How to Convey a Watercraft from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US
Conveying a watercraft can be challenging, whether you're purchasing a new vessel, selling an old one, or simply need to relocate it from one location to another. Discovering a reliable boat transport company that fulfills all your requirements can be difficult. However, on Shiply, you can locate & compare dependable boat movers in just a few clicks, frequently with quotes up to 75% less than standard rates. But first, you must determine precisely what service you necessitate. This guide will assist you in doing just that.
How Much Does It Cost to Convey a Watercraft?
It's challenging to provide a precise price due to the numerous variables that can influence quotes. But 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. For international boat transport, there are a few options, such as Roll-on/Roll-off (RO/RO), enclosed containers, flat racks, and submersion.
- Boat Size: The size of your boat can also greatly affect pricing. Standard-sized boats can be transported internationally using enclosed containers, while larger boats cannot. The size of the boat can also affect which routes a boat transport company can take if transporting by road.
- Trailer: Whether you have your own boat trailer or need the boat movers to provide one can also affect the cost of your boat transportation.
- Locations of Pickup and Delivery: The ease of access to your pickup and delivery locations can affect pricing, with remote areas potentially incurring extra costs for the additional miles required.
- Time of Year: Seasonality can also affect pricing, with ice, wind, and snow affecting road conditions and altering available transportation routes.
How to Properly Measure Your Watercraft
To obtain an accurate quote for how much it will cost to transport your boat, you need to provide its 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 Help Find Boat Transport Companies?
There are many things to consider when looking for a boat transport company, and it can often seem overwhelming given all the variables. This is where Shiply can assist you. Once you have the make and 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 trust 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 benefit 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 Your Watercraft 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 you need them to avoid any last-minute issues.
- Cleaning: Thoroughly clean your boat before it's transported. This allows you to remove any personal belongings and expensive electronic equipment you don't want to get lost during transit and gives you a good idea of your boat's condition prior to pickup in case anything happens. Secure any loose items that will stay on the boat, such as life jackets, and disconnect the battery and tidy the cables.
- 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 your vessel's condition with time-stamped photographs before it's picked up. 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 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.
Once the boat transport is complete, we also ask that you leave feedback and a rating for your chosen boat mover so future Shiply users can browse services with the same level of confidence and help your mover understand how their level of service was received.
Why People Often Move Boats to and from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US, is a popular destination for boat owners due to its location along the Ohio, Allegheny, and Monongahela Rivers. The city offers numerous marinas, boat ramps, and storage facilities, making it an ideal place to keep and enjoy a boat. Additionally, Pittsburgh's proximity to other major cities and bodies of water, such as Lake Erie and the Gulf of Mexico, makes it a convenient starting point for boaters looking to explore different regions.
Many people move their boats to Pittsburgh to take advantage of the city's thriving boating community and the various water activities available, such as fishing, water skiing, and cruising. Others may transport their boats from Pittsburgh to other destinations for seasonal changes, vacation, or to participate in boating events and competitions.
Whether you're moving a boat to or from Pittsburgh, it's essential to find a reliable boat transport pittsburgh company that can handle the job safely and efficiently. By using a platform like Shiply, you can easily compare quotes from multiple pittsburgh boat transport providers and choose the one that best suits your needs and budget.