Your transporting options
If you’re lucky enough to own a boat there may come a point when you want to move her to a new location. If this is the case, you will need to consider hiring aboat transport company. Although it can be tricky all you need to do is follow this guide and you everything will be plain sailing! Before you know it, a boatcourier will be knocking at your door for your boat delivery service.
When you have decided you need to move your boat, you will have to choose from two options:
Hiring a professional skipper. In this scenario, your boat will use effectively transport itself, helmed by a professional skipper who will use existing waterways . Hiring a professional skipper may be the most suitable option if retrieving your boat internationally, over a very long distance. However, this option is often the more costly of the two and will likely take longer than transporting the boat over land.
Boat transport company.Boat transport companies specialise in boat delivery, so are able to provide the necessary care and equipment that is paramount to a successful move. It is likely to be the case that a boat transporter will be your cheapest option.
How to find the best Boat transport company for you
Firstly, you will need to select a boat transport company . The price you can expect to be pay will not be uniform as the size of boat transport companies varies from large commercial transporters to family run businesses. Although you will want to get a good selection of quotes from boat transporters, you will need to think of experience and quality in addition to the price charged. This will require a little research on your part. Getting a cheap courier is not always a smart choice, especially with expensive items like a boat.
Ensure your boat transport service has adequate experience and insurance to cover the cost of the boat and all eventualities. Always ask to see the insurance policy, and never accept “personal” insurance.
It is important to relay to your chosen boat transporter the details of the job to ensure that nothing is forgotten on the day. This includes pickup times, routes, drop-off times and whether cranes will be required at either end. You do not want your boat to be transported at night if you can help it, so organise transportation for during the day, where it can be inspected upon arrival.
Boat preparation
Obviously, you want the boat to be completely ready for when the boat transporter arrives. This may take the best part of a day to prepare. If you boat needs to be dissembled, then it would be wise to take photographs to make reassembly less stressful.
Here’s a small checklist of things to prepare prior to transport:
Make sure all your personal property is taken off and other loose articles are removed.
Secure all hatches, doors and cupboards by tying or taping them.
Particularly on long distances, seal exterior hatches if they are not waterproof.
Drain all fuel and water tanks, and disconnect batteries.
Cold weather can often damage water systems, so if your boat is transported during the Winter period, makes sure to drain the air conditioning and pumps.
Many boats will have external equipment, especially for navigational purposes – these need to be removed before the boat is transported.
Finally, make a written record of all damage/wear of the boat prior to transportation. Take photographs of the boat from all angles, so should any damage occur during transport, it can easily be proven that it occurred during transportation. Although the boat transport company will also most likely survey the boat, ensure they sign your version prior to departure.
After boat moving service
Inspect the boat carefully, as soon as possible, in order to identify any damage. Should any damage have occurred, contact your boat delivery company immediately to avoid any complications.
