How to Convey a Watercraft from Newport, Rhode Island
Conveying a watercraft can be challenging, whether you're purchasing one, vending 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.
What Is the Cost to Transport a Boat?
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 anything 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:
- Roll-on/Roll-off (RO/RO): The most common method, where your boat remains on a trailer for the entire trip.
- Enclosed container: If your boat is a standard size, you may want to consider an enclosed container that would be placed on a large shipping vessel. This can often be a more affordable option.
- Flat rack: For large boats, a flat rack can be secured onto a vessel, and your boat can be strapped into its own personal cradle.
- Submersion: Your boat is loaded and unloaded from the water.
- 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. The size can also affect which routes a boat transport company can take if transporting by road.
- Trailer: Whether you have 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 pick up and delivery locations 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 can affect pricing. Ice, wind, and snow can all affect road conditions, which can alter the available transportation routes.
How to Accurately Measure Your Boat
To obtain an accurate quote for transporting 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 Assist in Finding Boat Transport Companies?
There are many things to consider when searching for a boat transport company, and it can often seem overwhelming given all the variables. This is where Shiply can aid you. 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 precise 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 remain confident 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. This means not only is using Shiply good for the environment, but it can also be up to 75% cheaper than standard rates.
Readying Your Boat 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 needed 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. It also gives you a good idea of your boat's condition prior to pickup, should anything occur. 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 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 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. This helps future Shiply users browse services with the same level of confidence and helps your mover understand how their level of service was received.
Why People Often Move Boats to and from Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island, is a popular destination for boating enthusiasts. Situated on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, Newport offers a variety of boating activities, from sailing and fishing to cruising and water sports. Many people choose to transport their boats to Newport for the summer season to enjoy the beautiful coastline and participate in events like the Newport International Boat Show.
Additionally, Newport is home to several marinas and yacht clubs, making it a convenient location for boat owners to store and maintain their vessels. Some people also choose to transport their boats from Newport to other locations for the winter season or to participate in boating events in other parts of the country.
Whether you're looking for boat transport to or from Newport, Rhode Island, Shiply can help you find reliable and affordable boat movers to ensure your vessel arrives safely at its destination.