Transporting a Boat: A Comprehensive Guide
Whether you're acquiring a new vessel, selling an old one, or simply need to relocate your boat from one place to another, discovering a reliable boat transport company that fulfills all your requirements can be difficult. On Shiply, you can find & compare trustworthy boat movers in just a few clicks, often with quotes up to 75% less expensive than standard rates. However, before you start, you need to determine precisely what service you require. This guide will assist you in doing just that, including information on boat transport council bluffs & council bluffs boat transport.
The Expense of Transporting a Boat
It's difficult to provide a precise price due to the numerous factors that can influence quotes. On average, short distance transport can cost between $150 to $300, while longer haul journeys can cost anywhere from $600 to $1,000. Several elements can affect the expense of your boat transportation, including:
- Distance: The distance your boat needs to travel will greatly impact the price. Domestic transportation within the US is typically less expensive than international travel. For international boat transport, options include Roll-on/Roll-off (RO/RO), enclosed containers, flat racks, & submersion.
- Boat Size: The size of your boat can also significantly affect pricing. Standard-sized boats can be transported internationally using enclosed containers, while larger boats cannot. The size of the boat can also impact which routes a boat transport company can take if transporting by road.
- Trailer: Whether you have your own boat trailer or need the boat movers to provide one can also affect the cost of your boat transportation.
- Pickup & Delivery Locations: The accessibility of your pickup and delivery locations can impact pricing, with remote areas potentially incurring extra costs for the additional miles required.
- Time of Year: Seasonality can also affect pricing, as ice, wind, & snow can all impact road conditions and alter available transportation routes.
Measuring Your Boat for Precise Quotes
To get an accurate quote for the cost of transporting your boat, you need to provide potential boat movers with its dimensions. While the manufacturer usually provides these, we recommend double-checking yourself to avoid any issues 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 exceeding this size may require a special permit to travel.
Discovering Boat Transport Companies with Shiply
Shiply can help simplify the process of finding a boat transport company. Once you have your boat's make, measurements, & pickup and drop-off locations, you can enter this information on our site, & boat moving companies will send custom quotes directly to your inbox. The more information 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, ensuring you can trust the company's reliability. You can also message anyone who quotes you within our platform to sort out details such as trailers & accessibility.
Another benefit of using Shiply is that drivers are often already making the journeys & 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.
Readying Your Boat for Shipping
Once you've chosen a quote you're happy 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 certain documents. Make sure you have these at hand if needed to avoid any last-minute issues.
- 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, & also gives you a good idea of your boat's condition prior to pickup in case anything occurs. Secure any loose items that will stay on the boat, such as lifejackets, & disconnect the battery and tidy the cables.
- Empty Liquids: Empty the bilge, refuse stores, & most of your fuel prior to pickup, & disconnect the fuel tanks. This will make the boat lighter for transport & prevent any potential leaks during transit.
- Remove Sails: If you're transporting a sailboat, remove all winches & rigging from the mast.
- Photographic Evidence: Document your vessel's condition with time-stamped photographs before pickup. This will serve as evidence of its prior condition should any damages occur during transport.
After Delivery: What to Do
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: Ensure the boat's engines still run & any electronic equipment left on the vessel still operates as expected.
- Exterior Condition: Compare the boat's exterior condition 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.
After 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 & allows your mover to understand how their level of service was received.
Council Bluffs, Iowa: A Popular Destination for Boat Transport
Council Bluffs, located in southwest Iowa along the Missouri River, is a popular destination for boat owners. Many people choose to move their boats to & from Council Bluffs for various reasons, such as recreational boating on the river, participating in local boating events, or storing their boats during the off-season.
The city's proximity to the Missouri River & its well-maintained boat ramps make it an attractive location for boating enthusiasts. Additionally, Council Bluffs offers a variety of storage options for boats, including indoor & outdoor facilities, making it convenient for boat owners to keep their vessels in the area.
When transporting a boat to or from Council Bluffs, it's essential to choose a reliable boat transport company that understands the unique requirements of the region. By using Shiply, you can easily find & compare boat transport council bluffs & council bluffs boat transport services, ensuring your boat arrives at its destination safely & efficiently.