Shipping OA 440

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Mike H

Veteran Member
Joined
Aug 27, 2020
Messages
56
Location
United States
Vessel Name
Losada
Vessel Make
Californian 48 CPMY
Has anyone ever shipped an OA 440 or 460 Sundeck by truck? The reason I ask is that we are looking to buy one, but we live on the east coast in Maine. Due to height restrictions on the highway, we seem to be limited to a boat on the east coast. Can the Flybridge arch be removed (without a hacksaw or cutting torch)? It looks like the hardtop over the Sundeck can, but what about the arch? Still not sure those removals would get us to the height we want. We don't have the time to do the Canal, and still waiting for the over the top route to open up.
 
We had our 440 hauled from Texas to the Great Lakes 15 years ago.

I had the sunroof lifted off with a large forklift and set on a waiting expanse of shipping foam that was laid out over some 4x4s on the tarmac. Once snuggly wrapped we lifted it to a waiting "sawhorse type" support I had constructed on the sundeck. It rode above the side rails. Then the arch was lifted out of its bracket, wire labeled and cut if necessary, wrapped in shipping foam and laid on top of the sunroof. Obviously the radar, and antennae were removed ahead of time. Very few wires had to be cut.

The flybridge venturi helm wheel, seats, seat rails, wet compass power levers, etc were all removed. The highest point on the trailer was the forward edge of the flybridge at 15'4". I paid extra for a lead pole truck and the additional time to move the boat as the load was above the 13'10" height limit for the interstate. Cost was about the same as removing the entire fly bridge, which I was not about to do (A real nightmare in my estimation). The route took them on some secondary roads and required use of entry /exit ramps to skirt a few underpasses on the divided hiways. No rear escort was required. The RIB sat on a cradle on the semi tractor.

I have photos somewhere on an old computer which I cant access until October. I think I posted someof them years ago here on the forum. Fairly seamless move, although I did most of the disassembly and a good part of the reassembly myself.

If you find one you might want to buy it and store for the winter if it’s on a water route to your destination.
 
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Found some photos...

. boat xport4.jpg

boat xport2.jpg

boat xport1.jpg
 
Quite impressive. What we will do to keep our beloved boat. When we moved from Alaska to Maine, we barged our sailboat from Alaska to Seattle (we already sailed the other way when we bought it) then trucked it cross country. People asked why not sell it and buy another one. To which we replied, we bought it new, we know what it will do, and we know what it has been through.
 
I checked with a Michigan hauler last year, and trucking a boat across the northern tier of the country is obviously a lot easier than either coast. Might want to factor that into the purchase/transportation equation. Also consider truckers who work the northern tier. I know a good one if you get to that point.

Our boat was pretty much land locked in central Texas, so we got it for a price that left room to transport it by truck to the Great Lakes. Plus it was in great condition with very low hours and very limited salt water exposure. I looked at 440s on both coasts and the Gulf and found the right one in Austin, Texas. Go figure.

PM me if you'd like more details of the move.
 
....looks like you're buying the one in Tennessee? :)
 
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That one has been on the market for quite a while, and it now has a sale pending. We are now looking at a Californian 48.
 
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