St Croix USVI to Florida coast

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Pack Mule

Pack Mule

TF Site Team
Joined
Jan 24, 2013
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Location
USA
Vessel Name
Slo-Poke
Vessel Make
Jorgensen custom 44
I'm just curious what would be the most practical way to move a trawler/tug from St Croix USVI to Fla coast that's not mechanitally sound? The boat has made the trip from St Croix to the Notheast coast a few times but now it needs too much work to make the trip.
Don't get excited I'm not doing anything I was just curious .
 
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Stick a mast in it and sail it back!
 
How big and does it run at all. If so, go to Puerto Rico and put it on a container ship that goes to Jax. You could also try to get it to the D.R. and that may allow you more/cheaper options, but I'm not sure.
 
Seven Star serves St. Thomas and has regular trips from there to West Palm.
 
"that's not mechanitally sound?"

In what way?
 
There are three approaches in returning, the first two are island hopping. To Puerto Rico then go around its southern coast to Boqueron, then up through Mona Passage 18-20 hours to Samana, DR. Then to Luperon or Ocean World, then Island hop through Turks and Bahamas. Second island hopping route is north coast of Puerto Rico. San Juan to Samana is then 30 hours.

Third option is to go for days from the Virgins to the Bahamas.This is certainly fastest, but beyond my stamina with only two on board.
If the tanks are leaking you will have your greatest risk of being spotted by the authorities in Puerto Rico.
 
Most freighters that move boats as deck cargo are foreign flag and cannot move from one US port to another US port. Your boat would have to be loaded in the British Virgin Islands to be unloaded in Florida unless the freighter is US flag. Check with Sevenstar for shipping rates.
 
yachtbrokerguy said:
Most freighters that move boats as deck cargo are foreign flag and cannot move from one US port to another US port. Your boat would have to be loaded in the British Virgin Islands to be unloaded in Florida unless the freighter is US flag. Check with Sevenstar for shipping rates.
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I was surprised looking at SevenStar's website that they do ship from St. Thomas to Palm Beach.
 
yachtbrokerguy said:
Most freighters that move boats as deck cargo are foreign flag and cannot move from one US port to another US port. Your boat would have to be loaded in the British Virgin Islands to be unloaded in Florida unless the freighter is US flag. Check with Sevenstar for shipping rates.
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My buddy just went through this. He lives in San Diego and he bought a boat in Florida. He had to ship the boat to Ensenada and then take it to San Diego. The total cost was around 16k . The boat was a Defever 34.
 
Pack Mule said:
My buddy just went through this. He lives in San Diego and he bought a boat in Florida. He had to ship the boat to Ensenada and then take it to San Diego. The total cost was around 16k . The boat was a Defever 34.
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That's typical. Shipping from South Florida to and from the West Coast is between Victoria, Vancouver, and Ensenada.
 
This Tug that's in St Croix has been for sale for a few years. The location along with needed repairs are not helping the sale . Thanks for all input.
 
The governing law which restricts foreign flagged vessels from carrying freight from US port to US port is called the Jones act.

The Jones act was recently suspended for PR ports by executive order to enable more shipping bandwidth after the hurricane.

Not sure how long the suspension is, or how soon is feasible to ship. Just a data point for the discussion.
 
Pack Mule said:
This Tug that's in St Croix has been for sale for a few years. The location along with needed repairs are not helping the sale . Thanks for all input.
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Not knowing the details, a couple of thoughts.

I would spend very little buying it.

I would not spend money transporting it to the mainland US until making the repairs. My logic is that you need to get into it, figure out the true extent of repairs needed and be sure it justifies transporting it. The cost of transport could easily exceed the value of a boat in bad condition. On the other hand, if all it took was replacing tanks and a minor amount of engine work, then you'd be ready to go. Of course then you probably wouldn't be looking for transport.

If pursuing it, I'd get it surveyed where is and then I'd get the work done at the nearest decent yard.
 
I'm just dreaming like always. William has to get sold before I do anything, but I do like being ready if it does happen . Thanks for all the insight.
 
The trip from the Virgins back to Florida should not be undertaken by any boat that is not in top seaworthy condition. For a 7 kt trawler there are a number of mandatory 16-22 hour jumps. Lee shores with strong wave action for Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. The notorious Caicos Bank of coral heads and skinny water adds to the challenge. Many of the harbors require navigation through cuts in a reef. Repairs, if needed, can leave you stranded for weeks, months as parts are not available and in certain countries customs offices are notorious for delaying delivery of shipments from the US and Canada.

Thus take the advice of having the repairs done first then bringing the boat back.
 
There are over seventy of these Lord Nelson Tugs built. I should be able to find one closer to home when and if I ever get ready. I could do most of the repairs here myself but the shipping cost aren't worth it. Even if the boat was in perfect shape , I would have to hire a captain. The right boat in the wrong location is the wrong boat.
 
The Jones act was recently suspended for PR ports by executive order to enable more shipping bandwidth after the hurricane.

With the billions being dumped on PR , there should be lots of empty ships going back to the USA.

On smaller ships deck cargo is a perk for the captain.

Cash is king!
 
BandB said:
Yes, USVI is exempt. Hence SevenStar from St. Thomas to Palm Beach.
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Apparently, the US just completed the purchase of USVI from Denmark in 1917. the Jones Act went into place in 1920 but excluded the USVI so as not to disturb existing revenue streams.
 
" but now it needs too much work to make the trip.
Don't get excited I'm not doing anything I was just curious."

If it needs that much work, either dont buy it or if you ow it, just maybe cheaper to sell it there and buy something else when you get back to the States.
 
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Where are you located? There's a LN on the West Coast and the East Coast that would be cheaper to have delivered I would think.
 
SaltyDawg86 said:
Where are you located? There's a LN on the West Coast and the East Coast that would be cheaper to have delivered I would think.
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I'm in Tennessee and just dreaming right now . I have to sell what I have first . I agree the one on the East coast makes more sense .
 
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