Boat transport

[oitc]

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Recently purchased a 4.5 half cabin from Sydney, our friends in Port Macquarie are currently looking after it, but I have to try and get it to Cairns somehow.

Anyone know of any transport companies that would do this? Or any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks

Darryn

[Blackened]

G'day
All i can suggest is ring around some of the independant boat towing guys. Also look out for backloads.
Dave

[stevedemon]

Hi oitc
try the railways they often come from Sydney to Cairns

Cheers ;D ;D
Steve 8-) 8-)

[backhoe]

If the boat is aluminium be careful as iron filings come off the track/train wheels and end up embedding in the aluminium and causing corrosion> Never seen it personally but told by a mate that works for QR that this can happen.

[saurian]

OITC, i have used trewin transport , to take large boat from cairns/mackay.
I know they go down to sydney , but it really does pay to shop around .
10 quotes will have 10 different prices some 50 % more than others.
Backloads are great but they would usually be cairns to sydney.
You might have to arrange 2 legs , sydney to brisbane then up ??
Best luck.

[blaze]

the obvious question surely would be, why not tow it. Plenty of grey nomads tow there caravans a lot further than that
cheers
blaze

[Grand_Marlin]

Take a look in the yellow pages, and also in trade a boat magazine - a lot of the transport companies advertise in there.

All boat transport

southern cross boat transport

heaps more around, but as said - ring them all, 'cos the prices will vary between them all

Cheers

Pete

[oitc]

Thanks for the advice all, will check a few of them out.

Blaze, the reason being is I am already based in Cairns, so trying to work out the most efficient / cost effective way to get it up here.

Ie me drive down, pick it up and drive it back (6 - 7 days) and a whole lot of petrol money (not to mention not really being able to take that time off work at the moment) or other options.

Thanks

[Spectre]

Can recommend Trewins Transport.
They transported a big 6.5 M boat from Townsville to Bris & were the best price around & did a very good job.

Make sure u check insurance etc with who ever u go with....in case something goes wrong :-[ :(
Also don't leave any good gear in the boat.

Cheers
Phil

[Glenn_Woods]

I would be doin a nice slow fishin trip with a good mate and do the drive. Some top spots between Sydney to Cairns. If you call into Gladstone, Give me a yell and i'll put mine in as well. ;)

Woodsy

[bushbeachboy]

NQ boat transport in Townsville did a good job for me for a reasonable price from Bris to Townsville. Not sure if they go below the border or north to Cairns, but I don't see why they wouldn't. I guess a phone call would clear it up for you.

[FNQCairns]

I have been chasing quotes to get a 5.8 from Bris-Cairns, prices have ranged from $2500,$2100 and $1200 + GST.

Needless to say I am currently warming up the boat trailer tyres. The cheapest of the few I rang was an operator in Mareeba, might be worth a call, he is in the yellow pages.

cheers fnq

[oitc]

Thanks All,

Have got a quote from Trewin's, $1250 from Port Macquarie to Cairns, now I was thinking about this last night, if I drove down it would be $300 in Fuel, plus a nights accom and food, maybe $100, so $400 to get down to Port, then turn around and drive back with the trailer and boat, may cost a further $100 to $200 in fuel than the way down, so say $450, then another nights accomm and food, a further $150 or so, remember that my partner and I would go, so if e did it I think it would cost us around $900 - $1000, for an extra $250 it aint worth the hassle.

Checking with the other companies as you have all suggested.

Thanks for all your help, hope to be able to contribute to other chat areas with pics etc soon

OITC

[Noelm]

you could fly down, lots of cheap airfares around these days, that takes 3 or 4 days off the trip, hire a "one way" car rental and off you go, or continue to shop around the transport companies, a mate of mine got his landcruiser down to Sydney from Townsville on a "back load" cost him next to nothing, but, remember that a boat on a trailer canot be just driven on, it needs some kind of tow vehicle and hence, unless it is a boat specialist it will take some "mucking" around by the truckie.

[FNQCairns]

I just rang them too, $1650 Bris to Cairns - no trailer so I get slugged :(

oitc wise choice personally I think PM to be a bit of a strain when you also need to come back.

I did Cairns to Gladstone day one and Gladstone to Nelson Bay towing a boat once, not a nice return trip home.

cheers fnq

[scottv50]

Have got a quote from Trewin's, $1250 from Port Macquarie to Cairns.......

This sounds reasonable to me and rememebr Peter Webster from F&B Magazine says he has used Trewin's before and thinks they're great. Now of course being a publisher he might get better treatment, but in any case a referral like that must be worth something.

I too think for $1,250 you would be mad to drive down and trail it back. Unless of course you make it a fishing holiday at the same time! ;D

[Johnnymac]

Hi, John from cairns, bought a 19ft on E bay early on in the year and did the same thing you are doing looking for transport, looked into all the possibilities and transport companies, prices ranged from $1200 to $4500 fropm Sydney to Cairns. It all came down to how they actually tie down the boat and the type of vehicle they use, I spent a lot of time checking this out , came up with a guy DJ Freight Dave is his name a nice guy knows what he is talking about, total cost $1200 plus GST, cash deals are best. Tried the others not competitive, i would use him again. Some people will rip you off so buyer beware. regards.

[stevebooker]

Hi johnnymac,

i need to tow a boat from syney to cairns. was dj freight from springwood in brisbane?

regards
steve

[Getout]

DJ Freight...0427341076. Talk to Chris.

[Razgo-]

check these guys out for price. they do Australia wide http://www.marinetransport.com.au/

[sheridan]

I got a price here in brisbane a couple of weeks ago to take my boat to cairns they wanted $1700 i have decided to tow it up myself so $1200 from sydney is an excelent price.

Geoff

[White Pointer]

G'day,

Agree with getting it freighted. Less hassle but make sure you have it insured and your insurance covers third-party handlers.

White Pointer

[BrewGuru]

Can recommend Trewins Transport.
They transported a big 6.5 M boat from Townsville to Bris & were the best price around & did a very good job.

Make sure u check insurance etc with who ever u go with....in case something goes wrong :-[ :(
Also don't leave any good gear in the boat.

Cheers
Phil
Backloading from the North is always cheaper then transporting to the North sometimes by 60% or better, depending on supply and demand

[BrewGuru]

I would be happy to give you a quote, I need dimensions, is it on a trailer? how much does it weigh?
We have crane trucks and semi trailers, we sometimes travel North empty to bring specialised freight back home. PM me I will see if I can help with prices and timing