How to Convey a Watercraft from O'Fallon, Missouri
Conveying a watercraft can be a challenging undertaking, whether you're purchasing a new vessel, selling an old one, or simply need to relocate it from one location to another. Discovering a reliable boat transport company in O'Fallon that fulfills all your requirements can be difficult. However, on Shiply, you can locate & compare dependable boat movers with just a few clicks, often with quotes up to 75% more affordable than standard rates. But first, you need to determine precisely what service you necessitate. This guide will assist you in doing just that.
The Expense of Boat Transport in O'Fallon
It's challenging to provide a precise price for boat transport due to the numerous variables that can influence quotes. On average, short distance transport can cost between $150 to $300, while longer journeys can cost anywhere from $600 to $1,000. Here are some crucial factors that can impact the expense of your boat transportation:
- Distance: The distance your boat needs to travel will greatly affect the price. If the boat only needs to be moved within the US, then inland transportation on a trailer is the most likely method, which is usually cheaper than international travel. If the boat needs to go overseas, there are a few options, such as Roll-on/Roll-off (RO/RO), enclosed containers, flat racks, and submersion.
- Boat Size: The size of your boat can also greatly affect pricing. Standard-sized boats can be transported internationally using enclosed containers, while larger boats cannot. The size of the boat can also affect which routes a boat transport company can take if transporting by road.
- Trailer: Whether you have your own boat trailer or need the boat movers to provide one can also affect the cost of your boat transportation.
- Pickup and Delivery Locations: The ease of access to your pickup and delivery locations can affect pricing, with remote areas potentially incurring extra costs for the additional miles required.
- Time of Year: Seasonality is another factor that can affect pricing. Ice, wind, and snow can all affect road conditions, which can alter the routes available for transportation.
Gauging Your Boat for Transport
To obtain an accurate quote for how much it will cost to transport your boat, you need to provide the dimensions to potential boat movers. While the manufacturer usually provides these, we recommend double-checking yourself to avoid any mishaps 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.
How Shiply Can Assist in Finding Boat Transport Companies
There are many things 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. Once you have the make and measurements of your boat and the pickup & 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, giving you a great place to compare your options.
Shiply's feedback and review system allows you to view ratings & feedback for any boat mover who quotes you, so you can stay safe knowing the company is reliable. You can also message anyone who quotes you within our platform to sort out details such as trailers and accessibility.
Another bonus of using Shiply is that drivers are often already making the journeys and 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.
Readying Your Boat for Shipping
Once you've looked at all your quotes and chosen one you're happy with, you need to prepare your boat for transport. Here are some steps you should take:
- 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: Thoroughly clean your boat before it's transported. This way, you can remove any personal belongings and expensive electronic equipment that you don't want to get lost during transit, and you can get a good idea of the condition of your boat prior to pickup should anything occur. Make sure to 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 that may occur in 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 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: Check that the boat's engines still run and 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 pickup. This will help you spot 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, and your mover can understand how their level of service was received.
Why People Often Move Boats to and from O'Fallon, Missouri
O'Fallon, Missouri, is a popular destination for boating enthusiasts due to its proximity to the Mississippi River and several nearby lakes, such as Lake Saint Louis and Cuivre River State Park. Many people move their boats to O'Fallon to enjoy the scenic waterways and recreational activities in the area. Additionally, O'Fallon's central location within the United States makes it a convenient stopover point for those transporting their boats across the country.
Whether you're a local resident looking to move your boat to a different marina or an out-of-state boater seeking to explore the waters near O'Fallon, using a reliable boat transport service can ensure that your vessel arrives at its destination safely and efficiently. By using Shiply to find and compare boat transport companies in O'Fallon, you can save time & money while enjoying peace of mind throughout the process.