Maybe not so absurd.
I don't know the exact boat, but depending on how well equipted she is it doesn't sound that absurd. What does sound supisious is the number for putting it back together at the other end.....
The 38 without the comptition keel should be able to be shipped without removal of the stanctions, winches etc. However I might pull the stanctions anyway to avoid damage to them. So you have probably about a man hour worth of work there.
Does the boat have a dodger? That has to be removed. Carefully folded and placked away etc. Couple of man hours there.
The mast has to be removed, the standing rigging secured, the mast padded and wrapped. There are at least 7 man hours here. Figure the mast prep alone is probably close to 6 man hours plus two man hours to pull it. Taping the turnbuckles for easy measuring by the commisioning folks on the other end etc. Radar cable removal? Wires need to be marked for recommisioning on the other end, etc.
The securing of the stanctions making sure that they don't rattle and chafe on the trip up if they have been removed 1 man hour.
Are they going to shrink wrap the front of the boat? An hour or more there, probably two people. (Hard job to do by yourself). So two more man hours.
Any other gear that needs to be removed? It all adds time to the bill. Windvane? Solar panels, roller furling and sail, roller furling lines.
Also the truckers specify that all tanks have to be empty to transport. Is the yard going to have to empty them? At least a man hour there.
Then there is the haul, and placing on the trailer. This often takes a bit of time to get right too. Not long but a bit. Extra man hour in addition to life driver.
The standard yard rate down here in Alameda is about $85.00 an hour, so they are in the ballpark there. Most of the people in yards don't move that fast either, they are at work. Unless you work for yourself you tend to only move as fast as is required to keep your job. The people at all of the boatyards, one excepted, have been the same. So my 14 hours is probably a little light in figuring as I move fast because I do work for myself.
38 foot boat, haul is about $300 minimum.
So we have about what they quoted you in time if we add my thumbnail guesses up.
I once decommisioned a boat with a ton of systems took us over 16 man hours without counting pulling the mast. It was a pacific Seacraft with every concievable bell and whistle on it, some of them with corroded fastners. And packing all of the stuff in the interior such that it would not be chafed in the ride up the coast. It does take time to do it right. We won't even talk about the 6 man days to decommision my e-46, because I was being anal retentive and making sure that everything was removed just so, all of the screws labeled, etc...
Recommisioning, a sinch. Unrap the mast basically cut the wrapping being slightly careful not to hit the mast with the blade. Step the mast, reconnect the rigging, splash the boat, and tell the owner to come motor it away.
Guy
