A Comprehensive Guide to Boat Transportation
Whether you're buying a new vessel, selling 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 daunting. On Shiply, you can find & compare trustworthy boat transporters in just a few clicks, often with prices up to 75% lower than standard rates. But first, you must determine precisely what service you need. This guide will assist you in doing just that.
The Expense of Transporting a Boat
It's difficult to offer an exact cost due to the numerous factors that can affect quotes. However, on average, short distance transport can range from $150 to $300, while longer haul trips can cost anywhere from $600 to $1,000. Several elements can influence 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 dimensions of your boat can also significantly affect pricing. Standard-sized boats can be transported internationally using enclosed containers, while larger vessels cannot. The boat's size can also impact the routes available for transportation by road.
Trailer: Whether you have your own boat trailer or require the boat movers to provide one can also influence the cost of your boat transportation.
Pickup & Delivery Locations: The accessibility of your pickup and delivery spots can affect pricing. A boat being picked up from a remote area may incur additional costs for the extra miles required.
Time of Year: Seasonality can also impact pricing. Ice, wind, and snow can all affect road conditions, which can alter the available transportation routes.
Accurately Measuring Your Boat
To get a precise quote for transporting your boat, you need to provide its dimensions to potential boat movers. While the manufacturer usually supplies 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. Vessels over this size may require a special permit to travel.
How Shiply Can Assist in Finding Boat Transport Companies
There are many factors to consider when searching for a boat transport company, & it can often seem overwhelming. This is where Shiply can help you. Once you have the make and 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 details 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 comments for any boat mover who quotes you, ensuring you can trust that the company is dependable. You can also message anyone who quotes you within our platform to sort out specifics such as trailers and accessibility.
Another advantage 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 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 paperwork. Make sure you have these at hand if needed to avoid any last-minute problems.
Cleaning: Thoroughly clean your boat before transport. This allows you to remove personal belongings & expensive electronic equipment you don't want to get lost during transit and gives you a good idea of your boat's condition prior to pickup. 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 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 proof of its prior condition should any damages occur during transportation.
What to Do 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: Ensure the boat's engines still run & any electronic equipment left on the vessel operates as expected.
Exterior Condition: Compare the boat's exterior condition upon arrival to the photos taken prior to pickup. This will help you identify any damages that occurred during transit, which you can then raise with the boat transport company.
After the boat transport is completed, 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.
Boat Transport in Paducah, Kentucky
Paducah, situated in western Kentucky, US, is a popular destination for boat enthusiasts. Many people often move their boats to & from Paducah for various reasons, such as recreational boating on the Ohio River or participating in local boating events. With its rich history & vibrant riverfront, Paducah attracts boaters from all over the region. If you're looking for reliable boat transport paducah services, Shiply can help connect you with trusted paducah boat transport providers, ensuring your vessel arrives at its destination safely & efficiently.