I guess, typically. . .how much does it cost to truck ship or hire a captain to run a boat from New Hampshire or Florida to Virginia? Is it worth it? What about great lakes boats? Is there a size limit?
Just thinking out loud. . .local boats have kind of fizzled out, starting to expand the search.
Thanks!
As others said, my favored way is to run it yourself, even if it takes months or a year to get it home. May be your best chance of seeing some areas.
No as to truck shipping, that's going to vary a lot based on size and structure, but figure $15,000 to $40,000 ball park.
As to a captain, figure a minimum of $300/day and depending on the boat, add in a mate. So from a low of $300 to a high of $450 with mate. Also, figure their air fare to and from. The number of days is obviously very dependent on speed. From Fort Lauderdale to Norfolk is 925 nm inside and 747 outside. It can take as few as four days or as long as 7 or 8. With a boat that only reaches 7 or 8 knots you'd be talking 10 to 12 days.
From the Great Lakes, first it depends on which lake, but more it depends on whether the boat clears 20' and can take the canals. From Chicago to Oswego is 1,045 nm and from Buffalo to Oswego only 200. Oswego to NYC you're talking close to 400 nm but it's a slow trip. Now if you can't take the Erie and have to go up the St. Lawrence and around, you can add another thousand miles or so plus you need to be able to handle rougher seas. However, if you can't navigate the Erie, then you probably can handle the other route.
So, Florida is fairly easy, the Great lakes longer and how much longer depends on where on the lakes.
My philosophy has been whereever the boat is, it's already there. So you saved half the trip to go cruise that area. Looking that way it's not additional cost, it's reduced cost if you cruise yourself. Looking at the worst case you presented of Chicago. If you pick the boat up there and cruise home you're talking a total of 1700-1800 nm getting it home. Well, to take a trip cruising to Chicago would be 3400-3600 nm.
Take a Florida boat and let's say you only have a couple of weeks at a time you can cruise. Divide it up into 4 trips or even more. The only added cost you incur is airfare's home and back to the boat.