How to Convey a Vessel from Billings, Montana
Conveying a vessel can be a challenging undertaking, whether you're purchasing a new boat, selling an old one, or simply need to relocate your watercraft from one spot to another. Discovering a reliable boat transportation company that fulfills all your requirements can be difficult. However, on Shiply, you can locate & compare trustworthy boat haulers in just a few clicks, often with prices up to 75% less than standard rates. Before you begin, you must determine precisely what service you necessitate. This guide will assist you in doing just that.
The Expense of Boat Transportation
It's demanding to provide a precise price for boat transportation due to the numerous variables that can influence quotes. On average, short distance transport can cost between $150 to $300, while longer haul journeys can cost anywhere from $600 to $1,000. Several factors can affect the expense of your boat transportation, including:
- Distance: The distance your boat needs to travel will greatly impact the price. Domestic transport within the US is typically cheaper than international travel.
- Boat Size: The dimensions of your boat can also significantly affect pricing. Standard-sized boats can be transported internationally using enclosed containers, while larger boats cannot.
- Trailer: Whether you have your own boat trailer or require the boat movers to provide one can also affect the cost.
- Pickup and Delivery Locations: The ease of access to your pickup and delivery locations can impact pricing, with remote areas potentially incurring extra costs.
- Time of Year: Seasonality can also affect pricing, as ice, wind, and snow can alter available transportation routes.
Gauging Your Boat
To get an accurate quote for your boat transportation, you need to provide the dimensions of your vessel to potential boat movers. While the manufacturer usually provides these measurements, it's recommended to double-check them yourself to avoid any issues on the day of transport. Here's a brief overview of what to measure:
- Overall Length: Measure from the very end of the bow to the middle of the stern.
- Overall Height: Measure from the highest (non-removable) point of the boat to the bottom of the keel.
- Beam: Measure the overall width of the boat 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
Shiply can aid you in finding the right boat transport company for your needs. Once you have the make, measurements, pickup, & drop-off locations for your boat, simply enter this information on our site. Boat moving companies will then 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, ensuring you can trust the company's reliability. You can also message anyone who quotes you within our platform to sort out details such as trailers and accessibility.
Another benefit of using Shiply is that drivers are often already making the journeys and looking for extra loads. This means using Shiply is not only good for the environment but can also be up to 75% cheaper than standard rates.
Readying Your Boat for Shipping
Once you've chosen a quote you're happy 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, make sure you have any necessary documents on hand.
- Cleaning: Thoroughly clean your boat before transport to remove personal belongings and expensive electronic equipment. This also allows you to assess the condition of your boat prior to pickup.
- 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 during transit.
- Remove Sails: If transporting a sailboat, remove all winches and rigging from the mast.
- Photographic Evidence: Document the condition of your vessel with time-stamped photographs before pickup as evidence of its prior condition in case any damages occur during transport.
Transporting a Boat to and from Billings, Montana
Billings, Montana, is a popular destination for boat transport due to its central location in the United States. Many people choose to move their boats to and from Billings for various reasons, such as recreational activities on nearby lakes and rivers or for storage during the off-season.
When transporting a boat to or from Billings, it's essential to consider the specific challenges of the area, such as mountainous terrain and potentially harsh weather conditions. Working with a reputable boat transport company familiar with the region can help ensure your vessel arrives safely and on time.
What to Do 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 operates as expected.
- Exterior Condition: Compare the exterior condition of the boat upon arrival to the photos taken prior to pickup to spot any damages that may have occurred during transit. If you notice any issues, raise them 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.
By following these guidelines and utilizing Shiply's platform, you can find reliable and affordable boat transport services to and from Billings, Montana, or any other location in the United States or abroad.