How to Convey a Watercraft from Germantown, Maryland
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 Germantown, Maryland that fulfills all your requirements can be difficult. However, with Shiply, you can locate & contrast trustworthy boat movers in just a few clicks, frequently with quotes up to 75% less than standard rates. Before you commence searching for a company, you need to determine precisely what service you necessitate. This guide will assist you in accomplishing just that.
What Is the Cost to Convey a Watercraft?
It's challenging to provide a precise price because there are numerous variables that 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 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, and submersion.
- Boat Size: The size of the boat you want to transport can also greatly influence pricing. For instance, 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 pickup and delivery locations can impact pricing, with remote areas potentially incurring extra costs.
- Time of Year: Seasonality can also influence pricing, with ice, wind, and snow affecting 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, 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, 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 things to consider when searching for a boat transport company, and 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 & 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 precise these quotes will be, giving you a great place to compare your options.
Shiply's feedback and review system allows you to view ratings & 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 added 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 Relocate Boats to and from Germantown, Maryland
Germantown, Maryland is a popular destination for boating enthusiasts due to its proximity to the Potomac River and Seneca Creek State Park. Many people relocate their boats to Germantown to enjoy the scenic waterways and recreational activities in the area. Others may be relocating to Germantown and need to transport their boat with them.
Additionally, Germantown is home to several marinas and boat storage facilities, making it a convenient location for boat owners. Whether you're moving to Germantown or just visiting for a boating trip, transporting your boat to and from the area is a common need for many boaters.
Preparing for Your Boat to be Shipped
Once you've looked at all your quotes and 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 you need them to avoid any late mishaps.
- Cleaning: Thoroughly clean your boat before it's transported. 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 pickup in case anything happens.
- 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 you're transporting a sailboat, remove all winches and rigging from the mast.
- Photographic Evidence: Document the condition of your vessel with time-stamped photographs before it's picked up. This will come in handy as evidence of its prior condition if 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 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 also ask that you leave feedback and a rating for your chosen boat mover. This helps future Shiply users browse services with confidence, and also helps your mover understand how their level of service was received.