How to Convey a Vessel from Wilmington, North Carolina
Conveying a vessel can be a complex undertaking, whether you're purchasing a new boat, vending 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, but with Shiply, you can locate & contrast dependable boat movers in just a few clicks. Frequently, you can uncover quotes up to 75% less than standard rates. However, first, you must determine precisely what service you necessitate. This guide will assist you in accomplishing just that.
What Is the Expense of Transporting a Boat?
It's challenging to provide a precise price because numerous variables 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. Some crucial factors that can affect the cost of your boat transportation include:
- Distance: The distance your boat needs to be transported 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 affect pricing. Standard-sized boats can be transported internationally using enclosed containers, while larger boats cannot.
- Trailer: Whether you possess your own boat trailer or require the boat movers to provide one can also affect the cost.
- Locations of Pickup & Delivery: The accessibility of your pickup and delivery locations can affect pricing, with remote areas potentially incurring extra costs.
- Time of Year: Seasonality can also affect pricing, with ice, wind, and snow affecting road conditions and available routes.
How to Accurately Measure Your Boat
To obtain an accurate quote for transporting 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 Can Shiply Assist in Finding Boat Transport Companies?
There are many factors 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 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% cheaper than standard rates.
Preparing for Your Boat to be Shipped
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 you need them to avoid any late mishaps.
- Cleaning: Thoroughly clean your boat before transport. This allows you to remove any personal belongings and expensive electronic equipment you don't want to get lost during transit, and also gives you a good idea of 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. 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 and rigging from the mast.
- Photographic Evidence: Document the condition of your vessel with time-stamped photographs before pickup. 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 operates 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, which you can then raise with the boat transport company.
Once the boat transport is complete, we also 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 to help your mover understand how their level of service was received.
Why People Often Move Boats to and from Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington, North Carolina is a popular destination for boating enthusiasts. Situated on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, Wilmington offers easy access to the Intracoastal Waterway and the Cape Fear River. Many individuals opt to transport their boats to Wilmington for a variety of reasons, including:
- Recreational boating: Wilmington's warm climate and picturesque coastal waters make it an ideal location for recreational boating activities such as fishing, water skiing, and cruising.
- Boat storage: Some boat owners choose to store their boats in Wilmington during the off-season to take advantage of the area's mild winters and to avoid the hassle of winterizing their boats.
- Boat repairs and maintenance: Wilmington is home to several boatyards and marinas that offer boat repair and maintenance services, making it a convenient location for boat owners who need to have work done on their vessels.
Whether you're relocating your boat to Wilmington for recreational purposes, storage, or repairs, Shiply can assist you in finding reliable and affordable boat transport services to and from this popular coastal destination.