How to Convey a Watercraft
Whether you're purchasing a watercraft, disposing of an old one, or simply need to transport your vessel from one location to another, discovering a reliable boat transportation company that fulfills all your requirements can be challenging. On Shiply, you can find & compare trustworthy boat haulers in just a few clicks, frequently with quotes up to 75% lower than standard rates. However, first, you must determine precisely what service you necessitate. This guide will assist you in doing just that.
What is the Cost of Relocating a Boat?
It's challenging to provide a precise price due to the numerous variables that can influence quotes. However, on average, short-distance transport can cost between $150 to $300, while longer-haul journeys can cost anywhere from $600 to $1,000. As mentioned above, several factors can impact the cost of your boat transportation. We've listed some crucial ones below:
Distance - The distance your boat needs to travel will significantly affect the price. If the boat only needs to be moved within the US, then the most likely method will be through inland transportation on a trailer, which is usually more affordable than international travel. If the boat needs to go internationally, then this can be more expensive. There are a few options here. Roll-on/Roll-off (RO/RO for short) is the most common method of international boat transport & involves your boat remaining on a trailer for the entire trip. If your boat is a standard size, then you might 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 it's a large boat that you need to move internationally, then a flat rack can often be secured onto a vessel which your boat can be strapped into while in its own personal cradle. Finally, there's always the option of submersion when looking at international boat delivery options, which simply involves your boat being loaded & unloaded from the water.
Boat Size - The dimensions of the boat that you want to transport can also greatly influence the pricing. For example, standard-sized boats can be moved internationally using enclosed containers, whereas larger boats cannot. The size of the boat 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 require the boat movers to provide one, this can also affect the cost of your boat transportation.
Locations of Pickup & Delivery - The accessibility of your pick up & delivery locations can affect pricing as well, with ease of access playing a part. 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, & snow can all affect road conditions which can alter the routes available for transportation.
How to Accurately Measure Your Boat
In order for you to obtain an accurate quote for how much it will cost to move your boat, you need to provide the dimensions of it 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 & 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 factors that need to be considered when searching for a boat transport company, & often it can seem overwhelming given all of the variables. This is where Shiply can help you. Once you have the make & measurements of your boat & the pickup & drop-off locations, you can simply 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. This gives you an excellent place to compare your options.
Shiply's feedback & review system allows you to view ratings & feedback for any boat mover who quotes you, ensuring 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 such as trailers & accessibility. Another added bonus of using Shiply is that often drivers are making the journeys already & 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 for Your Boat to be Shipped
Once you've examined all of your quotes & 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. Make sure you have these at hand if you need them to avoid any late mishaps.
Cleaning - It's a great idea to thoroughly clean your boat before it's transported. Not only will this mean you can remove any personal belongings & expensive electronic equipment that you don't want to get lost during transit, but it also means you can get a good idea of the condition of your boat prior to pick up should anything occur. You should also make sure to secure any loose items that will stay on the boat such as lifejackets & to disconnect the battery & tidy the cables.
Empty Liquids - You should empty the bilge, refuse stores, & the majority of your fuel prior to pickup, as well as disconnect the fuel tanks. This will make the boat lighter for transport & prevent any potential leaks that may occur in transit.
Remove Sails - If it's a sailboat you're transporting, then you need to remove all winches & 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 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 boat has been transported to its destination, the hard part is over, but this doesn't mean there aren't a few steps you can take to ensure everything is in order.
Check Vital Signs - Check that the boat's engines still run & any electronic equipment left on the vessel still operate as expected.
Exterior Condition - Compare the exterior condition of the boat upon arrival to the photos taken prior to pick up. This will help you spot any damages which have occurred during transit & you can then raise this with the boat transport company.
Once the boat transport has been completed, we also ask that you leave feedback & 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 to understand how their level of service was received.
Boat Transport in Farmington Hills, Michigan
Farmington Hills, Michigan is a popular location for boat owners to transport their vessels to & from. Located in the heart of the Great Lakes region, Farmington Hills offers easy access to some of the best boating destinations in the country. Many people choose to move their boats to Farmington Hills for the summer months to enjoy the warm weather & beautiful scenery on the lakes.
Whether you're looking to transport your boat to Farmington Hills for a summer getaway or you need to move your vessel to another location, there are plenty of reliable boat transport companies in the area that can help. By using a service like Shiply, you can easily find & compare quotes from top-rated boat movers in Farmington Hills, ensuring that you get the best possible price & service for your boat transport needs.
