How to Move a Vessel: A Thorough Overview
Whether you're acquiring a new vessel, selling an old one, or simply need to transport your boat from one spot to another, locating a reliable boat shipping company that fulfills all your requirements can be difficult. On Shiply, you can find & compare trustworthy boat transporters with just a few clicks, often with prices up to 75% lower than standard rates. However, before you start, it's essential to determine precisely what service you need. This overview will assist you in doing just that.
The Expense of Shipping a Boat
It's difficult to offer an exact cost due to the numerous factors that can influence quotes. On average, short-distance shipping can range from $150 to $300, while longer haul trips can cost between $600 and $1,000. Several elements can affect the expense of your boat transportation, including:
- Distance: The mileage your boat needs to travel will significantly impact the cost. Domestic shipping within the US is typically less expensive than international transport. For international shipping, options include Roll-on/Roll-off (RO/RO), enclosed containers, flat racks, & submersion.
- Boat Dimensions: The size of your vessel can also greatly affect pricing. Standard-sized boats can be transported internationally using enclosed containers, while larger vessels may require alternative methods. The dimensions of the boat can also impact the routes available for transportation by road.
- Trailer: Whether you have your own boat trailer or need the boat transporters to provide one can also affect the expense of your boat shipping.
- Pickup & Delivery Spots: The ease of access to your pickup and delivery locations can impact pricing. A boat being picked up from a remote area may incur additional costs for the extra miles required.
- Season: Seasonality can also affect pricing. Ice, wind, & snow can all impact road conditions, which can alter the available transportation routes.
Measuring Your Vessel Accurately
To obtain a precise quote for transporting your boat, you need to provide potential boat transporters 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 vessel, measured from the two widest points.
A 'standard' boat is considered to be roughly 40' long, 7'10" high, & 7'8" wide. Vessels over this size may require a special permit to travel.
Finding Boat Shipping Companies with Shiply
Shiply can help you find reliable boat shipping companies. Once you have the make & measurements of your vessel and the pickup and drop-off spots, you can enter this information on our site, & boat moving companies will 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 allows you to view ratings and comments for any boat transporter 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 & accessibility.
Another benefit of using Shiply is that drivers are often already making the journeys & looking for extra loads, meaning not only is using Shiply good for the environment, but it can also be up to 75% less expensive than standard rates.
Readying Your Vessel for Shipping
Once you've chosen a quote 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 paperwork. Make sure you have these at hand if needed to avoid any late issues.
- Cleaning: Thoroughly clean your vessel before transport. This allows you to remove personal belongings & expensive electronic equipment and assess the condition of your boat prior to pickup. Secure any loose items that will stay on the boat, such as lifejackets, & disconnect the battery and tidy the cables.
- Empty Liquids: Empty the bilge, refuse stores, & most of your fuel prior to pickup, and disconnect the fuel tanks. This will make the boat lighter for transport & prevent any potential leaks during transit.
- Remove Sails: If you're transporting a sailboat, remove all winches & rigging from the mast.
- Photographic Evidence: Document the condition of your vessel with time-stamped photographs before pickup. This will serve as proof 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 & 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 shipping company.
After the boat transport is complete, we ask that you leave feedback & a rating for your chosen boat transporter. This helps future Shiply users browse services with confidence & allows your transporter to understand how their level of service was received.
Boat Shipping in Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia, US, is a popular destination for boat owners looking to ship their vessels to & from the area. Located in the heart of Virginia, Charlottesville offers easy access to several major waterways, including the James River & the Rivanna River. Many people choose to move their boats to Charlottesville for recreational purposes, such as fishing, water skiing, & cruising.
If you're in need of boat shipping charlottesville or charlottesville boat shipping services, Shiply can help connect you with reliable & affordable boat transporters in the area. Whether you're moving your boat to or from Charlottesville, our platform makes it easy to find the right shipping company for your needs.