Traveling to buy a boat

[Mattbassmaster]

Hey fellas, I am thinking of getting a boat that is just about 18 hours away from me, my plan is to fly to the closest town take a final look over of the boat, give a cashiers check, and get a rental vehicle and drive it back. Would you guys recommend U-Haul or do something like enterprise. Or should I slap it on a flatbed and have it towed? Whatever ideas you guys may have go ahead and chime in because at this point I am all ears, I just want to get the boat to my house as safe and cost-effective as possible.
i’m about 90% going to drive over there and look at it first before I do anything so I figured I might as well drive it back, nothing wrong with a little road trip

thanks.

[Rich1]

My first question is did you have a mechanic check the boat? Lot of money and time to go find our your looking at junk. Second I am not sure car rental agencies are in to boat towing. Dont remember ever renting one with a hitch. I would just dive up and look and if its good drag it back with me.

[Dan21XRS]

Enterprise use to rent trucks you could tow with, not sure if the do any longer... U-Haul has the big moving trucks you can tow with but that be a slow go... Best bet might be to have it delivered by a company that specializes in that. I'm sure someone will be along short with a few companies that can do it... Good luck... Dan

[yatesville88fan]

Please have that boat checked real good. Long way to drive to have a bad ending.

[XingEyeballs]

I’d either drive there and get it or fly there and pay to have it shipped. Big commitment either way, I’d definitely recommend doing some major due diligence. My last boat went from MN to SC, want to say the buyer paid $1200ish for the delivery.

[markheb]

Whole lot simpler to just drive there, look the boat over and if you decide to buy it, bring it home.

If you fly up, decide not to buy it, then you have to buy a plane ticket back at a premium price, plus a hotel room and transportation to your airport, rent a car to go look at the boat and then, IF you can find a way to rent a tow vehicle, pick it up. Twice as much time, trouble and money as just drive there.

[Brownmaniac]

I drove to Missouri to get mine. I rented a truck at home and went and got it. The rental on getting one there and driving back is ridiculously expensive. mine still had warranty and low hours so I wasn't too afraid of getting there and finding a junker.

[west texas luke]

I would drive there to look at it and if it checks out then pull it back with you.

[Bill2e]

Fly round trip and ship it back.

[Roddy]

My first question is did you have a mechanic check the boat? Lot of money and time to go find our your looking at junk. Second I am not sure car rental agencies are in to boat towing. Don't remember ever renting one with a hitch. I would just dive up and look and if its good drag it back with me.

If you rent a full size Suv it will have a hitch. I pulled one with a rented Navigator. My son flew from TX to North Carolina to buy a Wakeboard boat and rented a Tahoe one way to pull it home.
My current boat was in Marathon Key when I bought it. I flew round trip to buy it. then drove down the next week and stayed a week fishing before bringing it home.

[BP in ME]

What about insurance for the ride home? I'm just kinda thinking out loud. Never driven 18 hours to buy anything

[CigarBasser]

Where is it? Maybe a fellow BBC’er can give an eye first..

I like driving so I’d make a mini trip out of it with fishing on the way home..

[n2ratfishin]

A buddy of mine used UShip to get his boat home, but it was brand new. I’d want to look and drive anything used. I agree with fly round trip and ship it home unless you can fish your way back.

[west texas luke]

Where are you travelling that's 18 hours one way from Florida?? Must be somewhere out west.

[like2fish2]

See if there is a BBC member who could go over and check out the rig.

Have a certified mechanic for whatever engine you looking at check it over.

If things check out, rent a vehicle in your location and drive to get the boat.

Good luck.

[Axkiker]

I would just get a marine survey and if it checked out have it shipped. By the time you look at fuel / time / hotels etc you are probably ahead or even going that route.

[JR19]

If traveling 18 hours make sure you have everything covered. I would let the seller know your traveling 18 hours and you want an on the water test and if possible schedule an appointment with a marine mechanic to give a health check of the motor. Be prepared to be out expense for your on the water test drive and mechanic inspection. Also be prepared to eat your expense and walk if its not 100% what you are looking for or if something is just not right.

If the deal goes thru and your going to rent a tow vehicle make sure you find out up front if they allow towing with a rental. Also make sure if they have a hitch and if its the correct size. I would also ask whomever your going to insure the boat with what needs to be done when buying a boat 18 hours away. It would also be wise to ask you local clerks office how to handle title and registration. Some states require a title on the motor, trailer and boat and some states all you title is the boat. Get your ducks in a row and cover everything BEFORE you make that 18 hour trip.

[Mark Perry]

What about insurance for the ride home? I'm just kinda thinking out loud. Never driven 18 hours to buy anything

Work it out with your insurance company. Give them the particulars on the boat and get a binder and make it effective should you buy the boat. Easy enough.

I drove to Kentucky from Texas to buy a boat. We did tbe whole trip non stop.

[fyrescue]

I would think the cost of a one way rental would be huge, and I know Uhaul doesn't like towing unless you are renting a trailer from them.

[dricha21]

Last year I went down to wash dc area to look at a couple boats from northern mi. Luckily I am a retired delta aircraft mechanic and can fly for free. One boat was close to the airport and the other was in harrisburg pa which was a couple hour drive. Neither boat was worth the effort but the pictures and description sure had me excited. Probably cost me a couple hundred between food lodging and car rental. Try to get some really good upclose pics as far away ones are very deceiving. Good luck. My plan was to fly home and make the 12 hour drive to pick it up and return home.