How to Convey a Watercraft from Springfield, Illinois
Conveying a watercraft can be challenging, whether you're purchasing a new vessel, vending an old one, or simply need to relocate your boat from one location to another. Discovering a dependable boat transport company in Springfield that fulfills all your requirements can be difficult. But 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, however, you must determine precisely what service you require. 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 the quotes. But on average, short distance transport can cost between $150 to $300, while longer haul journeys can cost anywhere from $600 to $1,000. Some crucial factors that can affect the cost of your boat transportation include:
- Distance: The distance your boat needs to be transported will greatly 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, such as Roll-on/Roll-off (RO/RO), enclosed containers, flat racks, or submersion.
- Boat Size: The size of the boat you want to transport can also greatly influence the pricing. Standard-sized boats can be transported internationally using enclosed containers, while larger boats cannot.
- Trailer: Whether you have your own boat trailer or require the boat movers to provide one can also affect the cost.
- Locations of Pickup & Delivery: The ease of access to your pick up and delivery locations can impact pricing, with remote areas potentially incurring extra costs.
- Time of Year: Seasonality can affect pricing, as ice, wind, and snow can all influence road conditions and available routes.
How to Accurately Measure Your Boat
To obtain an accurate quote for how much it will cost to transport your boat, you need to provide the dimensions to potential boat movers. While the manufacturer usually provides these, it's a good idea to double-check yourself to avoid any mishaps 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 roughly 40' long, 7'10" high, and 7'8" wide. Boats over this size may require a special permit to travel.
How Can Shiply Assist in Finding Boat Transport Companies?
There are many factors to consider when searching for a boat transport company, & it can often seem overwhelming given all the variables. This is where Shiply can help. Once you have the make and measurements of your boat 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 info you provide, the more precise these quotes will be, giving you a great place to compare your options.
Shiply's feedback & review system allows you to view ratings and feedback for any boat mover who quotes you, so you can stay safe knowing the company is reliable. You can also message anyone who quotes you within our platform to sort out details like trailers and accessibility.
Another bonus of using Shiply is that drivers are often already making the journeys and looking for extra loads. This means using Shiply is not only good for the environment, but it can also be up to 75% cheaper than standard rates.
Why People Frequently Move Boats to and from Springfield, Illinois
Springfield, Illinois is a popular destination for boat transport for several reasons. As the capital of Illinois and a major city in the Midwest, Springfield is home to many boating enthusiasts who enjoy spending time on nearby lakes and rivers. The city is also conveniently located near several major highways, making it easy to transport boats to and from the area.
Many people move their boats to Springfield for storage during the off-season, as the city offers a variety of indoor and outdoor storage options. Others may be buying or selling a boat in the area and need to arrange transport to or from Springfield.
Whatever the reason for transporting a boat to or from Springfield, it's important to choose a reliable and experienced boat transport company to ensure your vessel arrives safely and on time.
Preparing for Your Boat to be Shipped
Once you've looked at all your quotes & chosen one you're satisfied with, you need to prepare your boat for transport. Some steps you should take include:
- Documents: If your boat is being sold or traveling abroad, you may require some documents. Make sure you have these at hand if needed to avoid any late mishaps.
- Cleaning: Thoroughly clean your boat before transport. This allows you to remove any personal belongings and expensive electronic equipment you don't want to get lost during transit, and also gives you a good idea of the condition of your boat prior to pick up. Secure any loose items that will stay on the boat, like lifejackets, and disconnect the battery and tidy the cables.
- Empty Liquids: Empty the bilge, refuse stores, and most of your fuel prior to pickup, and disconnect the fuel tanks. This will make the boat lighter for transport and prevent any potential leaks during transit.
- Remove Sails: If transporting a sailboat, remove all winches and rigging from the mast.
- Photographic Evidence: Document the condition of your vessel with time-stamped photographs before pick up. 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 there are still a few steps you can take to ensure everything is in order:
- Check Vital Signs: Check 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 that occurred during transit, which you can then raise with the boat transport company.
Once the boat transport is complete, we also ask that you leave feedback & a rating for your chosen boat mover. This helps future Shiply users browse services with confidence, and helps your mover understand how their level of service was received.