Transporting a Boat: A Comprehensive Guide
Whether you're acquiring a new vessel, selling an old one, or simply need to relocate your boat from one location to another, discovering a reliable boat transport company that fulfills all your requirements can be difficult. On Shiply, you can find & compare trustworthy boat movers in just a few clicks, often with quotes up to 75% more affordable than standard rates. But first, you must determine precisely what service you need. This guide will assist you in doing just that, including information on boat transport lewistown and lewistown boat transport.
The Expense of Transporting a Boat
It's difficult to provide a precise price due to the numerous variables that can influence quotes. However, on average, short distance transport can cost between $150 & $300, while longer haul journeys can cost anywhere from $600 to $1,000. Several factors can affect the expense of your boat transportation, such as:
- Distance: The distance your boat needs to travel will greatly impact the price. Domestic transport within the US is typically more affordable than international travel.
- Boat Size: The size 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 need the boat movers to provide one can also affect the cost.
- Pickup & 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.
Measuring Your Boat Accurately
To get a precise 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 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, which can often seem overwhelming given all the variables. This is where Shiply can help. Once you have the make & measurements of your boat and the pickup and 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 & review system allows you to view ratings and 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 and accessibility.
Another added 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% more affordable than standard rates.
Readying Your Boat for Shipping
Once you've looked at all your quotes and chosen one 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 if needed to avoid any late mishaps.
- Cleaning: Thoroughly clean your boat before transport. This allows you to remove personal belongings & expensive electronic equipment and get a good idea of your boat's condition prior to pickup.
- 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 potential leaks during transit.
- Remove Sails: If 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 come in handy as evidence of its prior condition should any damages occur during transport.
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: 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 & a rating for your chosen boat mover so future Shiply users can browse services with the same level of confidence, and your mover can understand how their level of service was received.
Boat Transport in Lewistown, Montana
Lewistown, Montana, US is a popular destination for boat owners looking to transport their vessels to and from the area. Located in the heart of Montana, Lewistown is known for its stunning natural beauty, with numerous lakes & rivers in the surrounding area that are perfect for boating enthusiasts.
Many people choose to move their boats to Lewistown for recreational purposes, such as fishing, water skiing, and leisurely cruises. The town's proximity to popular boating destinations like the Missouri River and Fort Peck Lake makes it an ideal starting point for aquatic adventures.
Additionally, some boat owners in Lewistown may need to transport their vessels for maintenance, repairs, or storage purposes. With the help of reliable boat transport companies, these tasks can be accomplished easily & efficiently, ensuring that boat owners in Lewistown can enjoy their watercraft to the fullest.