A Comprehensive Guide to Transporting a Boat
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 daunting. On Shiply, you can find & compare trustworthy boat movers in just a few clicks, often with quotes up to 75% lower than standard rates. However, before you begin, you need to ascertain precisely what service you necessitate. This guide will assist you in doing just that, including information on boat transport whitefish and whitefish boat transport.
The Expense of Transporting a Boat
It's difficult to offer a precise price due to the numerous factors 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. Several elements can affect the expense of your boat transportation, such as:
- Distance: The distance your boat needs to travel will significantly impact the price. Domestic transport within the US is typically cheaper than international travel.
- Boat Size: The dimensions of your boat can also greatly 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 & Delivery Locations: The accessibility of your pickup and delivery locations can impact pricing, with remote areas potentially incurring additional costs.
- Time of Year: Seasonality can also affect pricing, as ice, wind, and snow can alter available transportation routes.
Accurately Measuring Your Boat
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 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, & 7'8" wide. Boats exceeding this size may require a special permit to travel.
How Shiply Can Assist You in Finding Boat Transport Companies
Shiply streamlines the process of finding a reliable boat transport company. Once you have your boat's make, measurements, and pickup & drop-off locations, you can 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 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 making the journeys already & looking for extra loads, but it can also be up to 75% cheaper than standard rates.
Readying 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, ensure you have any necessary documents at hand.
- Cleaning: Thoroughly clean your boat before transport to remove personal belongings, expensive electronic equipment, and assess its condition 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 & 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 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, 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 to spot any damages that may have occurred during transit.
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 confidence, and your mover can understand how their level of service was received.
Boat Transport in Whitefish, Montana
Whitefish, Montana, US, is a popular destination for boat enthusiasts, with many people moving their boats to and from the area. Located in the northern part of the state, Whitefish is known for its stunning natural beauty, including Whitefish Lake, which offers excellent boating opportunities.
Many people choose to transport their boats to Whitefish to enjoy the lake's crystal-clear waters and breathtaking surroundings. Others may need to move their boats from Whitefish to other locations for storage or to explore different boating destinations.
Regardless of your reason for transporting a boat to or from Whitefish, it's essential to choose a reliable boat transport company that can handle the unique challenges of the area, such as mountainous terrain and variable weather conditions. By using Shiply, you can easily find and compare trustworthy boat movers who specialize in whitefish boat transport and ensure your boat arrives at its destination safely and efficiently.