How to Convey a Watercraft from Bettendorf, Iowa
Conveying a watercraft can be a challenging undertaking, 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 reliable boat transport company that fulfills all your requirements can be difficult. However, on Shiply, you can locate & compare dependable boat movers in just a few clicks, frequently with quotes up to 75% less than standard rates. But first, you must determine precisely what service you necessitate. This guide will assist you in doing just that.
The Expense of Boat Transport
It's challenging to provide a precise price due to the numerous variables that can influence quotes. But 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 impact the expense of your boat transportation include:
- Distance: The distance your boat needs to be transported will greatly affect the price. Domestic transport within the US is typically cheaper than international travel. For international boat transport, options include Roll-on/Roll-off (RO/RO), enclosed containers, flat racks, & submersion.
- Boat Size: The dimensions of your boat can also greatly affect pricing. Standard-sized boats can be transported internationally using enclosed containers, while larger boats cannot. Boat size can also affect which routes a boat transport company can take if transporting by road.
- Trailer: Whether you have your own boat trailer or require the boat movers to provide one can also affect the cost.
- Pickup & Delivery Locations: The ease of access to your pickup and delivery locations can affect pricing, with remote areas potentially incurring extra costs.
- Time of Year: Seasonality can affect pricing, as ice, wind, and snow can all affect road conditions & alter available transportation routes.
Gauging Your Boat for Transport
To obtain an accurate quote for boat transport, you need to provide the dimensions of your boat to potential boat movers. While the manufacturer usually provides these, we recommend double-checking yourself to avoid any mishaps on the day of transport. Here's a brief 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, & 7'8" wide. Boats over this size may require a special permit to travel.
Locating Boat Transport Companies with Shiply
There are many things to consider when searching for a boat transport company, which can often seem daunting given all the variables. This is where Shiply can help. Once you have the make & measurements of your boat and the pickup and drop-off locations, you can simply enter this information on our site. Boat moving companies will then send custom quotes directly to your inbox. The more information you provide, the more accurate 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, ensuring you can trust that the company is reliable. You can also message anyone who quotes you within our platform to sort out details such as trailers and accessibility.
Another benefit of using Shiply is that drivers are often already making the journeys & looking for extra loads. This means using Shiply is not only good for the environment but can also be up to 75% cheaper than standard rates.
Readying Your Boat for Shipping
Once you've chosen a quote 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 & expensive electronic equipment you don't want to get lost during transit. It also gives you a good idea of your boat's condition prior to pickup should anything occur. Secure any loose items that will stay on the boat, such as lifejackets, and disconnect the battery & tidy the cables.
- Empty Liquids: Empty the bilge, refuse stores, & most of your fuel prior to pickup, and disconnect the fuel tanks. This will make the boat lighter for transport & prevent any potential leaks during transit.
- Remove Sails: If transporting a sailboat, remove all winches & rigging from the mast.
- Photographic Evidence: Document the condition of your vessel with time-stamped photographs before pickup. This will come in handy as evidence of its prior condition should any damages occur during transport.
Boat Transport in Bettendorf, Iowa
Bettendorf, Iowa is a popular location for boat transport, with many people moving their boats to & from the city. Situated on the Mississippi River, Bettendorf offers easy access to water transportation routes. The city's proximity to major highways also makes it convenient for inland boat transport by trailer.
Many people choose to move their boats to Bettendorf for storage during the off-season, as the city offers several secure boat storage facilities. Others may be transporting their boats to Bettendorf for repairs or maintenance at one of the city's many boatyards & marinas.
Whatever your reason for transporting a boat to or from Bettendorf, Iowa, Shiply can help you find reliable & affordable boat transport services. With a network of trusted boat movers & the ability to compare quotes, Shiply makes it easy to transport your boat to its destination safely & efficiently.
After Delivery
Once your boat has been transported to its destination, there are 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 operates as expected.
- Exterior Condition: Compare the exterior condition of the boat upon arrival to the photos taken prior to pickup. 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 ask that you leave feedback & a rating for your chosen boat mover. This helps future Shiply users browse services with confidence & helps your mover understand how their level of service was received.