A Comprehensive Guide to Transporting a Boat
Whether you're buying a new vessel, selling an old one, or simply need to relocate your boat from one spot to another, discovering a reliable boat transport company that fulfills all your requirements can be difficult. On Shiply, you can find & compare trustworthy boat haulers with just a few clicks, often with prices up to 75% lower than standard rates. However, before you start, you need to determine precisely what service you require. This guide will assist you in doing just that.
The Expense of Transporting a Boat
It's difficult to provide a precise cost due to the numerous factors that can influence quotes. On average, short distance transport can range from $150 & $300, while longer haul trips can cost between $600 to $1,000. Several elements can affect the expense of your boat transportation, including:
- Distance: The distance your vessel needs to travel will significantly impact the cost. 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, and submersion.
- Boat Size: The dimensions of your vessel 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 impact 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 of your boat transportation.
- Pickup & Delivery Locations: The accessibility of 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.
- Time of Year: Seasonality can also affect pricing. Ice, wind, and snow can all impact road conditions, which can alter the available transportation routes.
Properly Measuring Your Boat
To get an accurate quote for transporting your vessel, you need to provide its dimensions to potential boat movers. 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 roughly 40' long, 7'10" high, and 7'8" wide. Boats over this size may require a special permit to travel.
Discovering Boat Transport Companies with Shiply
There are many factors to consider when searching for a boat transport company, which can often seem overwhelming. This is where Shiply can help you. Once you have the make and measurements of your boat, as well as the pickup & drop-off locations, you can simply enter this information on our site. Boat moving companies will then send custom quotes directly to your inbox. The more details 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, ensuring you can trust that the company is dependable. 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 not only is using Shiply good for the environment, but it can also be up to 75% less expensive than standard rates.
Readying Your Boat 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 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 the condition of your boat 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 the condition of your vessel with time-stamped photographs before pickup. This will serve as evidence of its prior condition should any damages occur while it's being transported.
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 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 transport company.
After the boat transport is complete, we ask that you leave feedback and a rating for your chosen boat mover. This helps future Shiply users browse services with confidence and allows your mover to understand how their level of service was received.
Sheboygan, Wisconsin: A Popular Destination for Boat Transport
Sheboygan, Wisconsin, US, is a popular location for boat transport. Many people often move their boats to and from Sheboygan for various reasons. The city is situated on the shores of Lake Michigan, making it an ideal spot for boating enthusiasts. Sheboygan boat transport companies are experienced in handling all types of boats, from small fishing boats to large yachts.
Whether you're relocating to Sheboygan or simply visiting for a boating trip, boat transport sheboygan can help you get your boat to its destination safely and efficiently. With the help of Shiply, you can easily find and compare reliable boat movers in Sheboygan, ensuring your boat arrives in perfect condition and ready for your next adventure on the water.