A Comprehensive Guide to Transporting Your Boat
Whether you're buying a new vessel, selling an old one, or simply need to relocate your boat from one place to another, locating a reliable boat transport company that fulfills all your requirements can be a daunting task. With Shiply, you can easily find and compare trustworthy boat transporters with just a few clicks, often with prices up to 75% lower than standard rates. However, before you start, it's essential to identify precisely what service you need. This guide aims to help you accomplish that.
The Expense of Transporting a Boat
Offering a precise cost for boat transportation can be challenging due to the various factors that can affect quotes. On average, short-distance transport can range from $150 to $300, while longer haul trips can cost between $600 and $1,000. Several elements can influence the expense of your boat transportation, including:
1. Distance: The distance your boat needs to travel will significantly impact the cost. Domestic transportation within the US is generally less expensive than international shipping. For international boat transport, options include Roll-on/Roll-off (RO/RO), enclosed containers, flat racks, and submersion.
2. Boat Size: The dimensions of your vessel can also greatly affect pricing. Standard-sized boats can be transported internationally using enclosed containers, while larger boats may require alternative methods. The size of the boat can also impact the routes available for road transportation.
3. Trailer: Whether you have your own boat trailer or need the boat transporters to supply one can affect the cost of your boat transportation.
4. Pickup & Delivery Locations: The accessibility of your pickup and delivery locations can influence pricing. Remote areas may incur additional costs for the extra miles required to reach them.
5. Time of Year: Seasonality can affect pricing, as ice, wind, and snow can alter available transportation routes.
Precisely Measuring Your Boat
To obtain an accurate quote for boat transportation costs, you must provide potential boat transporters with your vessel's dimensions. While the manufacturer usually supplies these measurements, we recommend verifying them yourself to avoid any issues on the day of transport. Here's a quick 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 approximately 40' long, 7'10" high, and 7'8" wide. Boats exceeding these dimensions may require a special permit for transportation.
Locating Boat Transport Companies with Shiply
Shiply streamlines the process of finding reliable boat transport companies. Once you have your boat's make, measurements, and pickup & drop-off locations, simply enter this information on our site, and boat transporting companies will send personalized quotes directly to your inbox. The more details you provide, the more precise the quotes will be.
Shiply's feedback and review system allows you to view ratings & comments for any boat transporter who quotes you, ensuring you can trust the company's reliability. You can also communicate with anyone who quotes you within our platform to sort out specifics like trailers and accessibility.
Another benefit of using Shiply is that drivers are often already making the journeys and looking for additional loads. This means using Shiply is not only eco-friendly but can also be up to 75% cheaper than standard rates.
Readying Your Boat for Shipment
Once you've chosen a quote you're satisfied with, it's time to prepare your boat for transport. Some essential steps include:
1. Documents: If your boat is being sold or traveling abroad, ensure you have any necessary documents on hand to avoid last-minute issues.
2. Cleaning: Thoroughly clean your boat before transport. This allows you to remove personal belongings & expensive electronic equipment and assess your boat's condition prior to pickup.
3. Empty Liquids: Empty the bilge, refuse stores, and most of your fuel before pickup, and disconnect the fuel tanks. This will make the boat lighter for transport & prevent potential leaks during transit.
4. Remove Sails: If you're transporting a sailboat, remove all winches and rigging from the mast.
5. 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 transportation.
Post-Delivery Checklist
After your boat has been transported to its destination, there are a few steps you can take to ensure everything is in order:
1. Check Vital Signs: Verify that the boat's engines still run and any electronic equipment left on the vessel operates as expected.
2. Exterior Condition: Compare the boat's exterior condition upon arrival to the photos taken before pickup. This will help you identify any damages that may have occurred during transit, which you can then address with the boat transport company.
Once the boat transport is complete, we kindly ask that you leave feedback & a rating for your chosen boat transporter. This helps future Shiply users browse services with confidence and allows your transporter to understand how their level of service was received.
Boat Transport in Clearwater, Florida
Clearwater, Florida, is a popular destination for boat enthusiasts, with many people moving their boats to and from the area. Located on the Gulf Coast, Clearwater offers stunning beaches, excellent fishing opportunities, and a vibrant boating community. The city's proximity to Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico makes it an ideal location for boating activities.
When it comes to boat transport clearwater, many companies specialize in providing reliable and efficient services. These clearwater boat transport providers understand the unique challenges associated with moving boats in and out of the area, such as navigating the busy waterways and ensuring the vessel's safety during transit.
Whether you're relocating to Clearwater or simply need to transport your boat for maintenance or storage, working with a reputable boat transport company is essential. By following the tips outlined in this guide and using platforms like Shiply to compare quotes and reviews, you can find the right boat transporter to meet your needs and ensure a smooth, stress-free experience when transporting your boat to or from Clearwater, Florida.