Transporting a Watercraft: A Comprehensive Guide
Whether you're purchasing a new vessel, selling an old one, or simply need to move your boat from one location to another, discovering a dependable boat transportation company that fulfills all your needs can be challenging. On Shiply, you can locate and compare reliable boat haulers in just a few clicks, frequently with quotes up to 75% lower than standard rates. However, before you begin, you must determine precisely what service you require. This guide aims to assist you in doing just that.
The Cost of Boat Transportation
Providing an exact price is difficult due to the numerous variables that can influence quotes. On average, short-distance transport can range from $150 to $300, while longer hauls can cost anywhere from $600 to $1,000. As mentioned earlier, several factors can impact the cost of your boat transportation. We've listed some crucial factors below:
Distance - The distance your boat needs to travel will significantly affect the price. If the boat only requires domestic transportation within the US, the most likely method will be via inland transport on a trailer, which is typically more affordable than international shipping. If the boat needs to travel internationally, it can be more costly. There are a few options here:
Roll-on/Roll-off (RO/RO) is the most frequently used method for international boat transport and involves your boat remaining on a trailer for the entire journey. If your boat is a standard size, you may want to consider an enclosed container that would be placed on a large shipping vessel. This can often be a more economical international boat transport method.
If you need to transport a large boat internationally, a flat rack can often be secured onto a vessel, and your boat can be strapped into its own personal cradle.
Finally, there's always the option of submersion when considering international boat delivery options, which simply involves your boat being loaded and unloaded from the water.
Boat Size - The dimensions of the boat you want to transport can also greatly influence the pricing. For example, standard-sized boats can be transported internationally using enclosed containers, while larger boats cannot. The boat's size can also affect which routes a boat transport company can take if transporting by road.
Trailer - Depending on whether you have your own boat trailer or you need the boat movers to provide one, this can also impact the cost of your boat transportation.
Pickup and Delivery Locations - The accessibility of your pickup and delivery locations can affect pricing as well, with ease of access playing a role. A boat being picked up from a remote area may also incur additional costs for the extra miles required to retrieve it.
Time of Year - Seasonality is another factor that can influence pricing. Ice, wind, and snow can all affect road conditions, which can alter the available transportation routes.
Accurately Measuring Your Boat
To obtain an accurate quote for the cost of transporting your boat, you need to provide the dimensions to potential boat movers. While the manufacturer will usually provide you with these, we recommend double-checking yourself to avoid any mishaps on the day of transport. As a brief overview:
Overall Length - This is measured from the very end of the bow to the middle of the stern.
Overall Height - This is measured from the highest (non-removable) point of the boat to the bottom of the keel.
Beam - The beam is simply the overall width of the boat, so measure from the two widest points.
A 'standard' boat is considered to be roughly 40' long, 7'10" high, and 7'8" wide. Boats exceeding this size may require a special permit for travel.
How Shiply Can Assist in Finding Boat Transport Companies
There are many factors 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 you.
Once you have the make and measurements of your boat and the pickup and 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 accurate these quotes will be. This gives you an excellent platform to compare your options.
Shiply's feedback and review system allows you to view ratings and feedback for any boat mover who quotes you, ensuring you can have confidence in the reliability of the company. You can also message anyone who quotes you within our platform to sort out details such as trailers and accessibility.
Another added benefit of using Shiply is that drivers are often already making the journeys and are looking for extra loads, meaning not only is using Shiply good for the environment, but it can also be up to 75% cheaper than standard rates.
Preparing Your Boat for Shipping
Once you've reviewed all your quotes and chosen one you're satisfied with, you need to prepare your boat for transport. Some of the steps you should take are:
Documents - If your boat is being sold or traveling abroad, you may require some documents. Ensure you have these readily available if needed to avoid any last-minute issues.
Cleaning - It's a great idea to thoroughly clean your boat before it's transported. Not only will this allow you to remove any personal belongings and expensive electronic equipment that you don't want to get lost during transit, but it also means you can assess the condition of your boat prior to pickup should anything occur. You should also make sure to secure any loose items that will stay on the boat, such as life jackets, and disconnect the battery and tidy the cables.
Empty Liquids - You should empty the bilge, refuse stores, and the majority of your fuel prior to pickup, as well as disconnect the fuel tanks. This will make the boat lighter for transport and prevent any potential leaks that may occur in transit.
Remove Sails - If you're transporting a sailboat, you need to remove all winches and rigging from the mast.
Photographic Evidence - We highly recommend that you document the condition of your vessel with time-stamped photographs before it's picked up, as this will serve as evidence of its prior condition should any damages occur while it's being transported.
Post-Delivery Steps
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 - Verify 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 identify any damages that occurred during transit, and you can then raise this 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 so that future Shiply users can browse services with the same level of confidence, as well as helping your mover understand how their level of service was received.
Dearborn, Michigan, US & Boat Transport
Dearborn, Michigan, US is a popular location for boat transport. Many people often move their boats to and from Dearborn for various reasons. Dearborn is situated near several major waterways, including the Detroit River and Lake Erie, making it a convenient location for boating enthusiasts. Additionally, Dearborn is home to several marinas and boat storage facilities, making it easy for boat owners to store and maintain their vessels.
If you're looking for boat transport in Dearborn, Michigan, US, Shiply can help you find reliable and affordable boat transport services. Simply enter your boat's details and the pickup and delivery locations, and Dearborn boat transport companies will send you custom quotes. With Shiply, you can compare quotes and read reviews from previous customers to find the best boat transport service for your needs.