Economical & Dependable Boat Shipping with Shiply
Shiply eliminates the inconvenience from boat shipping by assisting you in discovering an inexpensive, trustworthy service that suits your needs. Simply create a listing on our platform & relax as shipping providers approach you with estimates to transport your boat. Once you find a quote that appeals to you, contact the driver, confirm, and await the pickup of your boat.
Why Is Boat Shipping Necessary?
Whether you require a narrowboat, sailboat, small craft, or yacht transported, Shiply can assist. Did you recently purchase a new boat & need it delivered? Or perhaps you need to get your boat to a location on land? Maybe it's too large for you to transport yourself? Regardless of the reason, Shiply can help you find a dependable & professional company for shipping your boat at the appropriate price. Selecting a specialized boat hauler will ensure your vessel is in safe hands. Boat haulage companies in the UK & internationally will be knowledgeable about working with boats, marinas, and ports and should assist you with all aspects of the transportation process.
Listing your boat shipping on Shiply & our network of shipping providers will provide you with price quotes. You simply need to complete a form with some basic information about your boat to be transported and you will receive complimentary estimates in pounds sterling or euros, depending on your location. Once you've received several quotes, you'll be able to compare companies based on their credentials, customer feedback, & costs.
What Is the Cost of Boat Shipping?
The expense of boat shipping will vary based on several factors, but on average, you can anticipate paying between £100 to £260 for shorter distances & between £450 & £750 for longer journeys. The average cost per mile for standard boat shipping is around £1.50 per mile in the UK, but as mentioned, this can vary depending on the size of the boat. The dimensions of the boat being transported will significantly impact the cost. For instance, small boat shipping is straightforward as they can often be hauled on the road, whereas something like a larger sailboat or narrowboat will require special attention & will likely cost more to transport. A narrowboat may require specialist narrowboat movers due to their unique size. Whether the boat needs to be transported within the UK or internationally will also play a role in the pricing, as international boat shipping will cost significantly more & may require different companies than those in the UK who specialize in road transport.
Utilizing Shiply to Find a Boat Transporter
To create a listing on Shiply, you only need to complete a brief form with some details about your boat & the pick-up & drop-off dates & locations. Once your listing is complete, you will start receiving complimentary quotes from various shipping providers - some of which may contact you to better understand the required services so they can accurately quote for the work.
There are two primary methods of boat shipping, & the method you choose will depend on where your boat needs to go. If your boat is required to be transported in a particular way, please specify this on your Shiply listing.
By road – If your vessel needs to be hauled within the same country, you'll find that road shipping is likely the best option. If you're transporting only parts of a boat or a non-starting boat, shipping by road is your only choice.
By sea or river – If your craft needs to be sailed port-to-port, then you can hire a crew to do this. Crews should inspect your vessel, plot courses, & check shipping forecasts for you.
Once you have received some quotes, ensure you check the credentials & feedback of any skippers & crew hands, which you can see by viewing the shipping providers' company profiles on Shiply. If you're transporting a sailboat, then RYA or MCA accredited crews are the qualifications to look for.
With any type of shipping, it's crucial to check the level of experience & professional insurance coverage that they offer (do not accept personal insurance) so you can make the most informed decision for your individual situation.
Do not hesitate to ask the companies any questions about the shipping process as they will often have a high level of expertise.
Finding the right boat shipping service can be overwhelming if you intend to compare all the prices & credentials. Larger companies might charge less, whereas smaller family-run transporters could offer you a more personalized service.
Readying Your Boat for Shipping
If your vessel is being transported by land, there are several preparatory tasks to ensure that the shipping goes as smoothly as possible. You'll want to plan as far ahead as possible to give yourself enough time to prepare for the transport & to enable you to find a suitable shipping service. Boat deliveries can be carried out in several different ways, but regardless, make sure your boat is prepared correctly to prevent any damage, leakage, or dangerous loose ends occurring during the journey.
Check the condition - Ensure you thoroughly check the interior & exterior of your vessel for any previous damage. This way, you can see if it suffers any during transit. You may want to take photos of the condition before its journey.
Remove valuables - Ensure you take anything valuable off your boat before it's transported as these will not be insured.
Empty the bilge, water, refuse stores, & the majority of fuel - Pump out wastewater & other liquids. Any freshwater tanks & rubbish should be emptied, fuel tanks disconnected, & the majority of the gasoline emptied to make the boat lighter to deliver & prevent any potential leakages during transport.
Disconnect battery & tidy cables - A precaution that will help avoid draining the battery & any shortages in electronics. Despite being a waterborne vehicle, your boat might be exposed to different weather conditions when it travels on a trailer. So make sure that all exposed electronics are covered & battery cables are tucked away.
Make things secure - If they aren't travelling separately, make sure all accessories & life jackets are stowed away in lockers. Secure all doors & compartments in the galley & washrooms. Also, make sure that the canopy is extra secure as it might not be built to travel at the same speeds as a trailer.
For sailboats - Removing all winches & rigging etc. from the mast is important (also provide padding for points at which the mast will be tied down). Pulpits, stanchions, & lifelines should only be taken off if they will make the boat too large to transport easily.
You can also check with your boatyard for any other precautions that they might think important for safe transport. If your boat is going to be sailed to its destination, make sure you arrange with the captain what preparations need to be made prior to the handover.
Once your boat is ready, all you need to do is wait for the transporter to arrive. Once you have accepted a quote on Shiply, you will be able to communicate with them directly.
If any changes occur that may differ from what your shipping provider is expecting, make sure they are contacted & made aware so they can plan accordingly.
Boat Shipping in Devon, UK
Devon, situated in southwest England, is a popular destination for boating enthusiasts. With its stunning coastline, picturesque harbours, & numerous marinas, it's no surprise that many people choose to transport their boats to & from Devon. Whether you're relocating to Devon permanently or simply visiting for a holiday, boat shipping Devon services can help you get your vessel to its desired location safely & efficiently.
Devon boat shipping companies have extensive experience in handling various types of boats, from small dinghies to large yachts. They understand the unique challenges associated with navigating the county's waterways & can ensure that your boat arrives at its destination in pristine condition. By opting for professional Devon boat shipping services, you can save yourself the hassle & stress of trying to transport your boat on your own.
Completing Your Boat's Shipping
When your vessel safely reaches its destination on the delivery date, your boat transporter should assist you with the unloading or docking & may help you with other parts of maintenance & checks (depending on what you agreed). If there are any other services you need assistance with, these should be specified at the beginning of the process when listing your required service on Shiply.
Either way, it's important that you check your craft post-transit to ensure that it hasn't been damaged & ask the transporter about any discrepancies so they can be sorted out quickly.
Once your boat is safely docked or secured, you can remove the tape & other securing materials, refill water tanks, reattach batteries & motors, or re-rig your sailboat so it's ready to be used again.
When you're satisfied that the shipping job has been completed, please leave a review for the service you used on Shiply on their company profile. Leaving feedback is extremely helpful to us as it assists other users when choosing a shipping provider for their own job, & it also helps transporters continuously improve their service.