Found another Roamer for sale

Why it wont work

Fantasymaker,

Taking chances on an internet purchase sometimes you didnt get what you wanted but a new opportunity opens up. The rig set up is real sweet. Ill post some more pics later. There are a lot of boat hauling opportunites here on the west cost that I will recover my investment back with this setup.

The story - I bought trailer from dealer in Atlanta, got a good deal and trailer is basically brand new. What I didnt know, being a big boat neophyte and have since found out is a 37' Roamer is not 37' long its 37' at the water line. Thus the rear end and all that weight sticks 3-4' foot beyond this trailer. For Roamers this trailer is better suited to the 27'-32' models and not best for inboards overall w/o some modification. The trick setup is the con-o-lift or hostar type hydrualic trailers but they are big bucks.

Attached is the new trailer which I will have to hoist load but gets the main plan back on track and more of a business opportunity. Overall I have learned this a bit bigger boat than I really wanted so I might be looking to find a buyer for the 37 and get a smaller 32' Roamer or Marinette

pics-new trailer

Here are pics of the new low boy. Also from Atlanta and even cheaper than the aluminum.

Anyone needing hualing I would be glad to help Roamer forum members out for basically expenses and time.

Larry,
I'll keep you in mine. We have been talking about buying a place on the Texas Gulf Coast, Palacios, TX, and moving our Roamer down here from Oconto, WI. This is where we usually spend our winters. Best price so far is $4500. You do know that in many states you have to have oversize permits and an escort. How much large truck driving experience do you have? CDL?

Just about he cost to navigate it yourself. Wow I wouldn't want to miss that adventure!

Being a member of the America's Great Loop Cruisers' Association, we've been studying that option too.

Cruise or truck

K et al,

I agree the adventure cruise would be more fun. I can’t speak to the expenses of the cruise part though but if that was a main issue we wouldn’t own boats. Somebody should look into the cost but I would guess that would be a $5-10K trip

Anyway on to trucking it
(Need to have good dimensions on the boat out of water)
#1 issue is keep load ht @ 14' or lower (boat plus trailer loaded)
#2 width of 12' or less usually only needs a wide load permit and sign (permit dimensions and prices vary by state but are not too much)
#3 length doesn’t seem to be that much of an issue but permit is needed for greater than 80’
#4 width/ht greater than above usually need pilot cars, rerouting longer distance time etc…. and that is where expenses usually come in.
Cost

I have a CDL, required operators permits and insurance. I have some heavy equipment experience but I am not a boat transport business with 10 years of experience nor do I have the price tag to boot.

Quotes to move my Roamer 2500mi were $12K plus ($4.80/mile). That would cover expenses, insurance, depreciation on their truck & trailer, labor, overhead and profit. Basically the cost of the boat its self or the cost of a truck and trailer.

As I know K let’s just call it fixed expenses for a starting point.
1) Loading assume float on/off $0 or marina lift $200+/-
2) Wide load permits only assume $100 per state 5 states ($500)
3) My truck gets 10-11 mpg, $3.00/gal diesel, 1300 mi ($400)
4) 2 days travel meals & 1 night lodging ($250)
5) Loading assume float on/off $0 or marina lift $200+/-
At this point we are at about $1,500

I think the going rate for OTR owner/operators truckers is $1-$1.20/mile lets assume $1.50 for experienced wide load operator ($1,950) ( I believes this would cover fuel/ins/expenses/OH&P)

So I think for a 35’Lx 12’Wx14’H could get you there for between $2-3,000 ($2.30 a mile max) with the super roamer forum member good guy discount.

Very tempting Larry. I drove OTR for a national trucking company for a couple of years. But I don't think I would want to pull my boat 1500 miles down the road through several states and big cities. I came up with the hair brained idea about 3 years ago to float my boat around the country, and my wife sorta goes alone with my ideas, sometimes. That's why I am rebuilding my old tug to live on for a few months each year. My wife also doesn't like water dripping on her while in the v-birth, or putting pots on the floor to catch the drips every time it rains. Since I don't have a permanent home someplace, not anchored anywhere, I'll probably stick to my goal that I've already started, and at least float around the Great Lakes during the summer months, and travel around the country in my motorhome during the winter.

Great Loop Cruise

Kenny,

Agreed 100% that the GLC route is worth more than the price of adventure and should be done.

I read on the GLC website about 2 couples who did the half loop in about 5 weeks I think it was in a newer 32 footer. That would be about the same dist as to Palacios. Once there you are set up for extended runs to the Yucatan and Bahamas as well as the Gulf coast and Keys. Ill look forward to the salt water and hurricane prevention measures reports. Look into a cheap trailer for the latter to get you out quickly.

For me of course there is no inter continental short route to the west coast. I am also PO'd about paying a small fortune for winter storage, not the storage people personally but just that that money could be applied to relining the Roamer interior vs lining someone elses pocket. It seems you can take the boat south or west for the price of storage and enjoy it during the winter for the same cost.

Thus we will explore the shores around Oconto this summer since it is really beautiful there and hit the road in the fall like snowbirds flocking to Yuma. May and June will be here soon. See you there.

Larry are you going to truck your boat up on that new trailer or are you going to float it up? I guess it's a good 200 miles by water.

Summer plans

Kenny,

You are probably right about the nuaticle miles up to Oconto. Cost wise trucking is the more efficient option and I havent really taken the boat out that much yet so I probably will truck it.

I probably could be talked into cruising it up if you would like to join me in doing that and doing the vehicle shuffle.

Larry

That could be a possibility. Let you know though, I'm a fair weather sailor. I won't go out on Lake Michigan with 7 foot seas.

Here's another Roamer I found up here in BC Canada...
http://www.pacificboatbrokers.com/details.asp?ref=HNS&File_Number=PS1221

Are you still looking for a Roamer? I have a silver comet for sale.

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be careful with Harper.