How to Convey a Watercraft from Birmingham, Alabama
Conveying a watercraft can be challenging, whether you're purchasing a new vessel, vending an old one, or simply need to relocate it from one location to another. Discovering a dependable watercraft transport company in Birmingham, Alabama that fulfills all your requirements can be difficult. But with Shiply, you can locate & contrast trustworthy watercraft movers in just a few clicks, frequently with quotes up to 75% less than standard rates. First, however, you must determine precisely what service you require. This guide will assist you in doing just that.
What Is the Cost to Transport a Watercraft?
It's challenging to provide a precise price because there are numerous factors that can influence the quotes. But on average, short distance transport can cost between $150 to $300, while longer trips can cost anywhere from $600 to $1,000. Here are some crucial factors that can affect how much your watercraft transportation will cost:
Distance - The distance your watercraft needs to be transported will greatly impact the price. If the watercraft only needs to be moved within the US, then the most likely method will be by trailer on the road, which is usually less expensive than international travel. If the watercraft needs to go to another country, it can cost more. There are a few options for international watercraft transport:
- Roll-on/Roll-off (RO/RO) - This is the most common method. Your watercraft remains on a trailer for the entire journey.
- Enclosed Container - If your watercraft is a standard size, you might want to consider placing it in a large metal box that goes on a ship. This can often be less expensive.
- Flat Rack - For large watercraft, a flat rack can be attached to a ship and your watercraft can be secured into its own cradle.
- Submersion - This simply means your watercraft is loaded and unloaded from the water.
Watercraft Size - The size of your watercraft can also greatly influence the pricing. Standard-sized watercraft can be transported internationally using enclosed containers, but larger watercraft cannot. The size can also affect which routes a watercraft transport company can take if they're going by road.
Trailer - The cost can also be impacted by whether you have your own watercraft trailer or if you need the watercraft movers to provide one.
Locations of Pickup and Delivery - The ease of access to your pickup and delivery locations can affect pricing too. If your watercraft is being picked up from a remote area, it may cost extra for the additional miles required to get it.
Time of Year - Seasonality is another factor that can influence pricing. Ice, wind, and snow can all affect road conditions, which can alter the routes available for transportation.
How to Accurately Measure Your Watercraft
To get a precise quote for how much it will cost to transport your watercraft, you need to provide the dimensions to potential watercraft movers. The manufacturer will usually provide these, but we recommend double-checking yourself to avoid any issues on the day of transport. Here's a quick overview:
- Overall Length - Measure from the very end of the bow to the middle of the stern.
- Overall Height - Measure from the highest (non-removable) point of the watercraft to the bottom of the keel.
- Beam - The beam is just the overall width of the watercraft, so measure from the two widest points.
A 'standard' watercraft is considered to be roughly 40' long, 7'10" high, and 7'8" wide. Watercraft over this size may require a special permit to travel.
How Can Shiply Assist in Finding Watercraft Transport Companies?
There are many factors to consider when searching for a watercraft transport company, and it can often seem overwhelming given all the variables. This is where Shiply can help. Once you have the make and measurements of your watercraft and the pickup & drop-off locations, you can simply enter this information on our site and watercraft moving companies will send custom quotes directly to your inbox. The more information you provide, the more accurate these quotes will be. This gives you a great place to compare your options.
Shiply's feedback and review system allows you to view ratings & feedback for any watercraft mover who quotes you, so you can be confident that the company is reliable. You can also message anyone who quotes you within our platform to sort out details like trailers and accessibility.
Another bonus of using Shiply is that drivers are often already making the journeys and looking for extra loads. This means using Shiply is not only good for the environment, but it can also be up to 75% cheaper than standard rates.
Readying Your Watercraft for Shipping
Once you've looked at all your quotes and chosen one you're happy with, you need to prepare your watercraft for transport. Here are some steps you should take:
- Documents - If your watercraft is being sold or traveling abroad, you may need some documents. Make sure you have these ready to avoid any last-minute problems.
- Cleaning - It's a great idea to thoroughly clean your watercraft before it's transported. This way, you can remove any personal belongings and expensive electronic equipment that you don't want to get lost during transit. You can also get a good idea of the condition of your watercraft before pickup, in case anything happens. Make sure to secure any loose items that will stay on the watercraft, like life jackets, and disconnect the battery and tidy the cables.
- Empty Liquids - You should empty the bilge, refuse stores, and most of your fuel before pickup, and disconnect the fuel tanks. This will make the watercraft lighter for transport and prevent any potential leaks during transit.
- Remove Sails - If you're transporting a sailboat, you need to remove all winches and rigging from the mast.
- Photographic Evidence - We highly recommend documenting the condition of your watercraft with time-stamped photos before it's picked up. This will come in handy as evidence of its prior condition if any damages occur while it's being transported.
What to Do After Delivery
Once your watercraft has been transported to its destination, the hard part is over. But there are still a few steps you can take to make sure everything is in order:
- Check Vital Signs - Check that the watercraft's engines still run and any electronic equipment left on the vessel still operates as expected.
- Exterior Condition - Compare the exterior condition of the watercraft upon arrival to the photos taken before pickup. This will help you spot any damages that occurred during transit, and you can raise this with the watercraft transport company.
Once the watercraft transport is complete, we also ask that you leave feedback and a rating for your chosen watercraft mover. This helps future Shiply users browse services with confidence, and helps your mover understand how their level of service was received.
Why People Often Move Watercraft to and from Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama is a popular destination for watercraft transport for several reasons. Firstly, Birmingham is home to several large lakes and waterways, such as Lake Purdy and the Cahaba River, which are popular spots for boating and fishing. Many people move their watercraft to Birmingham to enjoy these recreational activities.
Secondly, Birmingham is a major transportation hub, with easy access to highways and rail lines. This makes it a convenient location for watercraft owners to transport their vessels to and from other parts of the country.
Finally, Birmingham has a thriving boating community, with many marinas, watercraft dealers, and repair shops located in the area. This means that watercraft owners can easily find the services and support they need to maintain and enjoy their vessels.
Overall, whether you're moving to Birmingham to enjoy the local waterways or simply need to transport your watercraft through the area, Birmingham is a great destination for watercraft transport.