Before you hand over your boat to any old shipping company, you’ll need to prepare your boat and figure out how to measure it to get the best quote.
Below we’ll break down how much it costs to ship a boat, how long to expect delivery, and how to safely prepare your boat for shipment.
Let’s get started.
How Much Does it Cost to Ship a Boat?
If you have an 11-foot boat, it can cost around $740 to go from Los Angeles to Las Vegas and around a 4-day transit. If you’re going from San Diego to Dallas which is 1360 miles, it can cost up to $3740 and take up to 6 days.
If you’re going from Miami to Denver, it’ll cost roughly $5680 and take 6-8 days. If you’re going from San Jose to Miami, it will take roughly 9 days and cost around $8440 and take around 3070 miles to get there.
Remember, this is all taking into account that the boat is roughly 11 feet long and doesn’t require any special equipment to load and unload the boat. For bigger boats (or even yachts), special equipment will be needed thus raising the price.
These prices also don’t take into account the extra insurance you’re going to want to purchase. For a more accurate quote, you can always try out a boat shipping company like A-1 Auto Transport.
How to Prepare a Boat for Shipping?
You won’t be able to simply bring your boat to the shipping company, you’ll have to prepare it in advance to avoid any damage along the way.
The first thing you want to do when shipping a boat is draining the fuel tank. This is so there is less risk of your boat catching fire during transit. Disconnect any electrical components (as well as the alarm, and remove any loose objects you have.
Stow any loose components, like antennas, electronics, propellers, masts, anchors, and any other of your belongings that may fall out of the boat during transport. Ensure all of your windows, doors, and hatches are locked inside the boat.
How to Measure Your Boat for an Accurate Quote
What you’ll need to do after the preparation is to measure your boat for an accurate quote. You’ll need to know the boat length (which is measured from the front of the bow to the middle of the stern.
The boat height, which is measured from the keel to the highest part of the boat (which shouldn’t include any removable parts).
And also the boat width, which is the distance between the widest part of your boat. You’ll want to double-check your measurements to ensure that you are giving the most exact measurement to your shipping company as a few inches can end up causing delay, more payment, and a lot of headaches.
How Long Does it Take to Ship a Boat?
How long it takes to ship your boat depends on the time of year and how you transport your boat. If you need your boat ASAP, you can always opt to do air shipping which will be a short amount of time (normally around a few days), but the price can be upwards of multi-thousand dollars depending on the distance and size of the boat.
You’ll be given a range of days that you should prepare to receive your boat if you’re doing ground shipping or by cargo ship. The reason being is that delays do happen, and shipping companies often come into delays from unforeseen delays like weather or heavy traffic.
If for some reason you need your boat on a specific date, it’s best to plan it far in advanced so that it can either wait in storage or be picked up before the deadline, otherwise you may end up dealing with delays and be disappointed during your vacation.
Conclusion
Before entrusting your boat to a shipping company, it is crucial to adequately prepare your boat and accurately measure its dimensions to obtain the best quote. The cost of shipping a boat varies depending on factors such as distance, boat size, and the need for special equipment. It is important to consider additional expenses like insurance coverage for a more accurate quote.
To prepare your boat for shipping, draining the fuel tank, disconnecting electrical components, securing loose objects, and ensuring locked windows, doors, and hatches are essential steps.
Accurate measurements of boat length, height, and width are necessary to avoid any delays or additional charges. The duration of boat shipping depends on the chosen method, with air shipping being the fastest but most expensive option. Ground shipping and cargo ship transport provide estimated delivery times but may experience delays due to unforeseen circumstances. By taking these factors into account and working with a reputable boat shipping company, you can ensure a smooth and secure transportation process for your valuable vessel.
Take a moment to look at this.
