Shipping to Alaska

cwthayer · Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2014 9:56 pm Post subject: Shipping to Alaska

I am in the process of purchasing a 25 C-Dory. I need to ship it from Seattle to Anchorage. I have a quote from TOTE for almost 5K. Any other experiences or recommendations?

Captains Cat · Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2014 10:15 pm Post subject:

There is a Brat that makes that trip once a year, towing a boat for folks. Someone will post his name.

Charlie

Boomer · Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2014 12:00 am Post subject:

We used the State Ferry last year when we bought our 22' Cruiser. I believe it was a littler more than $3K to get it from Bellingham to Whittier. It was a really nice way to ship the boat, and the ferry staff seemed to keep a nice eye on it while it was in transit.

akc-dory · Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2014 12:25 am Post subject:

might try member, Jack in Alaska, High Tide ll

hardee · Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2014 12:44 am Post subject:

Here is a bit from a 2011 trip he was making.

yukonjbishop · Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2014 8:19 am Post subject:

For our 22' cruiser we used the state ferry from Bellingham to Skagway. Shipped as an unaccompanied vehicle - we just met the ferry in Skagway to pick up the boat. Worked well and was the least expensive option we could find at the time.

breausaw · Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2014 11:17 am Post subject:

This Alaska Outdoor forum thread has some options:
http://forums.outdoorsdirectory.com/showthread.php/141100-Shipping-a-boat-from-WA-are-to-AK-who-has-the-best-rates

Jack in Alaska · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2014 3:19 am Post subject: Alaska tow

Yes it is me. Made my last delivery late April in Wasilla of a 25' Cruiser for a $2100 donation for fuel.
I have driven the Alaska Hyw. 79 times w/o any problems. Towed up six C-Dories and an aluminum 26'.
I believe my Ak. Hyw. runs are over as my 1st mate is getting tired of the trip. We are flying to Az. and back this coming season, unless I can convince her to fly and let me drive. I just love that trip.

Casey · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2014 11:54 am Post subject:

You might also want to check the schedule(s) and prices for the 'barge (e.g. Nordland?). Year's ago I shipped a 25' Boston Whaler from Seattle to Naknek (King Salmon) AK and it worked very well.

Best,
Casey&Mary

Kushtaka · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2014 2:32 pm Post subject:

The AK Ferry (Alaska Marine Highway System) is subsidized and you won't likely find a better price, although you will probably find much more convenient shipping.

AML/Lynden Transport is probably your most convenient, but will cost more.

However, I have started moving boats around by putting them up for bid on uship.com. I was pretty wary of this at first, but we have gotten stellar service from everyone who has delivered anything for us, and the costs have been about 20% of the shipping quotes we've gotten. That's not 20% less, that 20% of.

We had a 25' Safe Boat delivered from New Jersey to Seattle (granted, that's not AK, but it's just a recent example), and got a bunch of shipping quotes all in the neighborhood of $10k. We put it up for bid on uship and got it delivered within a few days for about $1200. I'm sure results vary, but so far, we've been very happy with uship and I wouldn't go paying full price until you've at least given uship a shot.

nimrod · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2014 6:12 pm Post subject:

I was recently quoted $2/mi by Cory with Sharps. That's in the neighborhood of $5-6K from east coast to PNW. I can't personally justify that.

jd

Half Share · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2014 10:14 pm Post subject:

We used Uship to transport our boat from Michigan to Texas. The first person had vehicle trouble so we had to go with another shipper. We were very pleased with the service and price. His name on Uship was Billie.

Martha

Mighty Bite · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2014 11:18 pm Post subject:

Having pulled 5 boats from Washington to Fairbanks over the years I would much prefer the highway route and doing it myself, but that option may not be available or may be onerous to some. If the latter is the case I'd have it put on the ferry at Bellingham and pick it up in Haines, particularly if you want it for this year. If its a next year deal have Jack bring it up on his annual northbound spring migration.