How to Convey a Watercraft from Arlington Heights, Illinois
Moving a watercraft can be challenging, whether you're purchasing a new vessel, selling an old one, or simply need to relocate your boat from one location to another. Discovering a dependable boat transport company in Arlington Heights that fulfills all your requirements can be difficult. However, with Shiply, you can locate & compare trustworthy boat movers in just a few clicks, frequently with quotes up to 75% less than standard rates. First, though, you must determine precisely what service you necessitate. This guide will assist you in doing just that.
What Is the Cost to Transport a Boat?
It's challenging to provide a precise price because numerous factors 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. Some crucial factors that can affect how much your boat transportation will cost include:
Length of Journey - The distance your boat needs to be transported will significantly impact the price. If the boat only needs to be moved within the US, then inland transportation on a trailer is the most probable method, which is usually less expensive than international travel. If the boat needs to go internationally, there are a few options. Roll-on/Roll-off (RO/RO) is the most common method of international boat transport and involves your boat 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 put on a large shipping vessel, which can often be a more affordable international boat transport method. For large boats that need to be transported internationally, a flat rack can often be secured onto a vessel which your boat 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 boat being loaded & unloaded from the water.
Vessel Dimensions - The size of the boat you want to transport can also greatly influence 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 transporting by road.
Trailer Availability - Depending on whether you have your own boat trailer or you need the boat movers to provide one, this can also impact the cost of your boat transportation.
Pickup & Delivery Spots - The ease of access to your pick up and delivery locations can affect pricing as well. A boat being picked up from a remote area may also cost extra for the additional miles required to retrieve it.
Season - Seasonality is another factor that can influence pricing. Ice, wind, and snow can all affect road conditions which can alter the routes available for transportation.
How to Accurately Measure Your Boat
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 tip of the bow to the center 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 roughly 40' long, 7'10" high, and 7'8" wide. Boats exceeding this size may require a special permit to travel.
How Can Shiply Assist in Finding Boat Transport Companies?
There are many factors that need to be considered when searching 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 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 an excellent 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 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 & 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% less expensive than standard rates.
Why People Frequently Move Boats To & From Arlington Heights
Arlington Heights, Illinois is a popular destination for boating enthusiasts. Situated just northwest of Chicago, Arlington Heights offers easy access to several nearby lakes & rivers, making it an ideal location for those who love to spend time on the water. Many people choose to move their boats to Arlington Heights for the summer months to take advantage of the great boating opportunities in the area. Others may be relocating to Arlington Heights permanently & need to transport their boat to their new home. Whatever the reason, Arlington Heights is a great place for boating & boat transport companies in the area are experienced in safely moving vessels of all sizes.
Preparing For Your Boat To Be Shipped
Once you've looked at all of your quotes & chosen one you're satisfied with, you need to prepare your boat for transport. Some of the steps you should take are:
Paperwork - 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.
Drain Fluids - You should empty the bilge, refuse stores, & the majority of your fuel prior to pickup, as well as disconnect the fuel tanks. This will make the boat lighter for transport & 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 & 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 - Verify 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.