Transporting a Watercraft: A Comprehensive Guide
Whether you're purchasing a vessel, disposing of an old one, or simply need to relocate your watercraft from one location to another, discovering a reliable boat transportation company that fulfills all your requirements can be challenging. On Shiply, you can locate & compare dependable boat haulers in just a few clicks, frequently with quotes up to 75% less than standard rates. However, first, you must determine precisely what service you necessitate. This guide will assist you in accomplishing just that.
The Cost of Transporting a Watercraft
It's challenging to provide a precise price due to the numerous variables that can influence quotes. However, on average, short-distance transport can cost between $150 to $300, while longer-haul journeys can cost anything from $600 to $1,000. As mentioned above, several factors can impact how much your boat transportation will cost. We've listed some crucial ones below:
Distance - The distance your watercraft needs to be transported will greatly affect the price. If the vessel only needs to be moved within the US, then the most likely method will be through inland transportation on a trailer, which is usually cheaper than international travel. If the boat needs to go internationally, then this can be more expensive. There are a few options here:
Roll-on/Roll-off (RO/RO for short) is the most common method of international boat transport & involves your watercraft staying on a trailer for the entire trip. If your vessel is a standard size, then you may want to consider an enclosed container that would be put on a large shipping vessel. This can often be a cheaper international boat transport method.
If it's a big boat that you need to transport internationally, then 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 looking at international boat delivery options, which simply involves your vessel being loaded & unloaded from the water.
Boat Size - The dimensions of the watercraft that you want to move can also greatly affect the pricing. For example, standard-sized boats can be transported internationally using enclosed containers, while larger vessels cannot. The size of the boat can also affect which routes a boat transport company can take if transporting 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 ease of access to your pick up and delivery locations can affect pricing as well, with ease of access playing a part. A boat being picked up from a remote area may also incur extra costs for the extra miles required to pick it up.
Time of Year - Seasonality is another thing that can affect pricing. Ice, wind, & snow can all affect road conditions which can alter the routes available for transportation.
Accurately Measuring Your Watercraft
In order for you to get a precise quote for how much it will cost to transport your boat, you need to provide the dimensions of it to potential boat movers. While the manufacturer will usually provide you with these, we recommend double-checking yourself to avoid any mishaps on the day of transport. As a brief 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 just the overall width of the boat, so measure from the two widest points.
A 'standard' boat is considered to be roughly 40' long, 7'10" high & 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 things that need to be considered when looking for a boat transport company, & often it can seem overwhelming given all of the variables. This is where Shiply can help you!
Once you have the make & measurements of your boat and the pickup & drop-off locations, you can simply enter this information on our site & 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 & review system allows you to view ratings & feedback for any boat mover who quotes you, meaning you can stay safe in the knowledge that the company is reliable. You can also message anyone who quotes you within our platform to sort out details such as trailers & accessibility.
Another added bonus of using Shiply is that often drivers are making the journeys already & 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!
Readying for Your Boat to be Shipped
Once you've looked at all of your quotes & chosen one you're happy 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 late mishaps.
Cleaning - It's a great idea to thoroughly clean your boat before it's transported. Not only will this mean you can remove any personal belongings & 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 & to disconnect the battery & tidy the cables.
Empty Liquids - You should empty the bilge, refuse stores, & most of your fuel prior to pickup, as well as disconnect the fuel tanks. This will make the boat lighter for transport & put a stop to 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 & 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.
What to Do After Delivery
Once your boat 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 - Check that the boat's engines still run & 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 & you can then raise this with the boat transport company.
Once the boat transport has been completed, we also ask that you leave feedback & 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 Smyrna, Georgia
Smyrna, Georgia is a popular location for boat owners to transport their vessels to & from. Located just northwest of Atlanta, Smyrna offers easy access to Lake Allatoona & other nearby bodies of water. Many people choose to move their "boar" to Smyrna for recreational purposes, such as fishing, water skiing, & cruising.
If you're in need of boat transport services in the Smyrna area, Shiply can help connect you with reliable & affordable boat movers. Simply enter your boat's details & the pickup & delivery locations, & you'll receive custom quotes from boat transport companies in Smyrna & the surrounding areas.
When searching for boat transport in Smyrna, be sure to use relevant keywords such as "boat transport smyrna" & "smyrna boat transport" to find the best options for your needs. With Shiply, you can compare quotes & read reviews from previous customers to find a boat mover you can trust.
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