just need it for once or maybe twice. If I buy an older trailer I'll make sure if has new tires - blowing a tire on a highway does not sound like fun at all....

[Paxdad]

I would first try to borrow/ rent one (a good one with spare tire as Mcbridek points out) from the dealer. If that doesn't work I would then have it shipped usually around $2-4/ mile. And last I would buy a trailer as it sounds like you don't really want to go that route. I just had a friend that purchased a 36' Cruisers and had it shipped from Charlotte down to Atlanta (Lake Lanier) and it was right at $1000 which included all permitting/ trailer/ load and launch etc. The worst thing about owning a trailer is if you don't use it with some frequency it does take a toll on all the components by just sitting from my experience.

[ES]

Thanks everyone for the useful input. For those of you who shipped the boat: is there any company out there that you recommend?

[Sergoss]

Last year i call to Movewheels, just because before it i use them to ship my car, they give a price in 1.5$ per mile to ship boat from WA to MI, good guys i recommend them