A Comprehensive Guide to Transporting Your Vessel
Whether you're acquiring a new watercraft, disposing of an old one, or simply need to relocate your boat from one place to another, locating a reliable boat transport service that fulfills all your requirements can be daunting. On Shiply, you can find & compare reputable boat haulers with just a few clicks, often with prices up to 75% lower than standard rates. However, before you start, it's essential to ascertain precisely what service you need. This guide will assist you in doing just that.
The Expense of Transporting a Watercraft
It's difficult to offer a precise cost due to the numerous factors that can influence quotes. On average, short-distance transport can range from $150 to $300, while longer haul trips can cost between $600 and $1,000. Several elements can impact the expense of your boat transportation, including:
- Distance: The distance your vessel needs to travel will significantly affect the price. Domestic transportation within the US is typically less expensive than international travel. For international transport, options include Roll-on/Roll-off (RO/RO), enclosed containers, flat racks, & submersion.
- Boat Size: The dimensions of your watercraft can also greatly impact pricing. Standard-sized boats can be transported internationally using enclosed containers, while larger vessels may require alternative methods. The size of the boat can also affect the routes available for transportation by road.
- Trailer: Whether you have your own boat trailer or need the boat haulers to provide one can also influence the cost of your boat transportation.
- Pickup & Delivery Locations: The accessibility of your pickup and delivery spots can impact pricing. A boat being picked up from a remote area may incur additional costs for the extra miles required.
- Time of Year: Seasonality can also affect pricing. Ice, wind, and snow can all impact road conditions, which can alter the available transportation routes.
Precisely Measuring Your Watercraft
To obtain an accurate quote for transporting your vessel, you need to provide potential boat haulers with its dimensions. While the manufacturer usually provides these, we recommend double-checking yourself to avoid any issues 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 approximately 40' long, 7'10" high, and 7'8" wide. Boats exceeding this size may require a special permit to travel.
Locating Boat Transport Services with Shiply
Shiply streamlines the process of finding a reliable boat transport company. Once you have the make and measurements of your vessel, along with the pickup & drop-off locations, you can enter this information on our site. Boat hauling companies will then 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 hauler who quotes you, ensuring you can trust the company's reliability. You can also message anyone who quotes you within our platform to sort out details such as trailers and accessibility.
Another advantage of using Shiply is that drivers are often already making the journeys and 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 Boat for Shipping
Once you've chosen a quote you're happy with, you need to prepare your vessel for transport. Some steps you should take include:
- Documents: If your boat is being sold or traveling abroad, you may require certain documents. Make sure you have these at hand to avoid any last-minute issues.
- Cleaning: Thoroughly clean your boat before transport. This allows you to remove personal belongings and expensive electronic equipment, and also gives you 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 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 pickup. This will serve as evidence of its prior condition should any damages occur during transport.
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 operates as expected.
- Exterior Condition: Compare the boat's exterior condition upon arrival to the photos taken prior to pickup. This will help you identify 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 hauler. This helps future Shiply users browse services with confidence and allows your hauler to understand how their level of service was received.
Boat Transport in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, US
Mayagüez, situated on the west coast of Puerto Rico, is a popular destination for boat enthusiasts. Many people often move their boats to and from Mayagüez for various reasons, such as recreational activities, boat shows, or maintenance purposes. If you're looking for reliable boat transport services in Mayagüez, Shiply can help you find trustworthy boat haulers at competitive rates.
When searching for "boat transport mayagüez" or "mayagüez boat transport," keep in mind the factors that can affect the cost and process of transporting your boat, as mentioned earlier in this article. By providing accurate information about your boat and its transportation needs, you can receive customized quotes from boat haulers in the Mayagüez area, allowing you to choose the best option for your specific requirements.
In conclusion, transporting a boat requires careful planning & consideration of various factors. By using Shiply to find reliable boat haulers, accurately measuring your boat, preparing it for shipping, and following the necessary steps after delivery, you can ensure a smooth and successful boat transportation experience, whether in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, or anywhere else in the US.