How to Convey a Vessel from Bay City, Michigan
Conveying a vessel can be challenging, whether you're acquiring a new one, vending an old one, or simply need to relocate it from one location to another. Discovering a dependable vessel transport company in Bay City, Michigan that fulfills all your requirements can be difficult. But with Shiply, you can locate & compare trustworthy vessel 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.
What Is the Cost to Convey a Vessel?
It's challenging to provide a precise price because there are numerous factors that can influence the quotes. But on average, short distance transport can cost between $150 to $300, and longer haul journeys can cost anywhere from $600 to $1,000. Some crucial factors that can affect the cost of your vessel transportation include:
- Distance: The distance your vessel needs to be transported will greatly impact the price. If the vessel 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 vessel needs to go internationally, there are a few options, like Roll-on/Roll-off (RO/RO), enclosed containers, flat racks, or submersion.
- Vessel Size: The size of the vessel you want to transport can also greatly influence the pricing. Standard-sized vessels can be transported internationally using enclosed containers, while larger vessels cannot.
- Trailer: Whether you have your own vessel trailer or need the vessel 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 influence pricing, as ice, wind, and snow can all affect road conditions and alter available routes.
How to Accurately Measure Your Vessel
To get a precise quote for how much it will cost to transport your vessel, you need to provide the dimensions to potential vessel 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 vessel to the bottom of the keel.
- Beam: The overall width of the vessel, measured from the two widest points.
A 'standard' vessel is considered to be roughly 40' long, 7'10" high, and 7'8" wide. Vessels over this size may require a special permit to travel.
How Can Shiply Assist in Finding Vessel Transport Companies?
There are many things to consider when searching for a vessel 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 vessel and the pickup and drop-off locations, you can simply enter this information on our site and vessel moving companies will 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 vessel mover who quotes you, so you can stay safe in the knowledge that 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 often drivers are already making the journeys and are looking for extra loads. This means not only is using Shiply good for the environment, but it can also be up to 75% cheaper than standard rates.
Why People Frequently Relocate Vessels to and from Bay City, Michigan
Bay City, Michigan is a popular destination for boating enthusiasts. Situated on the Saginaw River, Bay City offers easy access to the Saginaw Bay and Lake Huron. Many people choose to transport their vessels to Bay City for the summer boating season, taking advantage of the city's numerous marinas, boat launches, and waterfront attractions.
Bay City is also home to several boat dealerships and manufacturers, making it a convenient location to purchase a new vessel or sell an old one. Whether you're looking to enjoy a day out on the water or transport a vessel for business purposes, Bay City is a great place to do it.
Preparing for Your Vessel to be Shipped
Once you've looked at all your quotes and chosen one you're satisfied with, you need to prepare your vessel for transport. Some steps you should take include:
- Documents: If your vessel 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 vessel 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 vessel prior to pick up should anything occur. Secure any loose items that will stay on the vessel, 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 vessel 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 should any damages occur while it's being transported.
What to Do After Delivery
Once your vessel 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 vessel's engines still run and any electronic equipment left on the vessel still operate as expected.
- Exterior Condition: Compare the exterior condition of the vessel 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 vessel transport company.
Once the vessel transport is complete, we also ask that you leave feedback & a rating for your chosen vessel mover. This helps future Shiply users browse services with confidence, and helps your mover understand how their level of service was received.
