Transport

Transporting Woodies takes:

Experience - 20 years

Tender Loving Care

Willingness to get a little wet from time to time!

Hauling capacity - To 10,500 lbs

Pictured here is a 33 foot Chris Craft 1966 Cavalier Futura

Weight (across scales): 9,800 lbs.

Beam: 11'

Height (on trailer): 12'

If you are a do-it-yourselfer

Here are a few of the finer points for transporting that we have learned over the years. It is best to have a seasoned expert transport your boat as these hints are just a few of the things we do to ensure your boat is transported without incident!

There are 3 straps on the boat. Each strap has a working strength of 22,000 lbs, or over 2 times the weight of the boat! These straps can usually be purchased from a TSC store or from a Truck Stop.

Note the placement of the front strap. It is hooked to the trailer behind a cross member and is stretched around the boat in such a way that, were we to have to stop suddenly, the force of the boat trying to move forward will just push the boat down against the bunks harder. Also note the padding under the strap. These can be as simple as $5 blankets from Dollar General! Be sure to pad the straps as they could abrade the mahogany of the cap rail.

Note the placement of the rear strap. It is hooked to the trailer in front of a cross member and is stretched around the boat in such a way that, if we were to suddenly lurch forward, the force of the boat trying to move backward will just push the boat down against the bunks harder.

Note the placement of the Third Strap in the picture below. This strap is anchored to the trailer in front of the last cross member and then passes behind the shaft strut to further ensure the boat doesn't move backwards. This strap is really just for "peace of mind." We have never had a boat shift backwards without the strap, but I found myself continually checking. Once this strap was in place I no longer had to worry about it.

Speaking of peace of mind, we always measure the overall height of the load as well. We have a self-leveling laser that we place on the highest point of the boat. Then we measure from the horizontal line it projects to the ground to ensure the boat is under the maximum legal height (first and foremost), but we also note the height and post it in the cab of our truck. The reason? Many times, especially in older cities, bridge heights will NOT be higher than the "max legal," but in fact will be lower than 13'-6" AND sometimes a little lower than the height posted on the side of the bridge. This way (the EASY way) we know we fit!

Pay attention to each state's marking and flagging requirements, wide load permit restrictions such as speed limits, time of day or holiday restrictions, etc. Almost every state is different. Occasionally you'll find a couple of adjoining states that are similar but that is actually rare.