I'm getting permits, that is not in question.

But it seems like I can run home at a normal hour without an escort, at least based on the experiences I am reading here. Which I do appreciate, thanks for the guys who have actually made this trip over width for chiming in.

Now all the rest of you can start chiming in with your "facts" about how I need a Kenworth Truck rated at least 4 1/2 times my load, and a CDL with hazmat rating, or my insurance will never cover me, and I will end up in Guantanamo Bay, being anally probed by CIA black ops for the rest of my life when the boat spontaneously leaps off the trailer and kills a bus load of anchor children going to be kissed by Obama at the White house. Because that is obviously the only way this can end, and everyone of you knows a friend of a cousin twice removed on your step dads side who that happened to.

:popcorn: :funnypost::party-smiley-004:

Just curious, can you meet with a couple other guys and split the escort cost? Say 3-5 boats and 1 set of escorts? Seems like if it was only a couple hundred per boat, it would be worth it for the cool factor/no stops.

I use Jet Permit...they do it all for ya! Tell them your Route. I just looked and was $234.00 including their Fee...Sure the Ticket and Fine would be 10 times that!

Can you Post a link to Jet Permit?

Jetpermit.com is a dead link, and when I search I can find the company but no website. All I get is white pages results, review sites for them, etc.

They are in Wisconsin 414-425-2911

I was the escort for PlanetMan. Obviously permits in hand but I will tell you the weigh station is a problem. We traveled all up and down the east coast and never had a problem until we got there. The female officer was not there the first time we went through in 2000 (June) but she measured us in November of 2000. She came out with her tape measure and she laid it on the ground. I was fuming. We were 98'6" long and 12'6" wide. We had a traditional flat trailer back then. She measured us at almost a hundred feet with it on the ground (needless to say I was fuming). I had actually permitted us at 97'. So we re-permitted and she still gave us a hard time every time after that. Permit required daylight hours only as it does in several states. The weight station there is always a problem even with just a big center console that we used to transport as well. If money is no object then the police escort is the way to go. One thing I did learn is actually going through the state directly is the way to go. They can be so helpful when you deal with them one on one. I actually have gotten permits much quicker that way as well. Just my two cents of our travels through there.

I have called Monroe Country sheriff's office and found the officer in charge of off duty details, which is what they are calling their escort service. I have his personal cell number if anyone wants it, but I don't want to post it here since I didn't say anything to him about that.

Anyway, he was a very nice guy, said it is $160 cash payable to the officer who escorts you, It is not done through the actual sheriff's office, but I guess a sanctioned side job for them. The guy I spoke with said he has a list of officers who volunteer for this, I assume it is a little pocket money for the officer.

So when I make my travel plans he said just to call him and say when I want to travel and he will set me up with an officer who will meet me and run me up the keys.

I did ask him what his thoughts were on travel that weekend. Whether the DOT guys were normally "out for bear" that time or more of "get all these guys off the islands" mentality. He said he had seen it both ways. Years when there were no DOT guys out, and others when they were all stacked up waiting to get everyone. Take that with a grain of salt, as he is obviously running a small business here.

Now oddly enough he wasn't very forth coming about the rules for this. I asked him if we had to travel at night, he said that depends on what DOT says. So I said well I am 10'6" on the trailer, and he said " you may not even need a permit at the width, you are right on the edge of needing one".

Seems like if he is running this escort side business he would know a bit more about that. And I don't think anywhere in the country has a limit over 8'6" or maybe 9. But I am pretty sure 10'6" is wide load anywhere. Nor did he know if we had to go at night or not. Again seemed like he would know that kind of thing. But he did seem like a very nice guy. Maybe he just didn't want to commit to anything that isn't technically his department.

Regardless, just a little info to help out anyone who has been watching this thread.

Honestly 160 is much cheaper than I thought it would be. I doubt I would drive that far for that, being as they basically have to go both ways to get back home. A round trip up and down the keys is a haul for 160 bucks I think. But that is great for us, at that price it almost feels stupid to not pay for the escort, most of us will buy more than one round of drinks for that price the week of the races!

If anyone wants his contact info PM me, but honestly I just googled the Monroe county sheriffs office and called their main number.and asked the person who answered about over-width escort service. She immediately said " oh you need to talk to....." and transferred me.

But I do have his name and cell number if you want to PM me for it. The duty officer gave me his number so I feel ok giving it out a little more personally then posting it on-line.

Hope this helps some of you who are making this trip.

I'm towing Harleys and a camper down for New Years.

Hell, I'm going to strap a couple of 11' long PVC pipes across the back of the trailer, and call for a police escort!
If DOT gives me any trouble, I'll just run up along side a light pole and all I'll get is a littering ticket.

You have no idea how bad the traffic is during that timeframe! Money well spent!!

June of 2000?..........This is a 15+ year old story?:picard1:

That officer is probably retired with her 97% pension, towing a 12 ft wide catamaran sailboat throughout the USA! :D

Hello MC Sheriff's Dept? Yeah I need the $160 escort cash special! :D I understand it is a "on the down low" type deal and it gives officers "a little pocket money!"