Has anyone recently shipped a large item such as a 17-19foot kayak across the country? If so how expensive was it?

If anyone has any experience or insight on this subject I would greatly appreciate it. I am considering buying a kayak in California but the logistics of shipping it to NC might be an issue.

I am more curious, what is so special about that particular kayak?

Sounds like an expensive nightmare. I had my two kayaks drop shipped so my guess is unless this thing is free it won't be worth it. Good luck.

It’s a kayak that is no longer in production and incredibly well built. I REALLY like this particular model and have been trying to find a clean example like it for a very long time.

Put it on a roof rack and drive.

How much does it cost to go through the Panama Canal in a kayak?

To give you guys an idea why I asked about shipping, one of the other kayaks I have had my eye on has more than doubled (almost tripled) in cost over the last few years and is now almost $5,000. The expensive kayaks I am seriously considering cost a shocking amount because they are hand made in the USA and can be customized or basically built to my exact specs. It would probably be $5k or more by the time I got done building it how I wanted it.

Even if shipping costs close to a grand (hopefully it won’t) I’d still seriously consider getting this kayak as it would be less than half the cost of the other boats I like. It’s one of my favorite designs and utilizes a build material that is no longer available and comes in a length that isn’t even offered anymore.

Consult the guys that make kayaks, product has to get to the consumer.

FedEx LTL?

Why won't the moving company take it to their shop in N.C.
?

And you can pick it up there within a couple of days of it's arrival.

I am sorry I don’t have an answer, but I understand your dilemma.
Having moved up from $500 to $2500 kayaks, I am not in your league, but my God the higher cost, better built boats have made all the difference to me. To the point I have driven them 1200 miles on top of a Subaru WRX to the Keys vs renting a middling one.
I’d really be interested in the details and specifications of yours.
I think you got your best answer — make a road trip out of it — out and back. If work wasn’t so busy, I’d seriously offer to work out a deal to do it myself.
Short of that, probably contact a car shipping service.
Long shot — there is an amazing place north of Harrisburg near the Susquehanna, that is a huge kayak dealer and knows everything about kayaking. Name is Blue Mountain Outfitters. They very well might have ideas. Just Google and call. They are amazingly friendly.
Enjoy that boat.
Let us know what you do.

quote:

Originally posted by vthoky:
FedEx LTL?

5 pallet spaces on FedEx LTL from California to NC, hot damn I wanna see that invoice.

I don't know how much but just getting one crated up to ship so it arrives at least in one piece sounds like quite a chore. And if you think kayaks have gone up wait until you see how much shipping has! But if you do ship it, businesses get various discounts on shipping maybe 30% or more vs what you or I would be charged so you might try getting a price from a business that sells kayaks to see what they'd charge to handle it for you.

I thought you lived in NC but I see your signature says Cali.

Try https://www.uship.com/ you will receive several quotes from different shippers both private and commercial. I hope this helps. God Bless

Suggestion that if you ship it by common carrier /motor freight/ups / fedX / who ever/ etc make sure you get the maximun insurance coverage and plus some and take photos when dropped off at the shippers for documented proof ..................... drill sgt.

Building off what others have said, I would contact the maker of that kayak and see if they will allow use of their account for shipping, or if they will facilitate shipping.

They might be willing to assist (but not pay, obviously) for the brand boost they will get from being known in the community to support their product.

What does it weigh? I can reach out to some of my connections and see how they would recommend shipping something like that.

I ship a lot of LTL. I’ve been in logistics for a long time. Shipping without a negotiated rate, is insane. I cannot imagine. I negotiated our shipping rates at a 92% discount (yes, LTL shipping is a total racket and scam).

Something like a kayak, you would need to crate. Even crated, you would incur wicked charges. At 17-19 feet, you are taking up five pallet spaces. This is most likely not stackable that adds to the cost. You are also going about as far as one can go, all the way across the country.

Guessing, my rate would be in the neighborhood of $3k. I can check when I get to work, and see what it would actually cost. I will need to know the kayaks weight, and then I can guess the crate weight. I really don’t think this is the way to go though. A few people I know might have a better idea of a more affordable way to ship something like this.

I am not sure if there is an affordable way to ship that. It’s long and takes up valuable space.

The price of kayaks is up because the price of moving / shipping everything is up. I shudder to think what the shipping on that thing would cost.

To give you an idea of freight costs, I work for a company that makes widgets. We used to be able to ship a container of widgets from Asia to the US for $4,000. That cost peaked at well over $30,000.

The price increases we had to pass on of approximately 30% were due almost solely to the increases in freight.

Lots of good info!! Thanks guys. The seller and I will be calling a lot of kayak stores and getting advice on shipping. Hopefully it is possible to ship with one of them to get a better rate and package it up safely for the trip.

A few years ago I ordered a Wilderness Systems Zephyr 15.5 foot rotomolded (polyethylene plastic) kayak online and had it delivered to my house. I was shocked at the lack of protective covering that was used during the process. They literally just wrapped the boat in a thick sheet of plastic and sent it on its way. Rotomolded kayaks are pretty dang sturdy and can take a lot of abuse so I suppose they were not at all worried about it being transported with absolute minimal protection. The boat actually arrived in perfect shape.

This kayak is fiberglass and would be destroyed if it were shipped in the same method as my 15.5 plastic kayak.

Find someone doing a cross-country road trip and pay them to throw it on a roof rack?