How to Convey a Watercraft Autonomously
Relocating a watercraft can be a challenging undertaking, whether you're acquiring a new vessel, disposing of an old one, or simply need to transfer your boat from one spot to another. Discovering a reliable boat transportation company that fulfills all your requirements can be difficult. However, with Shiply, you can effortlessly find & compare trustworthy boat haulers in just a few clicks, frequently with quotes up to 75% more affordable than standard rates. Before you begin, it's essential to ascertain precisely what service you necessitate. This guide will assist you in doing just that.
The Expense of Boat Transportation
It's demanding to provide an exact cost for boat transport due to the numerous variables that can influence quotes. On average, short distance transport can cost between $150 & $300, while longer haul journeys can range from $600 to $1,000. Some crucial factors that can affect the expense of your boat transportation include:
- Distance: The distance your boat needs to traverse will greatly impact the price. Domestic transport within the US is typically more economical than international travel. For international transport, options include Roll-on/Roll-off (RO/RO), enclosed containers, flat racks, and submersion.
- Boat Size: The dimensions of your boat can also significantly influence pricing. Standard-sized boats can be transported internationally using enclosed containers, while larger boats may necessitate alternative methods. The size of the boat can also affect which routes a boat transport company can take if transporting by road.
- Trailer: Whether you possess your own boat trailer or require the boat movers to provide one can also impact the cost of your boat transportation.
- Pickup and Delivery Locations: The ease of access to your pickup & delivery locations can influence pricing. A boat being picked up from a remote area may incur additional costs for the extra miles required.
- Time of Year: Seasonality can also affect pricing. Ice, wind, and snow can all impact road conditions, which can alter the available transportation routes.
Measuring Your Boat for Transport
To obtain an accurate quote for transporting your boat, you need to provide potential boat movers with its dimensions. While the manufacturer usually provides these, we recommend double-checking yourself to avoid any issues 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.
Finding Boat Transport Companies with Shiply
Shiply can assist you in finding reliable boat transport companies easily. Simply enter your boat's make, measurements, pickup, and drop-off locations 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 & review system allows you to view ratings and feedback for any boat mover who quotes you, ensuring you choose a reliable company. You can also message anyone who quotes you within our platform to sort out details such as trailers and accessibility.
Using Shiply is not only good for the environment, as drivers are often already making the journeys and looking for extra loads, but it can also be up to 75% more economical than standard rates.
Preparing Your Boat for Shipping
Once you've chosen a quote 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 to avoid any late mishaps.
- Cleaning: Thoroughly clean your boat before transport. This allows you to remove personal belongings and expensive electronic equipment, and get a good idea of your boat's condition prior to pickup. Secure any loose items that will stay on the boat, such as 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 boat lighter for transport and prevent any potential leaks during transit.
- Remove Sails: If you're transporting a sailboat, remove all winches & rigging from the mast.
- Photographic Evidence: Document your vessel's condition with time-stamped photographs before pickup. This will serve as evidence of its prior condition should any damages occur during transport.
After Delivery
Once your boat 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 operates as expected.
- Exterior Condition: Compare the boat's exterior condition 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.
After the boat transport is complete, we ask that you leave feedback and a rating for your chosen boat mover. This helps future Shiply users browse services with confidence and allows your mover to understand how their level of service was received.
Boat Transport in Independence, Missouri
Independence, Missouri, US, is a popular location for boat owners to transport their vessels to and from. The city's proximity to several lakes and rivers, such as the Missouri River and Truman Lake, makes it an ideal spot for boating enthusiasts. Many people move their boats to Independence for storage during the off-season or to enjoy the local waterways during the summer months.
When transporting a boat to or from Independence, it's crucial to choose a reliable boat transport company that can navigate the city's roads and highways safely. With Shiply, you can easily find and compare trustworthy boat movers in the Independence area, ensuring your vessel arrives at its destination in the same condition it left in.