Techniques for Conveying a Watercraft
Whether you're purchasing a watercraft, offloading an aged one, or simply need to relocate your vessel from one locale to another, discovering a dependable boat transportation firm that fulfills all your requirements can be challenging. On Shiply, you can uncover & contrast trustworthy boat haulers in just a few clicks, frequently with estimates up to 75% less than standard rates. But initially, you must determine precisely what service you necessitate. This guide will assist you in accomplishing just that.
What is the Cost of Transporting a Boat?
It's challenging to provide a precise price as there are numerous factors that can influence quotes. However, on average, short distance transport can range from $150 to $300, while lengthier trips can cost anywhere from $600 to $1,000. Some crucial factors that can affect the expense of your boat transportation include:
Distance - The span your boat needs to traverse will greatly impact the price. If the boat only needs to be relocated within the US, then the most probable method will be by trailer, which is typically cheaper than international travel. If the boat needs to go internationally, there are several options. Roll-on/Roll-off (RO/RO) is the most common method of international boat transport & involves your boat remaining on a trailer for the entire journey. If your boat is a standard size, you might want to consider an enclosed container that would be placed on a large shipping vessel. This can often be a more economical international boat transport method. If it's a sizable boat that needs to be moved internationally, a flat rack can often be secured onto a vessel which your boat can be strapped into while in its own personal cradle. Finally, there's always the option of submersion when considering international boat delivery options, which simply involves your boat being loaded & unloaded from the water.
Boat Size - The dimensions of the boat you want to relocate can also greatly affect the pricing. For instance, 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 moving by road.
Trailer - Depending on whether you possess your own boat trailer or you require the boat movers to provide one, this can also affect the cost of your boat transportation.
Locations of Pickup & Delivery - The accessibility of your pick up and delivery locations can affect pricing as well, with ease of access playing a role. A boat being picked up from a remote area may also cost extra for the additional miles required to retrieve it.
Time of Year - Seasonality is another aspect that can affect pricing. Ice, wind, & snow can all affect road conditions which can alter the routes available for transportation.
How to Accurately Measure Your Boat
In order for you to obtain an accurate quote for how much it will cost to relocate your boat, you need to provide the dimensions of it to potential boat movers. While the manufacturer will usually give you these, we recommend double-checking yourself to avoid any mishaps on the day of transport. As a quick overview:
Overall Length - This is measured from the very end of the bow to the middle of the stern.
Overall Height - This is measured from the highest (non-removable) point of the boat to the bottom of the keel.
Beam - The beam is simply the overall width of the boat, so measure from the two widest points.
A 'standard' boat is considered to be approximately 40' long, 7'10" high, & 7'8" wide. Boats exceeding this size may require a special permit to travel.
How Can Shiply Assist in Finding Boat Transport Companies?
There are many aspects to consider when searching for a boat transport company, & often it can seem overwhelming given all of the variables. This is where Shiply can aid you. Once you have the make & measurements of your boat and the pickup & drop-off locations, you can simply enter this information on our site & boat moving companies will send custom quotes directly to your inbox. The more information you provide, the more precise these quotes will be. This gives you an excellent place to compare your options.
Shiply's feedback & review system allows you to view ratings & feedback for any boat mover who quotes you, meaning you can remain confident in the knowledge that the company is reliable. You can also message anyone who quotes you within our platform to sort out details such as trailers & accessibility. Another added bonus of using Shiply is that often drivers are making the journeys already & are 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.
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, US - A Popular Destination for Boat Transport
Wauwatosa, situated in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, is a popular destination for boat owners. Many people often relocate their boats to & from Wauwatosa for various reasons, such as recreational activities on nearby lakes & rivers or for storage during the off-season. The city's proximity to Lake Michigan & other water bodies makes it an ideal location for boating enthusiasts. When transporting a boat to or from Wauwatosa, it's crucial to choose a reliable boat transport wauwatosa service provider to ensure the safe & timely delivery of your vessel. Wauwatosa boat transport companies are experienced in handling various types of boats & can provide customized solutions to meet your specific needs.
Preparing for Your Boat to be Shipped
Once you've examined all of your quotes & chosen one you're satisfied with, you need to prepare your boat for transport. Some of the steps you should take are:
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 late mishaps.
Cleaning - It's a great idea to thoroughly clean your boat before it's transported. Not only will this mean you can remove any personal belongings & expensive electronic equipment that you don't want to get lost during transit, but it also means you can get a good idea of the condition of your boat prior to pick up should anything occur. You should also make sure to secure any loose items that will stay on the boat, such as lifejackets, & disconnect the battery & tidy the cables.
Empty Liquids - You should empty the bilge, refuse stores, & most of your fuel prior to pickup, as well as disconnect the fuel tanks. This will make the boat lighter for transport & prevent any potential leaks that may occur in transit.
Remove Sails - If it's a sailboat you're transporting, then you need to remove all winches & rigging from the mast.
Photographic Evidence - We highly recommend that you document the condition of your vessel with time-stamped photographs before it's picked up, as 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 & 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 pick up. This will help you spot any damages that occurred during transit, & you can then raise this with the boat transport company.
Once the boat transport has been completed, we also ask that you leave feedback & a rating for your chosen boat mover so that future Shiply users can browse services with the same level of confidence, as well as helping your mover to understand how their level of service was received.