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A Comprehensive Guide to Transporting Your Watercraft


Relocating a watercraft, whether for purchase, sale, or simply shifting it to a new spot, can be an intimidating undertaking. Discovering a reliable boat transport firm that fulfills all your requirements can be difficult. However, with Shiply, you can effortlessly locate & compare trustworthy boat haulers in just a few clicks, frequently with quotes up to 75% more affordable than standard rates. Before you commence, it's essential to ascertain precisely what service you necessitate. This guide will assist you in navigating the process of transporting your watercraft.


The Expense of Boat Transportation


Supplying a precise price for boat relocation can be challenging due to the numerous variables that can influence quotes. On average, short distance transport can cost between $150 & $300, while longer haul journeys can range from $600 to $1,000. Several factors can affect the expense of your boat transportation, including:


- Distance: The distance your watercraft needs to travel greatly influences the price. Domestic transportation within the US is typically more affordable 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 watercraft can also significantly impact pricing. Standard-sized boats can be transported internationally using enclosed containers, while larger boats may necessitate alternative methods. The size of the boat can also affect the routes available for road transportation.


- Trailer: Whether you possess your own boat trailer or require the boat movers to provide one can affect the cost of transportation.


- Pickup & Delivery Locations: The accessibility of your pickup and delivery spots can influence pricing. Remote areas may incur extra costs for the additional miles required.


- Time of Year: Seasonality can affect pricing, as ice, wind, and snow can alter available transportation routes.


Accurately Measuring Your Watercraft


To receive a precise quote for boat transportation, you must provide the dimensions of your watercraft to potential movers. While the manufacturer usually supplies these measurements, it's recommended to double-check them yourself to avoid any issues on the day of transport. Here's a brief overview of the measurements you'll need:


- 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 watercraft, 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 this size may necessitate a special permit for transportation.


Discovering Boat Transport Companies with Shiply


Shiply streamlines the process of finding boat transport companies. Once you have the make, measurements, pickup, and drop-off locations of your watercraft, you can enter this information on our site, and boat moving companies will send personalized quotes directly to your inbox. The more details you provide, the more accurate the quotes will be. 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 communicate with the movers within our platform to discuss details such as trailers and accessibility.


Using Shiply not only benefits the environment by utilizing existing journeys but can also save you up to 75% compared to standard rates.


Readying Your Watercraft for Shipping


Once you've selected a quote you're satisfied with, it's time to prepare your boat for transport. Follow these steps:


- Documents: If your watercraft is being sold or traveling abroad, ensure you have all necessary documents readily available.


- Cleaning: Thoroughly clean your boat before transport. Remove personal belongings and expensive electronic equipment, and secure any loose items that will remain on the watercraft. Disconnect the battery and tidy the cables.


- Empty Liquids: Empty the bilge, refuse stores, and most of the fuel prior to pickup. Disconnect the fuel tanks to make the boat lighter and prevent potential leaks during transit.


- Remove Sails: For sailboats, remove all winches and rigging from the mast.


- Photographic Evidence: Document the condition of your vessel with time-stamped photographs before pickup. This will serve as evidence of its prior condition should any damages occur during transportation.


After Delivery: What to Do


Once your watercraft has reached its destination, there are a few steps you can take to ensure everything is in order:


- Check Vital Signs: Verify that the boat's engines and any electronic equipment left on the vessel are functioning as expected.


- Exterior Condition: Compare the exterior condition of the boat 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.


After the boat transport is completed, we kindly 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 Kahului, Hawaii, US


Kahului, situated on the island of Maui in Hawaii, is a popular destination for boat enthusiasts. Many people choose to move their watercraft to and from Kahului for various reasons, such as relocating, participating in boating events, or simply enjoying the beautiful waters surrounding the island. When transporting a boat to or from Kahului, it's essential to work with experienced boat transport companies that are familiar with the unique challenges of shipping to and from the Hawaiian Islands. By using Shiply, you can easily find reliable boat transport kahului services and compare quotes from multiple providers to ensure you get the best deal for your kahului boat transport needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Shiply Cover My Area?

Yes! There are couriers using Shiply all over the country and abroad, so whether you need to move a sofa across town or send a car across Europe, we have got you covered.

Does Shiply Have Different Sized Vehicles?

There are thousands of couriers on Shiply, with a wide range of vehicle sizes capable of handling any delivery. Providing the rough dimensions (and pictures if possible) on your listing will allow the delivery company to get the right vehicle sent out to you.

How Can I Contact Shiply Support?

Shiply Support is available only on email, at

Who Will Carry Out My Delivery?

Whoever you choose! There are thousands of rated transport providers on our platform ready to make a bid to carry out your delivery. It is up to you to decide which quote to accept.

When Will I Receive A Quote?

You will typically start to receive quotes within 30 minutes. If you are worried about the lack of quotes, try adding some more detail to your listing as transport providers may be unsure of dimensions or weight and feel unable to provide an accurate quote. If your delivery is urgent, you can try our 'featured delivery' feature which moves your listing to the top of the search page for couriers.

How Many Quotes Will I Receive?

Whilst there is no guarantee of quotes, 98% of our listings receive at least 3 quotes, so you are likely to find someone who can undertake the delivery of your items.

Does Shiply Provide Packing Materials?

f your item requires packing materials or extra care then you should make sure this is highlighted in your listing and discussed with any transport provider whose quote you are considering. Couriers on Shiply are able to provide all levels of service and can help pack your items, just ensure you inform them of your needs.

Will My Goods Be Tied Up Securely?

Transport providers will almost always tie up an item in the transport vehicle, as the risk of damage from moving around during transit is high. You should always confirm safety precautions and packing needs with transport providers before accepting a quote.

Can Items Be Taken Upstairs?

Yes, items can be taken upstairs if needed, and can also be assembled. Transport providers on Shiply are happy to provide these services, but you should ensure that you are mentioning these requirements in your listings as it may mean a second person is required for the move.

Can I Travel With My Goods?

The majority of transport providers on Shiply are only insured for the transportation of goods, however, some are also able to take people. If you need to travel with your goods, make sure to mention this in your listing and to highlight this to any courier who quotes on your listing.

What If I Need To Cancel My Booking?

If you have accepted a quote and paid the deposit but wish to cancel the delivery, then you should first inform your chosen transport provider that you no longer require the delivery. You should then contact us at to have your deposit refunded.

Can I Change The Address Of The Delivery?

If you have not yet accepted a quote then you are able to change the address of your listing. Note that editing details of your listing after publishing will result in active quotes being voided, so you will have to wait for new quotes to come in. If you have already accepted a quote and need to change the address, please let your transport provider know and contact us at .

Do I Need To Take My Boat Anywhere?

Typically, boat transporters on Shiply will be able to pick your boat up from wherever it is located and will use special boat trailers to do so. If your journey is strictly overseas then it may be cheaper to drive to the port yourself, but boat transporters will always be able to collect your boat, wherever it is.

Can I Keep Items In My Boat During Transportation?

This will likely be up to your boat transporter's discretion, so make sure to ask! One thing to note is that the items will likely not be covered by the insurance that covers the boat, so don't leave anything in there you cannot easily replace.

How Shiply works

How Shiply Works

How Shiply Works

  • 1

    Request quotes from our 447,168 rated shipping companies.

  • 2

    Compare prices and read previous customer feedback to pick the right quote for you.

  • 3

    Sit back and relax while your item is safely moved by your chosen shipping company.

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How Shiply Helps The Environment

By utilizing spare capacity of vehicles running on the road, Shiply helps reduce the number of otherwise wasteful journeys needed to ship the item.

3 0 2 6 7 4 3 1 0 Kg/CO2 Saved

Recent Testimonials

Debra W Testimonial

Debra W.

"Communication was great from the time I accepted the quote until the car was dropped off. In terms of the timeline, I was given a potential range for both how soon the car would be picked up and how many days it would be in transport."

Patrick G Testimonial

Patrick G.

"Everything was perfect! Fast, easy and hassle-free process! I definitely recommend and would use them again in the future. Thank you so much!"

Sophie G Testimonial

Sophie G.

"Great experience using these guys. This was my first time having to transport a car using a service like this and I could not be happier. Picked up earlier than expected and delivery was early as well. Quick easy and problem free."

Gary M Testimonial

Gary M.

"I’ve used Shiply twice now and have been really pleased with the result. It’s quick and easy to use. For both occasions the quotes were very competitive and the quality of the job was excellent. I highly recommend it."

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