Ship a canoe?

[Codger_64]

I've been looking at getting a used 15' to 17' canoe on the 'bay, but they are all listed as local pickup. Weights are almost always under 100#, royalex or other thermoplastic so no worry about scratches or dings. Is there a carrier who will ship these for a reasonable rate?

I am finding them mostly outside of my comfortable driving radius, 250-300 miles from Southwest Tennessee. Any further and fuel, meals and motel eat up the savings on a $300+/- canoe purchase. Any suggestions? Give up and buy new locally for $700+? Arrange a Bladeforums handoff crosscountry? Finding a trucker dead-heading from the North or the East coast comes to mind. Thoughts?

 

[Ken C.]

Try this place.

Where is the canoe located?

Affordable Boat Carriers
PO Box 501094
Malabar, FL 32950-1094
(321) 724-8960
mdually3@yahoo.com

 

[Domanfp]

have you tried the nashville craigslist. If you find one up here I could meet you in Lewisburg as I drive from franklin to Lewisburg everyday for work.

 

[Bufford]

If there are campgrounds along the way, these are cheaper than hotels, and you could try out your canoe if it has a lake or river.

I did exactly that when I bought my Old Town canoe from Burger Bros in Minneapolis. I paid $300 for a new one that had some scratches on it. That same canoe was being sold here for $1500. I saved alot of money and had a mini vacation at the same time.

 

[Codger_64]

I am watching them from several places. Freeport, IL., Surgoinsville, Tennessee, Guntersville, Alabama. I am only about 75 miles from Nashville. I haven't checked Craiglist in a while.

I checked on the Affordable Boat Carriers and they charge a base rate plus $ per pound. Generally it adds up to around $200. My son-in-law is a trucker, but his route and loads are unpredictable.

I guess I'll just have to keep looking for one within driving distance, or at least tag-team driving distance. I would settle for a blem or not-trashed outfitter boat. This is to replace my 14 footer which was stolen, which replaced my 17 footer (old Coleman).