Transporting a Watercraft: A Comprehensive Guide
Whether you're purchasing a new vessel, disposing of an old one, or simply need to relocate your watercraft from one location to another, discovering a reliable boat transportation service that fulfills all your requirements can be challenging. On Shiply, you can easily find and compare trustworthy boat haulers with just a few clicks, frequently offering quotes up to 75% lower than standard rates. However, before proceeding, you must determine the exact service you need. This comprehensive guide will assist you in doing precisely that.
The Cost of Relocating a Watercraft
Providing an exact price is difficult due to the numerous variables that can influence quotes. However, on average, short-distance transport can range from $150 to $300, while longer journeys can cost anywhere between $600 and $1,000. As previously mentioned, several factors can impact the cost of your boat transportation. We've listed some crucial ones below:
Distance - The distance your watercraft needs to travel will significantly affect the price. If the boat only requires transportation within the US, the most likely method will be by trailer, which is usually more affordable than international travel. If the boat needs to go overseas, this can be more costly. There are a few options here:
Roll-on/Roll-off (RO/RO for short) is the most common method of international boat transport and involves your watercraft remaining on a trailer for the entire trip. If your boat is a standard size, you may want to consider an enclosed container that would be placed on a large shipping vessel. This can often be a more economical international boat transport method.
If it's a large boat that you need to move internationally, a flat rack can often be secured onto a vessel which your watercraft can be strapped into while in its own personal cradle. Finally, there's always the option of submersion when considering international boat delivery options, which simply involves your boat being loaded and unloaded from the water.
Boat Size - The dimensions of the watercraft you want to move can also greatly affect the pricing. For example, standard-sized boats can be transported internationally using enclosed containers, while larger boats cannot. The size of the boat can also affect which routes a boat transport company can take if moving by road.
Trailer - Depending on whether you have your own boat trailer or you need the boat movers to provide one, this can also affect the cost of your boat transportation.
Locations of Pickup & Delivery - The accessibility of your pick up and drop-off locations can affect pricing as well, with ease of access playing a part. A boat being picked up from a remote area may also cost extra for the additional miles required to get it.
Time of Year - Seasonality is another factor that can affect pricing. Ice, wind, and snow can all affect road conditions which can change the routes available for transportation.
Accurately Measuring Your Watercraft
To obtain an accurate quote for the cost of moving your boat, you need to provide the dimensions of it to potential boat movers. While the manufacturer will usually provide these, we recommend double-checking yourself to avoid any issues on the day of transport. As a quick overview:
Overall Length - This is measured from the very end of the bow to the middle of the stern.
Overall Height - This is measured from the highest (non-removable) point of the boat to the bottom of the keel.
Beam - The beam is simply the overall width of the boat, so measure from the two widest points.
A 'standard' boat is considered to be about 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, and often it can seem overwhelming given all of the variables. This is where Shiply can help you.
Once you have the make and measurements of your watercraft and the pickup and 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 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 and feedback for any boat mover who quotes you, ensuring you can remain confident that the company is reliable. You can also message anyone who quotes you within our platform to sort out details such as trailers and accessibility.
Another added benefit of using Shiply is that often drivers are making the journeys already and are 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 Watercraft for Shipping
Once you've reviewed all of your quotes and chosen one you're satisfied with, you need to prepare your boat for transport. Some of the steps you should take are:
Documents - If your boat is being sold or traveling abroad, you may require some documents. Make sure you have these at hand if you need them to avoid any last-minute mishaps.
Cleaning - It's a great idea to thoroughly clean your boat before it's transported. Not only will this allow you to remove any personal belongings and expensive electronic equipment that you don't want to get lost during transit, but it also means you can get a good idea of the condition of your boat prior to pick up should anything occur. You should also make sure to secure any loose items that will stay on the boat such as lifejackets and to disconnect the battery and tidy the cables.
Empty Liquids - You should empty the bilge, refuse stores, and most of your fuel prior to pickup, as well as disconnect the fuel tanks. This will make the boat lighter for transport and prevent any potential leaks that may occur in transit.
Remove Sails - If it's a sailboat you're transporting, then you need to remove all winches and rigging from the mast.
Photographic Evidence - We highly recommend that you document the condition of your vessel with time-stamped photographs before it's picked up as this will come in handy as evidence of its prior condition should any damages occur while it's being transported.
Post-Delivery Steps
Once your watercraft has been transported to its destination, the hard part is over, but this doesn't mean there aren't a few steps you can take to ensure everything is in order.
Check Vital Signs - Verify that the boat's engines still run and any electronic equipment left on the vessel still operate as expected.
Exterior Condition - Compare the exterior condition of the boat upon arrival to the photos taken prior to pick up. This will help you spot any damages which have occurred during transit, and you can then raise this with the boat transport company.
Once the boat transport has been completed, we also ask that you leave feedback and a rating for your chosen boat mover so that future Shiply users can browse services with the same level of confidence, as well as helping your mover to understand how their level of service was received.
Boat Transport in Casas Adobes, Arizona
Casas Adobes is a census-designated place located in Pima County, Arizona, United States. Many people often move boats to and from Casas Adobes for various reasons. Some may be purchasing a new boat from a dealer in the area, while others may be relocating their boat to a new home or marina.
Casas Adobes is situated in a convenient location for boat owners, with easy access to major highways and nearby lakes and rivers. This makes it a popular destination for those looking to transport their boats for recreational purposes.
If you're in need of boat transport services in Casas Adobes, Shiply can help connect you with reliable and affordable boat movers in the area. Simply enter your boat's details and the pickup and delivery locations on our platform, and you'll receive custom quotes from trusted boat transport companies serving Casas Adobes and the surrounding areas.
Whether you're moving a small fishing boat or a large yacht, Shiply makes it easy to find the right boat transport solution for your needs in Casas Adobes, Arizona.
