going rate on hauling a boat?

[The patriot]

I'm thinking on running an ad being it's the end of the summer, and I'm real close to the bay and ocean.

I suppose I could haul up to about a 34' boat. ??? Not sure here.

I'd like to know what's the going rate for hauling boats. I will be offering this as a service using the customers trailer. I will not be going for ICC numbers, extra insurance etc. etc.

This is NOT a business, only a few extra bux on the side. Cash money.

Opinions, comments?

I know I know... . liability, insurance etc. etc. etc.

I'd just like to geta round about figure on what is an acceptable rate. And I'm thinking there should be a "mimimum". for those that arent far tows.

TIA

eric

 

[FJfonda]

I would be concerned over hooking up to a trailer that I did not own and maintain. Boat trailer surge brakes are notoriously maintenance intensive, especially if dunked into salt water, with service intervals as short as 12-18 months. Many people ignore this fact and run them in various states of disrepair.

That being said, I would think around $100 would be reasonable for under 30 miles.

 

[RVTRKN]

I don't recommend you doing that , but if you are going to, then about $100. 00 min charge or $1. 50 per mile. Just don't get caught, the fines or jail time can be high. For example, you are pulling a boat at only 12,000 GCVWR and the trailer disconnects for whatever reason and kills someone and your asked for your lic. ins. and reg. and the owner of the registration is not you or related to you on the boat. The state trooper will want to see your commercial lic. and transport co. your towing for and if you don't have any of that, it can be considered manslaughter. Now that example can be extreme but I'm willing to bet it has happened at least as far as the trailer disconnecting.



Getting paid for any load can be considered commercial driving. I just recently went through the process of getting the Com. lic. and towing for a transport co. that also towed boats and they required me to have a $1,000,000. 00 liability insurance policy.



I would highly recommend you researching the Commercial lic. side of it and your liabilities.

 

[The patriot]

Thanks guys.

I have a CDL... with all the endorsements.

I just dont want to get into the beau-coup insurance side of it. The amount of $$$ I'm talking probibally wouldnt cover the added insurance. :-laf



I'm thinking $35 "hook up" fee and locally $35/hr + $1. 50 mile. (2 hr min)

Long hauls $35 hook up fee+ $2. 75 /mi.

I dont plan on doing this 5 days a week, or over a few hundred miles. Just a few extra bucks here & there.

I got these figures from searching this subject. They seem a little high to me, but then again fuel isnt what it was when I had my 18 wheeler either...

Thoughts?

 

[icman95]

Actually, $2. 75 per mile isn't bad at all. 2 years ago my RV dealer was doing RV towing on the side, just like you want to and it was $3. 00 per mile. I also think that the $35 hook fee is too low. I think most people will understand about your need to get some decent coin. Everyone is well aware of high fuel prices-expecially people who have large boats. Their fuel bills are more than ours.



Going by your suggested local rates you can expect to make $35x2 hours= $70. Add in the $35 hook fee and $1. 50 per mile for, say, 20 miles and it comes to $135 for a 2 hour, 20 mile trip. I'm not sure this is worth it. Fuel will cost you about $20-$40 depending upon load, idle time, how long it takes to hook up and back in, etc. Now you're down to $95 dollars for your work, not taking into account wear and tear, etc. Perhaps you should raise the prices a bit. That's a (excuse the pun) BOATLOAD of work for not much reward.

 

[Skydiver]

Just get paid up front or don't unhook until your are paid.

Know that your trailer brakes are all working.

I would charge a minium fee + motel +$2. 25+ per mile one way. I would add $0. 10 per mile for ever thousand $$ over $30k the boat is worth.

Boats are a luxury and people know it.

If you have one mishap what happens?

 

[MMeier]

I have a CDL... with all the endorsements.

I just dont want to get into the beau-coup insurance side of it. The amount of $$$ I'm talking probibally wouldnt cover the added insurance. :-laf



I'm thinking $35 "hook up" fee and locally $35/hr + $1. 50 mile. (2 hr min)

Long hauls $35 hook up fee+ $2. 75 /mi.

I dont plan on doing this 5 days a week, or over a few hundred miles. Just a few extra bucks here & there.

I got these figures from searching this subject. They seem a little high to me, but then again fuel isnt what it was when I had my 18 wheeler either...

Thoughts?

Crap, those rates you posted here are more then a legit hauler USUALLY gets! Don't do it unless you do it right... unless losing your ***, house and anything else you may have of value is of no concern to you.

 

[Hoefler]

Around here on Table Rock, I get $50 to hook and $3. 00 a mile.

 

[pullya]

I suggest that you go on the web site "Offshoreonly.com" and ask the same question. Being a performance boat owner I would NEVER contract with anyone w/o the proper insurance to even pull my boat up the ramp much less over the road. You are going down a slippery slope and I hope that NO boat owner gets burned in the process of your ill conceived idea!

Jay