Lakeside Marine Transport

Hope everyone is getting ready for boat season. I felt it was important to post this in hopes of saving other boaters the potential aggravation and cost of using the wrong transport company to move their boat. We moved a boat from Allatoona to Lanier in February and used a company that used to have a decent reputation from what I heard before it was sold to the current owner/operator. After working in transportation myself on the vehicle side for a few years I should have taken heed when seeing some bad reviews online and hearing some less than great stories (even from the guy that sold me the boat). We had Lakeside Marine Transport (Scott) scheduled to move our boat in mid February. We received absolutely no communication as the date approached and we kept sending text messsages and leaving voicemails. The night before the scheduled move we get a text saying he was out of town and could we move it one day later as he just got back in town and needed to check the trailer. The next day we hear nothing and finally get a response later in the day saying he has some items he needs to fix and is trying to push yet another day, but I tell him we have already waited two days and it really needs to get done. After waiting at Allatoona Landing and taking time off from work and pushing to get the job done, Scott shows up just before dark, loads in the dark, has no spotter vehicle or helper (legally required for a boat around 48’) and then says we can splash at Lanier the following day. After continuously calling and texting without response the next day we finally get notification around 6:30 PM, we end up also splashing in the dark at a time when dock floats and everything else imaginable is floating in the lake. Scott almost doubles the price from the initial quote saying he thought it was a different boat and also added hours for removing the radar. Fast forward to several weeks after the boat is on Lanier. I reach out to Scott showing him pictures of the Raydome before and after (pictures I took for him one day before the move and the day after the survey to show him what equipment is on top along with current picture with damage now) which shows the dome is cracked and clearly damaged. The screws were also hanging loose and never resecured. Scott immediately says he doesn’t know how it could have happened, but also says he could try and find a used replacement cover. Seemed pretty quick to look for a cover. At the same time we have an extremely reputable company doing audio and other related work (Avc Marine) and they look into the Raydome damage and the components are bent from the impact or dropping of the unit, which was clearing working during the survey. After three months of Scott saying he will get to the boat as he has some spare units in his storage that might work, we give up and schedule AVC as they are very trustworthy and know what they are doing. No returned texts or voicemails from Scott. Scott tells me what he thinks he could get the unit for and I even agree to cover the additional cost to have AVC perform the work, then Scott just stops responding. Caught him applying bottom paint just before we planned to put it back in the water as well, probably covering up some hull damage he did. Do yourself and anyone you know looking to move a boat a big favor and avoid Lakeside Marine Transport. We heard great things about Smithline and Ray’s out of Athens and we should have used one of them. Smithline couldn’t splash the trailer, but Ray could have. BUYER BEWARE!! You pay for what you get. We have a court judgement against him. #boattransport #boathauling #boatmovers #marinetransport #lakelanier #lakeallatoona