A Comprehensive Guide to Boat Transportation
Whether you're buying a new vessel, selling an old one, or simply need to relocate your boat from one location to another, locating a reliable boat transport company that fulfills all your requirements can be difficult. On Shiply, you can find & compare reputable boat movers in just a few clicks, often with prices up to 75% lower than standard rates. However, before you begin, you need to identify precisely what service you require. This guide will assist you in doing just that, including information on boat transport vestavia hills and vestavia hills boat transport.
The Expense of Transporting a Boat
It's difficult to provide a precise cost due to the numerous factors that can influence quotes. However, on average, short-distance transport can range between $150 & $300, while longer haul trips can cost anywhere from $600 to $1,000. Several elements can affect the expense of your boat transportation, including:
- Distance: The distance your boat needs to travel will significantly impact the cost. Domestic transportation within the US is typically less expensive than international travel. For international boat transport, options include Roll-on/Roll-off (RO/RO), enclosed containers, flat racks, and submersion.
- Boat Size: The dimensions of your boat can also greatly affect pricing. Standard-sized boats can be transported internationally using enclosed containers, while larger vessels cannot. The size of the boat can also impact which routes a boat transport company can take if transporting by road.
- Trailer: Whether you have your own boat trailer or require the boat movers to provide one can also affect the cost of your boat transportation.
- Pickup & Delivery Locations: The accessibility of your pickup and delivery locations can impact pricing. A boat being picked up from a remote area may incur additional costs for the extra miles required.
- Time of Year: Seasonality can also affect pricing. Ice, wind, and snow can all impact road conditions, which can alter the routes available for transportation.
Measuring Your Boat for Precise Quotes
To get an accurate estimate for transporting your boat, you need to provide the dimensions to potential boat movers. While the manufacturer usually provides these, we recommend double-checking yourself to avoid any issues on the day of transport. Here's a brief overview:
- Overall Length: Measured from the very end of the bow to the middle of the stern.
- Overall Height: Measured from the highest (non-removable) point of the boat to the bottom of the keel.
- Beam: The overall width of the boat, measured from the two widest points.
A 'standard' boat is considered to be roughly 40' long, 7'10" high, and 7'8" wide. Boats over this size may require a special permit to travel.
How Shiply Can Assist in Finding Boat Transport Companies
There are many factors to consider when searching for a boat transport company, which can often seem daunting. This is where Shiply can help you. Once you have the make and measurements of your boat and the pickup & drop-off locations, you can simply enter this information on our site, and boat moving companies will send custom quotes directly to your inbox. The more information you provide, the more precise these quotes will be, giving you a great place to compare your options.
Shiply's feedback and review system allows you to view ratings & feedback for any boat mover who quotes you, ensuring you can trust that the company is dependable. You can also message anyone who quotes you within our platform to sort out details such as trailers and accessibility. Another benefit of using Shiply is that drivers are often already making the journeys and looking for extra loads, meaning not only is using Shiply good for the environment, but it can also be up to 75% cheaper than standard rates.
Preparing Your Boat for Shipping
Once you've chosen a quote you're satisfied with, you need to prepare your boat for transport. Some steps you should take include:
- Documents: If your boat is being sold or traveling abroad, you may require some documents. Make sure you have these at hand if needed to avoid any late mishaps.
- Cleaning: Thoroughly clean your boat before transport. This allows you to remove personal belongings and expensive electronic equipment and get a good idea of your boat's condition prior to pickup.
- Empty Liquids: Empty the bilge, refuse stores, and most of your fuel prior to pickup, and disconnect the fuel tanks. This will make the boat lighter for transport and prevent potential leaks during transit.
- Remove Sails: If transporting a sailboat, remove all winches and rigging from the mast.
- Photographic Evidence: Document your vessel's condition with time-stamped photographs before pickup. This will serve as evidence of its prior condition should any damages occur during transport.
What to Do After Delivery
Once your boat has been transported to its destination, there are a few steps you can take to ensure everything is in order:
- Check Vital Signs: Ensure the boat's engines still run and any electronic equipment left on the vessel still operates as expected.
- Exterior Condition: Compare the exterior condition of the boat upon arrival to the photos taken prior to pickup. This will help you spot any damages that occurred during transit, which you can then raise with the boat transport company.
After the boat transport is completed, we ask that you leave feedback and a rating for your chosen boat mover. This helps future Shiply users browse services with confidence and allows your mover to understand how their level of service was received.
Boat Transport in Vestavia Hills, Alabama
Vestavia Hills, situated in Jefferson County, Alabama, is a thriving suburb of Birmingham. With its proximity to lakes and rivers, many residents in Vestavia Hills own boats for recreational purposes. As a result, boat transport vestavia hills and vestavia hills boat transport services are in high demand. People often move their boats to and from Vestavia Hills for various reasons, such as seasonal changes, maintenance, or participation in water activities and events in other locations. When searching for reliable boat transport companies in Vestavia Hills, Alabama, Shiply can help connect boat owners with trusted and affordable boat movers, ensuring a seamless and stress-free experience.