Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2005 12:55:50 -0600
Reply-To: Grungy <grungy@GRUNGY.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Grungy <grungy@GRUNGY.COM>
Subject: Re: To ship or not to ship? bus to hawaii?
In-Reply-To: <200502071734.j17HYgQ23503@webhost.htcomp.net>
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>From: Matthew <mpteleski@YAHOO.COM>
>
>I'm looking at a 2-year job in Hawaii. I'm considering
>shipping my syncro westy (loaded full, too!) there.
>I've heard rumors or rust being worst than the east
>coast! So, should i ship the bus, or store it for free
>at my brother's place in central California? I'm
>figuring it'd be cheaper to ship it than it would be
>to purchase and then sell a vehicle. Plus the added
>cargo space to move there would be handy.
So many data points.
Which island?
It makes a big difference in the price of diesel fuel, but the state
average is around $2.60. About $2.70 on the Big Island and $2.80 on
Maui.
http://198.6.95.31/HImetro.asp (That's AAA-Hawaii's fuel price page)
As far as rust - we lived on the windward side of Oahu (Kailua) for
nearly two years and I noticed no appreciable rust or other corrosion
on either of my vans during that time ('90 Vanagon, '93 Eurovan).
Nearly everything else that I owned with iron content, yes, it rusted
(tools, bicycles, lawn furniture). Aluminum window screen frames and
aluminum window screens also corroded rapidly. Aluminum window
screens will turn to powder fairly rapidly (lots of surface area, low
volume). If you don't actually drive through sea water, don't park
every day at the beach and you don't have lots of bare metal, it
should be okay.
Matson is charging $996 each way for shipping to Oahu(right now).
$1042 each way to Kauai, Maui or the Big Island. That's the west
coast price, out of Long Beach or Oakland (don't know about Seattle).
Expect there to be an increase between now and your return - fuel
surcharge increase. I'm not aware of anyone else shipping autos to
Hawaii, but it certainly appeared that there were cars sitting
outside of Matson's fences on Sand Island (Oahu). Horizon (Sea-Land)
may also ship, but I'm having trouble finding that info. You may
have better luck getting through to their rate page within this
window: http://horizonlines.com/default.asp
As far as "cargo space" - Matson required that all items not included
as part of the vehicle be removed before shipping. I took my chances
with both vehicles, leaving stuff under the back seat, and it didn't
disappear. But, they're not going to let you pack it tight with
stuff. They leave the vehicle unlocked, key in the ignition, on the
dock and on the boat and have a disclaimer for the disappearance of
personal property.
Hawaii is VW van heaven - I've never seen so many anywhere else.
Good luck with your decision and have fun while you're there (we're
going back for a vacation the day after tomorrow).
--
bcnu - Grungy (Baytown, TX) opinions are just that.obviously.
60 dddPanel 69 Bug 90 Vanagon 00 Audi A6 Avant 05 Jetta Wagon TDI
g r u n g y AT g r u n g y DOT c o m
