Sold OA 440 on Semi-trailer

[Rufus]

Two weeks ago we sold our Ocean Alexander 440 to a terrific younger couple who are trucking it back to Texas, where we bought it. Similar truck/trailer. Loaded height was 15'6", same as it was 18 year ago when we sent it north. Boat length is 50 feet including the davit stick out and anchor pulpit. Sunroof removed and sits on six jack stands. Arch rests on top of sunroof. This the third over-the road trip for this boat...Seattle - Austin, Austin - Green Bay, Green Bay-Houston. Nice clean mostly freshwater boats are worth the trouble.

(The first company sent a ridiculous wimpy trailer pulled by a pickup truck). Idiots and charlatans abound in that industry, as for the brokerage business. Anyone looking to buy or sell a boat via a Sturgeon Bay Wisconsin brokerage should contact me to avoid a repeat of our nasty experience. Thankfully, the buyers and we worked out ways to avoid the brokerage as far as possible.

 

[mvweebles]

What was involved in trucking 15'6" in height? I was under the impression 13'6" was a pretty hard and fast limit. Heroic measures needed after that.

Inquiring minds want to know

Peter

 

[rslifkin]

What was involved in trucking 15'6" in height? I was under the impression 13'6" was a pretty hard and fast limit. Heroic measures needed after that.

Inquiring minds want to know

Peter

You can get over-height permits (like over width permits). Typically there are route surveys, escort cars, etc. involved. In some areas a police escort may be required above certain limits. And the further over width or over height you get, the harder it is to get the permits, the less choices of viable routes there will be, the more expensive it gets, etc.

 

[Rufus]

In short the 13' 6" rule is B.S. The buyer found numerous companies willing to take the load. Under 16' was the stipulation in this case. Not sure if escort truck was required...it was for a part of the trip when we moved it north.

 

[rslifkin]

In short the 13' 6" rule is B.S. The buyer found numerous companies willing to take the load. Under 16' was the stipulation in this case. Not sure if escort truck was required...it was for a part of the trip when we moved it north.

The 13'6" limit isn't B.S. so much as it's just not a hard limit. It's the limit for a standard height load you can carry without any extra permits or prep. But with appropriate planning and paperwork, it can be exceeded. As you mentioned, 16' seems to be about the point where it becomes extremely challenging and expensive to get permits and find a suitable route.

 

[Jeff F]

In short the 13' 6" rule is B.S. The buyer found numerous companies willing to take the load. Under 16' was the stipulation in this case. Not sure if escort truck was required...it was for a part of the trip when we moved it north.

I'm pretty sure the US Interstate system specifies a 16 ft minimum. The challenge is usually finding routes at either end.

Any idea of the cost?

 

[Bacchus]

I'm pretty sure the US Interstate system specifies a 16 ft minimum. The challenge is usually finding routes at either end.

Any idea of the cost?

I dont know what past or present interstate design criteria are but our Mainship are 13' 6" couldn't travel on part of I90 and they had to take an alt route. It surprised me but that came directly from the driver / transport owner and he has done many transports and is well respected.
14' 2" beam required an escort car all the way from Texas to W NY.

 

[Comodave]

I used to move boats for a living. 13’6” is indeed the limit without a permit. Yes you can go higher and wider it just costs more, depending on size maybe a lot more. Generally the interstate system is minimum 13’6” but back east there are places where you can’t get 13’6”.

 

[Rufus]

This link might be helpful. But the fact is there is no federal "maximum" height limit. States vary from 13.5 to 14.5 feet. When this boat left Austin over a decade ago, the escort and truck drivers bypassed some low bridges on I-35 by taking the exit ramp and then immediately rejoined the Interstate by taking the entrance ramp. The competent companies have this stuff on on-board computer displays. You call them for a price quote and they'll call you back within the hour.

https://oversize.io/regulations/max...gth, varies significantly from state to state.

https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/policy/rpt_congress/truck_sw_laws/index.htm

In the case of this particular boat, three buyers over the past twenty years all decided that removing the flybridge to achieve the lower height (maximim for the specific route) would have been a travesty....and probably lead to a future filled with niggling maintenance issues. The extra transport cost was easily worth it. A pristine boat remains so.