Move to Vancouver Island

Greetings; As the owner of 1987 CC 381 which I consider level eight in condition my family circumstances have changed. (I know she is not a classic trawler) The issue is that I am considering relocating to Vancouver Island. Do I sell in the Ontario/Northern US market or take her with me. Needless to say I know the her intimately and over the last four years have upgraded everything except the engines. They are 454s with 1600 hrs.
My concern is would this vessel be appropriate for the west coast? The other concern is has anyone moved this vessel by truck. If so what had to be removed to reduce height.

Looks like a great boat for that area, and wouldn't need much, if anything removed. My concern would be the cost of moving might approach the value of the vessel.

It's a big island, whereabouts?

Moorage availability and costs may be a factor.

As far as suitability for PNW, does the vessel like the rain with no leaks or drips. Unlike Ontario winter haul outs are not necessary on VI so winter cruising is the norm which means diesel heat, with a gas boat that is problematic.

Where on VI? Slips can be tough to find. Is the boat worth enough to justify the cost of a haul? Have a dock mate who purchased a Carver 57 in Michigan and had it truck hauled to BC, so it can be done. Lots to think about.

What on earth is a CC 381?

Chris Craft?

manyboats said:

What on earth is a CC 381?

Chris Craft?

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Eric-- The photo is a Chris Craft 381.

Virtually any boat will work in the PNW//BC. Some better than others, of course. The issue of on-board heat has been brought up and is a valid one to consider.

Another is range. I have no clue what kind of range a twin-gas CC381 has, but if you hope to do some longer cruises-- Inside Passage, etc-- it's something to think about.

Forom the photos I looked at on the web it appears the boat would be pretty easy to truck. We trucked our old GB36 from California to here in 1998 and nothing had to come off other than mast, boom, antennas and venturi. Smartest thing would be to call a marine trucking company-- Associated and Dudley are two very experienced and reputable marine trucking companies in this area-- and talk to them about requirements and cost.

Whether a particular boat is suited for a particular region is almost completely a matter of personal preference. If you really like your boat and want to bring it with you then it will work as well for you here as it does for you there. The fact that I or anyone else would prefer a totally different type and make of boat for reasons we could go on explaining forever is pretty much irrelevant.

Know, however, that if you decide to sell your boat there, move to the island, and then buy a boat here once you learn more about boating in this region, as of last week there are 357,268.5 nice cruising boats for sale in this area.

One thing to keep in mind is that because the PNW/BC/SE Alaska region offers such superior cruising opportunities the makes and models of boats that are best suited or popular for this kind of cruising often command considerably higher prices than the same boats in the same condition elsewhere. I don't know if this is still the case today, but when we bought our cabin cruiser in 1998 it most definitely was; the same boat we bought in California would have cost us some $10,000 to $15,000 more up here just by virtue of the difference in location. This made the $4,000 trucking fee a good deal indeed.

Can't help with the actual move information but I would suggest you spend some time talking to the marinas under consideration.

As asked where are you considering?

Moorage has been tight all over the coast in the last few years. Make sure a suitable slip will be available. That can be done while you are figuring how to move and how many $$ to move the boat. Both should be done before a decision is made.

I believe the moorage issues have softened a bit over the past couple of years, at least in the lower mainland. However, its still best to look into it. I know there is a shortage of moorage in Comox. WRT to trucking: you might find it best and most cost effective to drive your boat into the US and then transport through the US to say, Bellingham and then run the boat to BC. There shouldn't be any big issues, although relocating a boat to BC from Ontario might have some "administrative issues" (not sure).


As you know this boat well and if you are happy with here, I think you will be happy with it here. With existing fuel burn and tankage, what is her range?


Marin brings up some important points about the number of boats for sale in the PNW, however, be aware that it costs another 25% to bring a non-North American boat into BC, and the buying power of the $Cdn has declined considerably if you are looking to import a boat from Washington (as we did in June 2013). For example it would cost us another $75k Cdn to bring our boat to BC., just because of the change in the current exchange rate (Cdn to US) alone.

Thank you all for your input and Eric thanks for the photo. I just assumed that CC would be understood as well as the "381" designation. She is US built in North Carolina.


Points given are great. I never thought about dockage as on Georgian Bay we seem to have quite a number vacant. As for cost the "boating buck" never seems to get any less and that cost has to be accepted. As for trucking cost I have not looked deeply into that yet but feel that 10 grand might be the ball park and my limit. Given the price of "wet" coast boats replacing her would be well in excess of original capital plus transportation. As we all know no boat sold as "sail away" ready meets our individual requirements and I really do not want to start the refurbishing again, getting too old. My only concern is gas engines, but going through the listing there are still a great number of similar sized boats using gas. Location would be Saanich/Victoria area but would consider further up island as necessary.


Height requirements is under 14 feet. The air draft given by Chris Craft is 11ft 7 , considering the arch off she should make the grade considering that the 14 is from the ground. Beam a healthy 14 ft which may or may not be a problem. The lift is doable.

The 12 month season is an issue and yes we have some leaks that come and go, but generally she is water tight. As for heat, that could be an issue, but having reverse air things should be acceptable to those who complain. As an aside I lived in Victoria in the late sixties and have seen ice on Oak Bay and also boated New Years day 68/69. Not many boats out during the nasty Dec/Jan/Feb time frame.


As for range, drive her at 14 plus and yes the range is likely around 150, but keep her at 8 to 10 and 200 plus can be achieved. Of course taking advantage of the tide currents would help.


As for a US destination I do not see that as a problem and perhaps the least expensive way is to take her on her own bottom to Duluth then truck to the Snake River, down to the Columbia and then to Victoria. Hell of a trip and would make the Loop look like child's play. Duluth is only 600 NM from the Owen Sound via the south shore of Lake Superior. Anything is possible.


Once again thanks and keep the info flowing.

Personally i wouldn't do it. Twin 454 boats are rarely worth more than perhaps $75K in the BC market, because our gas is more expensive and 1600 hours is not seen as low for 454's.

A friend brought his 34 PDQ Catamaran out only to sell it a year later, noting the variance in our weather as a disappointment (doesn't really get hot here like back east). PDQ and CC have higher resale value there than here, as well, not many parts or cohorts for them out here.

I brought a boat from NJ to Bellingham as suggested and it was an expensive proposition and wind whipped when it got here. Had a useless A/C on it as well.

Cash out and spend the winter peeking at boat porn. That's half the fun, for me.

I'm with djones44 on this one for all the reasons he/she cited, especially resale and running costs. 15-20 cents a litre might not sound like a lot but 454's love our BC gas and I know of 454 boats that have been on the market for a long, looooong time.


Every province and state has their own highway limits so you need someone who knows the drill. There are a number of BC boat builders shipping east and looking for a return load which could be to your benefit.


If you are adamant about trucking her, consider own bottom to Thunder Bay rather than Duluth.

Hawgwash said:

I'm with djones44 on this one for all the reasons he/she cited, especially resale and running costs. 15-20 cents a litre might not sound like a lot but 454's love our BC gas and I know of 454 boats that have been on the market for a long, looooong time.


Every province and state has their own highway limits so you need someone who knows the drill. There are a number of BC boat builders shipping east and looking for a return load which could be to your benefit.


If you are adamant about trucking her, consider own bottom to Thunder Bay rather than Duluth.

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Any idea how much it would cost to move a 36' boat (17 tonnes), 12.5' beam from Thunder Bay to Vancouver? Ballpark?

Check out the prices to dry store and launch at Van Isle Marina. Space should be available and very nice overall facility. Lots of nearby things to do and see on the water so fuel use could be kept way down.

Gas right now is cheap (relatively) but it could be very different five or so years ahead. What if gas went up a dollar a gal soon after you got here?

Also consider that w the cost of gas being low now it may be a golden opportunity to sell now when you'll get more for your boat and have many more people looking. The saying to young men or boys just loosing a girlfriend "there's lots of fish in the sea" .. well there's lots of boats for sale in the PNW. Just fuel for your decision and of course I know little about the situation where you are.

I'd like to move to Cambell River. I'll come up to look around sometime.

manyboats said:

I'd like to move to Cambell River. I'll come up to look around sometime.

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Let me know when you're in the area; if I'm around I'll show you my Rocna...

Or, we could chat and I'll show you around.

Are you moving for work, or retirement? If for retirement, there are so many places to choose from, each with their own distinct "flavour".

Sointula, Heriot Bay, Savary Island, and Lund were my favourites on the south coast.

Cyclone said:

As for a US destination I do not see that as a problem and perhaps the least expensive way is to take her on her own bottom to Duluth then truck to the Snake River, down to the Columbia and then to Victoria. Hell of a trip and would make the Loop look like child's play. Duluth is only 600 NM from the Owen Sound via the south shore of Lake Superior. Anything is possible.

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Scratch the idea of doing the Snake River trip. That would be a fun trip, but it's a helluva long ways from the Snake River to Victoria.

Just to give you an idea....

Lewiston, ID to the Columbia River 140 miles plus 4 dams/locks, 3 day trip.
Columbia River to Pacific, 225 miles plus 4 dams/locks, 3 day trip
Coast of WA, 175 miles, 2 day trip
Strait of Juan de Fuca to 70 miles, 1 day trip.

That would be a beautiful trip (I've cruised all of it) but the most expensive part of that trip would be once you leave the freeways and hit the two lane roads to Lewiston On the 2-lanes you're going to need pilot cars and your expense just went up tremendously.

If you want to boat on the Columbia, ship the boat to Portland, OR. There are yards there that can drop it in the river for you. You're still 100+ miles to the Pacific and can get some great boating in.

If you have specific questions about boating on the rivers here, please fire away.

Starting on Idaho's Salmon River would be a better place to start. The water is so clear! (leastwise it was 40 years ago).

The dreams continue. Thanks markpierce and Guru for your insight into taking water road trip to BC. The most inexpensive would be truck from Ontario/GB to Vancouver area. Boat to the Island.
The discussion continues. As my 454s are closed cooling even though they are old and have many hours, they are fixable in most cases by me. As well replacement is a 1/10th cost of a diesel. More planning, but do keep the ideas flowing.

three seasons ago I bought an
American tug in Detroit [appx 37 ft long 13.5 beam] and had it shipped to Laconner wa back to the factory--- cost 15,500-- well worth it as the seller negotiated for the shipping cost and that particular boat is worth at least that much more in the pnw-- if I were certain that I would have the boat 10 + years I may consider a diesel repower, but even at that you would have to put thousand's of hrs on the engines to break even. good luck with your decision

First tender received: Via US 17K via Canada 22K plus HST. Decision has not been made but it looks like she will reside in eastern Canada.
The communication with you all has been great. More will follow in a month.

Cyclone, I sent you a PM.