Techniques for Conveying a Watercraft
Whether you're purchasing a watercraft, vending an aged one, or simply require relocating your vessel from one locale to another, discovering a dependable boat transportation company that fulfills all your requirements can be challenging. On Shiply, you can locate & contrast reliable boat haulers in just a few clicks, frequently with quotes up to 75% more economical 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 Cost of Relocating a Watercraft?
It's challenging to provide a precise price due to the numerous variables that can influence quotes. However, on average, short-distance transport can cost between $150 to $300, while lengthier journeys can cost anything from $600 to $1,000. Some crucial factors that can affect the cost of your boat transportation include:
- Distance: The distance your watercraft needs to be relocated will greatly impact the price. Domestic transport within the US is typically more economical than international travel. For international boat transport, options include Roll-on/Roll-off (RO/RO), enclosed containers, flat racks, & submersion.
- Watercraft Size: The size of your vessel can also greatly affect pricing. Standard-sized boats can be transported internationally using enclosed containers, while larger boats cannot. Boat size can also affect which routes a transport company can take if moving by road.
- Trailer: Whether you possess your own boat trailer or require the movers to provide one can also affect the cost.
- Pickup & Delivery Locations: Ease of access to pickup and delivery spots can affect pricing. A boat being picked up from a remote area may incur extra costs for the additional miles required.
- Time of Year: Seasonality is another factor that can impact pricing. Ice, wind, and snow can all affect road conditions & alter available transportation routes.
How to Accurately Measure Your Watercraft
To obtain an accurate quote for how much it will cost to relocate your watercraft, you need to provide the dimensions to potential boat movers. While the manufacturer usually provides these, we recommend double-checking yourself to avoid any issues on transport day. Here's a quick 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 watercraft, measured from the two widest points.
A 'standard' boat is roughly 40' long, 7'10" high, & 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, & it can often seem overwhelming given all the variables. This is where Shiply can help. Once you have the make, measurements, pickup, & drop-off locations of your watercraft, you can simply enter this info on our site. Boat moving companies will then send custom quotes directly to your inbox. The more details you provide, the more accurate these quotes will be, giving you a great place to compare your options.
Shiply's feedback & review system lets you view ratings and comments for any boat mover who quotes you. This means you can stay safe knowing the company is reliable. You can also message anyone who quotes you within our platform to sort out details like trailers and accessibility.
Another bonus of using Shiply is that drivers are often already making the journeys & 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 Watercraft for Shipping
Once you've looked at all your quotes & chosen one you're satisfied with, you need to get your boat ready for transport. Some steps you should take include:
- Documents: If your watercraft is being sold or traveling abroad, you may need some documents. Make sure you have these handy if needed to avoid any last-minute issues.
- Cleaning: Thoroughly clean your boat before transport. This lets you remove any personal belongings & expensive electronic equipment you don't want lost during transit. It also gives you a good idea of your boat's condition prior to pickup in case anything happens. Secure any loose items staying on the boat like life jackets, disconnect the battery, & tidy the cables.
- Empty Liquids: Empty the bilge, refuse stores, & most of your fuel prior to pickup. Also disconnect the fuel tanks. This will make the boat lighter for transport & prevent any 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 photos before pickup. This will come in handy as evidence of its prior state if any damage occurs while it's being moved.
What to Do After Delivery
Once your watercraft 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: Make sure the boat's engines still run & any electronic equipment left onboard still operates as expected.
- Exterior Condition: Compare the boat's exterior condition upon arrival to the photos taken before pickup. This will help you spot any damage that occurred during transit, which you can then raise with the boat transport company.
After the boat transport is complete, we also ask that you leave feedback & a rating for your chosen boat mover. This helps future Shiply users browse services with the same level of confidence & assists your mover in understanding how their service was received.
Watercraft Transport to & from Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota
Grand Forks Air Force Base (AFB) is a United States Air Force installation situated near Grand Forks, North Dakota. Many people often need to move boats to & from Grand Forks AFB for various reasons. Some military personnel stationed at the base may own boats for recreational use on nearby lakes and rivers. When they get transferred to another base or deploy overseas, they may require boat transport services to take their vessel with them or store it somewhere else.
Additionally, some boat dealers or manufacturers located near Grand Forks AFB may need to ship boats to customers or dealerships in other parts of the country. Regardless of the reason, reliable boat transport services are essential for safely moving boats to and from this military installation in North Dakota.