Re: [Paddlewise] Shipping Kayaks

Mike wrote:
>I may be selling my Prijon Kodiak and would appreciate advice on shipping it
>in the continental states.
>
>1) Is securely wrapping it in heavy duty foam and designating "top load only"
>acceptable? I've seen boats shipped that way before....

I just shipped a CD Storm from Denver to LA.  I purchase a roll of 
"pallet wrap" at a local packing store (this stuff comes on a 
cardboard tube and is about 18" wide --- basically just industrial 
strength Saran wrap). I then got several large cardboard boxes from a 
local lighting shop --- they get lots of stuff from the orient: this 
type of cardboard seems more flexible.  I then 'deconstructed' the 
boxes into 2-3' wide strips, rolled the strips as tightly as possible 
to make them flexible, unrolled them and wrapped these around the 
boat.  I secured each cardboard strip with the pallet wrap.  When I 
was done, I had a boat encased in cardboard and overwrapped in 
plastic.  I labeled it "Plastic Kayak" --- "Fragile" --- "Top Load 
Only".

>...I talked to a guy (probably in the goober category) at a local 
>trucking outfit who seemed to think it should be crated.

That would be the case for a fiberglass boat.

>2) Any recommendations on carriers that may be more kayak friendly?

I used Forward Air <http://www.forwardair.com> --- they came 
recommended by several folks for shipping kayaks.  They only ship 
terminal to terminal, so they are only an option if you and the 
person on the other end live close to one of their terminals.  Also, 
they won't insure a kayak against damage (loss only) --- both the 
customer service person and the guy measuring the boat said that they 
ship lots of kayaks and have never lost one.

>3) Any ideas on what it might cost to ship it coast to coast (17' / approx.
>70#)?

Due to the low density of the kayak, weight is irrelevant.  They 
charge based on volume.  The volumetric weight of the kayak I sent 
was 280 lbs. and the cost for Denver to LA was $62.  The guy who 
measured it was pretty generous; shaving a few inches off the width 
and height.  Measured more accurately, it probably would have been in 
the $80-100 range.

Brian
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