How to Convey a Watercraft from Southfield, Michigan
Discovering a Trustworthy Boat Shipping Company
Whether you're buying a watercraft, disposing of an old one, or simply need to transport your vessel from one location to another, finding a reliable boat shipping company that meets all your requirements can be difficult. On Shiply, you can find & compare dependable boat transporters in just a few clicks, often with prices up to 75% lower than standard rates. However, before you start, you must determine precisely what service you need. This guide will assist you in doing just that, particularly if you're seeking boat shipping in Southfield, Michigan, US.
Elements Influencing Boat Shipping Costs
It's difficult to provide a precise price due to the various factors that can affect quotes, but on average, short distance shipping can cost between $150 to $300, while longer haul trips can cost anything from $600 to $1,000. Some crucial elements that can influence the cost of your boat transportation include:
- Distance: The distance your watercraft needs to travel will greatly impact the price. Domestic shipping within the US is typically less expensive than international transport.
- Boat Size: The dimensions of your watercraft can also significantly affect pricing. Standard-sized boats can be shipped internationally using enclosed containers, while larger boats cannot.
- Trailer: Whether you have your own boat trailer or require the boat transporters to provide one can also impact the cost.
- Pickup and Delivery Locations: The accessibility of your pickup and delivery locations can affect pricing, with remote areas potentially incurring additional costs.
- Time of Year: Seasonality can also influence pricing, as ice, wind, & snow can alter available transportation routes.
Measuring Your Watercraft for Precise Quotes
To obtain accurate quotes for transporting your boat, you need to provide potential boat transporters with its dimensions. While the manufacturer usually supplies these, we recommend double-checking yourself to avoid any issues on the day of shipping. Measure the overall length from the very end of the bow to the middle of the stern, the overall height from the highest (non-removable) point of the boat to the bottom of the keel, and the beam, which is the overall width of the watercraft. A 'standard' boat is considered to be approximately 40' long, 7'10" high, and 7'8" wide. Boats exceeding this size may require a special permit to travel.
How Shiply Can Assist in Finding Boat Shipping Companies
Shiply streamlines the process of finding boat shipping companies. Once you have your boat's make, measurements, and pickup and drop-off locations, you can enter this information on our site, and boat transporting companies will send custom quotes directly to your inbox. The more details you provide, the more precise 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 boat transporter who quotes you, ensuring you choose a trustworthy company. You can also message anyone who quotes you within our platform to sort out details such as trailers and accessibility. Another advantage of using Shiply is that drivers are often already making the journeys and looking for extra loads, which can be up to 75% cheaper than standard rates and is beneficial for the environment.
Readying Your Watercraft for Shipping
Once you've selected a quote you're satisfied with, you need to prepare your boat for shipping:
- Documents: If your watercraft is being sold or traveling abroad, ensure you have any necessary documents at hand.
- Cleaning: Thoroughly clean your boat before shipping to remove personal belongings and expensive electronic equipment and assess its condition prior to pickup. Secure loose items and disconnect the battery.
- Empty Liquids: Empty the bilge, refuse stores, and most of your fuel prior to pickup, and disconnect the fuel tanks to make the boat lighter and prevent potential leaks.
- Remove Sails: If shipping a sailboat, remove all winches and rigging from the mast.
- Photographic Evidence: Document your vessel's condition with time-stamped photographs before pickup as evidence of its prior state should any damages occur during shipping.
After Delivery
Once your watercraft 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 and any electronic equipment left on the vessel still operate as expected.
- Exterior Condition: Compare the boat's exterior condition upon arrival to the photos taken prior to pickup to spot any damages that occurred during transit and raise them with the boat shipping company.
After the boat shipping is complete, we ask that you leave feedback & a rating for your chosen boat transporter so future Shiply users can browse services with confidence and help your transporter understand how their level of service was received.
Boat Shipping in Southfield, Michigan
Southfield, Michigan, US, is a popular location for boat owners to ship their vessels to and from. With its proximity to several lakes and rivers, including the Detroit River and Lake St. Clair, Southfield serves as a convenient hub for boating enthusiasts. Many people transport their boats to Southfield for storage during the off-season or to have them serviced by local marinas and repair shops. Others ship their boats from Southfield to enjoy boating in other parts of Michigan or even in neighboring states. Regardless of the reason, reliable boat shipping services are essential for ensuring that these valuable assets reach their destinations safely and efficiently.