Method of transport
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:
Using a skipper who will navigate your bought themselves. With this option you can forgo the procedure of getting your boat onto a suitable trailer . Hiring a delivery 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 Transporter.Boat transporters have the right tools to move boats of all sizes with specialised equipment and moving vehicles. Where roads are available (i.e. on domestic/European moves) this is likely to be the cheapest and easiest option.
Selecting a Boat transport service
Firstly, you will need to select a boat transport service . These businesses range from larger, commercial boat transporters to small family-run businesses, so prices vary significantly. Be sure to get as many quotes as possible in order to find the best deal, but do not overly sacrifice quality and experience for price. 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 company 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.
Remember to discuss all aspects of the transportation with the selected company. 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.
Readying your boat for transport
Obviously, you want the boat to be completely ready for when the boat transporter arrives. It will often take the best part of a day to fully prepare a boat for transport. If preparation of the boat involves any form of dismantlement, it may be useful to take photographs to make reassembly easier.
Take the following steps to prepare for transportation:
Remove all personal possessions and loose articles in or on the boat.
Lock all the doors, cupboards and hatches – if they cannot be locked, tie and tape them shut.
Particularly on long distances, seal exterior hatches if they are not waterproof.
Drain all fuel and water tanks, and disconnect batteries.
All water systems, such as air conditioning, pumps etc. should be drained during winter months to avoid damage.
Any external structures (including electronic equipment or radar units) should be removed if possible and padded.
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. Most boat companies make pre-transportation surveying standard procedure, but you will still want to have them sign your written record of the boat’s condition.
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.