Storing/transporting a sailboat- HELP!

[HakunaMoscato]

My husband and I live in CT and we have a friend living in FL. Our friend impulsively bought a 22.5' sailboat on eBay for $52 without realizing that it's in Connecticut and is asking for our help taking care of it until we can get it to him. My husband and I have approximately zero experience with sailing or boats! How do we store a sailboat, and when the weather warms up, what is the best way to get a sailboat from Connecticut to Florida? Thank you in advance for any advice or suggestions!

 

[cabanafrau]

Your friend needs to obtain winter storage and then potentially hire a transport service to bring his "bargain" to him in the spring. This isn't the type of tasks you impose on your friends' good nature. Number one, it's highly likely he needs to procure a trailer for his moneypit.

 

[easyas123]

Your friend needs to obtain winter storage and then potentially hire a transport service to bring his "bargain" to him in the spring. This isn't the type of tasks you impose on your friends' good nature. Number one, it's highly likely he needs to procure a trailer for his moneypit.

100% all this. Have him arrange to have it wrapped and shipped to you/ put on on the hard.

 

[barkley]

Your friend needs to obtain winter storage and then potentially hire a transport service to bring his "bargain" to him in the spring. This isn't the type of tasks you impose on your friends' good nature. Number one, it's highly likely he needs to procure a trailer for his moneypit.

i agree with this. the transportation needs to be done in the appropriate manner b/c if not there can be serious consequences (i was almost in an auto/boat accident on a freeway when an improperly secured boat slid off it's trailer while being transported. thankfully i noticed something was off with it and had slowed down to create a larger distance between it and i so i was able to brake and swerve).

there's an entire industry committed to winterizing and storing boats-it's nothing i would ask a friend to do.

 

[wgeo]

I recommend this

https://www.uship.com/sailboat-transport/
Asking a friend to store a sailboat and then transport it is a pretty big deal in my opinion.

 

[RedAngie]

Even if you're willing, there may be regulations against storing boats on your property.

 

[barkley]

Even if you're willing, there may be regulations against storing boats on your property.

good point. it was prohibited where we used to live b/c it would be taller than the max height allowed for fencing and boats had to be stored in back yards and not visable from neighbor's or street.

other issue-your homeowner's insurance company. if someone stores at your place you can end up taking on the liability if there's loss or damage, the flip side is some companies charge more if they find out you've got a boat or recreational vehicle stored on your property.

not sure on this, maybe others with boat knowledge know-do boats have to be registered in some states? if so then that can cause an issue between which state it needs to be legally registered/insured in. if it's required and not done then there can be issues when it comes time to transport (i know w/some vehicles in some states even if they are on a flat bed tow truck they have to be displaying current state registration or risk getting pulled over and a hefty fine).

 

[NotUrsula]

FWIW, most states only require boats to be registered if they are seaworthy and being put on the water, with no penalty for not doing so for a boat in what is essentially in permanent dry dock. (The odds of a 22 footer being seaworthy at a cost of $52 are REALLY low.) However, the title transfer normally has to be done within a month, and since the Florida registration on a boat that size is under $50, he might as well do it at the same time.

The best option is for your friend to arrange with a local boatyard in CT to do dry dock repairs over the winter (surely he allowed for the cost of that when he purchased the thing, as it probably needs it at that price), and then plan to sail it down the coast himself in the spring -- with a Florida registration on it.

 

[cabanafrau]

I could give the "friend" a bit more latitude on the request if it didn't come with the expectation that you would deliver it to him. Hauling at 22 foot boat over a thousand miles sounds like a great time I'm delighted to miss out on.

 

[mom2rtk]

Your friend bought a sailboat without investigating where it was or how to get it to his residence? Who does that? And who imposes on friends like that? I don't even like asking a friend to drive me to the airport.

 

[J'aime Paris]

I cannot imagine what a $52 sailboat looks like!

 

[hereyago]

https://images.app.goo.gl/GWmjjW2kPdkPf8L28

 

[leebee]

This is a major commitment of both time and money... BIG money. https://www.uship.com/cost-to-ship/boats/sail-boats/

This isn't something you ask a friend to do for you. Did you offer to store it at your home? If it's going to be outside all winter, it'll need to be wrapped. ALSO... do you own or rent? Your homeowner's insurance or landlord may have something to say about this, AND there may be local ordinances prohibiting storage of boats, items above a certain size, etc.

I'd tell your Florida friend that you are sorry, but this is on HIM/HER to deal with and pay for (although you could look for both storage companies and transport companies in CT, if that'd be helpful to him- but give him/her the info and let him/her enter into the contracts/use his credit card with the storage/shipping people). Honestly, if I was your friend, I'd tell the eBay seller, sorry, can't handle this, eat the $52, and be glad to be out from under this money pit.

 

[VandVsmama]

Your friend made a really dumb choice. And now has asked you to enable that really dumb choice by doing lots of expensive things for him or her.

Tell the friend to do some research and figure it out. If you are feeling charitable, you could agree to meet with the boat shipper people in person there in CT.

But honestly, who the heck buys a boat sight unseen like that? It's probably a massive money pit and a piece of junk for somebody to be willing to part with it for $52.

And...does the boat even really exist?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Are you positive the friend already bought it, or could they be seeking your help first, possibly before making a huge mistake? I can't figure out how to search for completed sales any more, but I did find https://www.ebay.com/itm/1981-Tanze...54780bbb89:g:Cq4AAOSwDKxds4CI&redirect=mobilemistake

eta: I did figure out completed transactions, but no recent $52 sailboat in Connecticut https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nk...lc=1&_salic=1&_sop=12&_dmd=1&_ipg=50&_fosrp=1