Transporting a Boat: A Comprehensive Guide
Whether you're buying a new vessel, selling an old one, or simply need to relocate your boat from one spot to another, discovering a reliable boat transport company that fulfills all your requirements can be difficult. On Shiply, you can find & compare trustworthy boat movers with just a few clicks, often with quotes up to 75% lower than standard rates. But first, you must determine precisely what service you need. This guide will assist you in doing exactly that.
The Expense of Transporting a Boat
It's difficult to provide a precise price due to the numerous factors that can influence quotes. However, on average, short-distance transport can cost between $150 & $300, while longer haul trips can range 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 price. Domestic transportation within the US is typically less expensive than international travel. For international 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 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.
- Pickup & Delivery Locations: The accessibility of your pickup and delivery spots can impact pricing, with remote areas potentially incurring additional costs.
- Time of Year: Seasonality can affect pricing, as ice, wind, and snow can alter available transportation routes.
Measuring Your Boat Precisely
To get an accurate quote for transporting your boat, you need to provide its 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. Measure the overall length from the bow's end to the stern's middle, the overall height from the highest non-removable point to the bottom of the keel, and the beam, which is the overall width of the boat. A "standard" boat is roughly 40' long, 7'10" high, & 7'8" wide. Boats exceeding this size may require a special permit to travel.
How Shiply Can Assist in Finding Boat Transport Companies
Shiply streamlines the process of finding a boat transport company. Once you have your boat's make, measurements, and pickup and drop-off locations, you can enter this information on our site, and boat moving companies will send custom quotes directly to your inbox. The more details you provide, the more precise these quotes will be, giving you a great place to compare your options.
Shiply's feedback & review system allows you to view ratings and feedback for any boat mover who quotes you, ensuring you choose a reliable company. You can also message anyone who quotes you within our platform to sort out details such as trailers and accessibility. Using Shiply is not only good for the environment, as drivers are often making the journeys already and looking for extra loads, but it can also be up to 75% cheaper than standard rates.
Readying 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, ensure you have any necessary documents at hand to avoid late mishaps.
- Cleaning: Thoroughly clean your boat before transport to remove personal belongings and expensive electronic equipment. This also allows you to assess 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 to make the boat lighter and prevent potential leaks during transit.
- Remove Sails: If transporting a sailboat, remove all winches & rigging from the mast.
- Photographic Evidence: Document your vessel's condition with time-stamped photographs before pickup 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 operates as expected.
- Exterior Condition: Compare the boat's exterior condition upon arrival to the photos taken prior to pickup to spot any damages that occurred during transit. If any issues are found, raise them with the boat transport company.
After the boat transport is completed, we ask that you leave feedback & a rating for your chosen boat mover so future Shiply users can browse services with confidence and help your mover understand how their level of service was received.
Boat Transport in Soldotna, Alaska
Soldotna, situated in the heart of the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska, is a popular destination for boating enthusiasts. Many people often move their boats to and from Soldotna for various reasons, such as seasonal changes, recreational activities, or relocation. Soldotna's proximity to the Kenai River and other waterways makes it an ideal location for fishing, sightseeing, and other water-based adventures. When transporting a boat to or from Soldotna, it's crucial to choose a reliable boat transport soldotna company that understands the unique challenges of navigating the area's roads and waterways. By using a trusted soldotna boat transport service, you can ensure your vessel arrives at its destination safely and efficiently.