J/30 Class Association Forums J/30 Forum Crew Position Wanted/Available Crew question

My son and I just purchased a J30. It's in Noank, CT and we want to get it down to Annapolis. Anyone had experience sailing it down to give us hints and helps. Or interested in captain and crewing it down. We are new to sailing and don't feel comfortable doing it ourselves.
Any one have any recommendations for dry transport agencies that you have used or recommend.
thanks

Congrats - which boat did you buy?

I delivered my J/109 from Annapolis to Newport in Oct 2013 and went North up the Chesapeake, through the C&D Canal to Cape May, then went direct to Newport from there. See the attached route plan. I took 3.5 days, but on a J/30 would probably take longer.

I've also done a trip from Newport to Raritan, NJ that would allow you to do the inside route.

Check this link for CHNYC (Newport) to Cedar Point YC (Westport, CT). Noank is on the way for this and allows you to cruise inside Long Island, through the East River, then down the Jersey shore.

If you did it with a Captain, would you crew also?

Yes we would be willing to crew if there was a captain. Any recommendations. We have the J30 hull#276.

FYI-I've done the by-water delivery from Raritan to Annapolis a several times. It can really be a miserable slog if mother nature doesn't cooperate. The Jersey shore seems endless with few options for shelter, and Delaware Bay is one of the least pleasant bodies of water I have ever sailed on. Shallow, shipping traffic, can be buggy, if wind is on the nose very short steep chop, with nothing really to look at. On the plus side-Cape May is a nice stopover, and Chesapeake City on the canal is a really charming little town worth an overnight stop.

Welcome to the Class and the Fleet. Where in MD are you heading? Local fleet will be happy to help when you arrive.

I tend to agree with Steve, Delaware Bay can be unpleasant, but if you have time flexibility and are active and healthy there's no reason you couldn't deliver over water. Transport we have used Big Dog Marine several years ago and some folks had bad experience on Sailing Anarchy. No review but try Cooky's Marine Transport out of RI.

Thanks, we'll let you all know when we arrive. Appreciate the responses.

Yeah, have had others say the same, we are leaning towards trucking it down.

I would try reaching out to Dodson's Boat Yard in Stonington, CT.

http://www.dodsonboatyard.com/yard_services.html

They are a first rate yard, very close to where you purchased your boat. They have a delivery service and are well respected in the industry. I live in Old Lyme, CT and have hull #389. Let me know if I can be of any help when you are in town as I live close by.

The trick with land deliveries is to be flexible with your delivery schedule. Regardless of who you use, they will want a two way delivery so they are not driving on an empty trailer. If you can be flexible on timelines then you will get a great rate. If you have a hard deadline, then be ready for a higher rate.

Chris,