Economical & Dependable Boat Shipping Services
Shiply is here to alleviate the hassle of boat transportation by assisting you in discovering an economical, dependable service that suits your needs. Simply create a posting on our site & relax as shipping providers approach you with estimates to transport your boat. Once you discover a quote you prefer, contact the transporter, verify, & await the collection of your boat.
What Are the Reasons for Requiring Boat Shipping?
Whether you require a narrowboat, sailboat, small craft, or yacht shipped, Shiply can assist. Did you recently purchase a new vessel & need it transported? Or perhaps you must get your boat to a location on land? Maybe it's too sizable for you to move yourself? Regardless of the circumstance, Shiply can aid you in finding a trustworthy & professional company for transporting your boat at the appropriate price. Opting for a specialized boat hauler will ensure you're in capable hands. Boat haulage companies in the UK & globally will understand the intricacies of working with boats, marinas, & ports & should guide you through all aspects of the shipping process.
Posting your boat transportation on Shiply & our network of shipping providers will provide you with price estimates. You simply need to complete a form with some fundamental information about your boat to be shipped & you will receive complimentary quotes in pounds sterling or euros, depending on your location. After receiving several estimates, you'll be able to compare companies based on their qualifications, customer reviews, & prices.
The Expense of Boat Shipping
The expense of boat shipping will vary based on several factors, but as an average cost, you can anticipate paying between £100 to £260 for shorter distances & between £450 & £750 for longer trips. The average cost per mile for standard boat shipping is around £1.50 per mile in the UK, but as mentioned, this can fluctuate depending on the boat's size. The dimensions of the boat being transported will significantly impact the cost. For instance, small boat shipping is straightforward as they can often be hauled on the road, whereas something like a larger sailboat or narrowboat will necessitate special attention & will likely cost more to ship. A narrowboat may require specialist narrowboat movers due to its unique size. Whether the boat needs to be shipped within the UK or internationally will also play a role in the pricing, as international boat shipping will cost significantly more & may necessitate different companies than those in the UK who specialize in road transport.
Utilizing Shiply to Locate a Boat Transporter
To create a listing on Shiply, you only need to fill out a brief form with some details about your boat & the pick-up & drop-off dates & locations. Once your listing is complete, you will start receiving complimentary quotes from various shipping providers - some of which may contact you to understand the required services more clearly so they can determine how best to quote for the job.
There are two primary methods of boat transportation, & the method you choose will depend on where your boat needs to go. If your boat is required to be shipped in a particular way, please specify this on your Shiply listing.
By road - If your vessel needs to be hauled within the same country, you'll find that road transportation is likely the best option. If you're moving parts of a boat only or a non-starting boat, transportation by road is your only choice.
By sea or river - If your craft needs to be sailed port-to-port, then you can hire a crew to do this. Crews should inspect your vessel, plot courses, & check shipping forecasts for you.
Once you have received some estimates, ensure you check the credentials & feedback of any skippers & crew hands, which you can see by viewing the shipping providers' company profiles on Shiply. If you're moving a sailboat, then RYA or MCA accredited crews are the qualifications to look for.
With any type of transportation, it's crucial to check the level of experience & professional insurance coverage they offer (do not accept personal insurance) so you can make the most informed decision for your individual situation.
Don't hesitate to ask the companies any questions about the shipping process, as they will often have a high level of expertise.
Finding the right boat transport service can be overwhelming if you intend to compare all the prices & credentials. Larger companies might charge less, whereas smaller family-run transporters could offer you a more personalized service.
Readying Your Boat for Shipping
If your vessel is being shipped by land, there are several preparatory tasks to ensure the transportation goes as smoothly as possible. You'll want to plan as far ahead as possible to give yourself enough time to prepare for the transport & to enable you to find a suitable shipping service. Boat deliveries can be carried out in several different ways, but regardless, make sure your boat is prepared correctly to prevent any damage, leakage, or dangerous loose ends occurring during the journey.
Check the condition - Ensure you thoroughly check the interior & exterior of your vessel for any previous damage. This way, you can see if it suffers any during transit. You may want to take photographs of the condition before its journey.
Remove valuables - Ensure you take anything valuable off your boat before it's shipped, as these will not be insured.
Empty the bilge, water, refuse stores, & the majority of fuel - Pump out wastewater & other liquids. Any freshwater tanks & rubbish should be emptied, fuel tanks disconnected, & the majority of the gasoline emptied to make the boat lighter to deliver & prevent any potential leakages during transport.
Disconnect battery & tidy cables - A precaution that will help avoid draining the battery & any shortages in electronics. Despite being a waterborne vehicle, your boat might be exposed to different weather conditions when it travels on a trailer. So make sure that all exposed electronics are covered & battery cables are tucked away.
Make things secure - If they aren't travelling separately, ensure all accessories & life jackets are stowed away in lockers. Secure all doors & compartments in the galley & washrooms. Also, make sure that the canopy is extra secure, as it might not be built to travel at the same speeds as a trailer.
For sailboats - Removing all winches & rigging etc. from the mast is important (also provide padding for points at which the mast will be tied down). Pulpits, stanchions, & lifelines should only be taken off if they will make the boat too large to transport easily.
You can also check with your boatyard for any other precautions that they might think important for safe transport. If your boat is going to be sailed to its destination, make sure you arrange with the captain what preparations need to be made prior to the handover.
Once your boat is ready, all you need to do is wait for the transporter to arrive. Once you have accepted a quote on Shiply, you will be able to communicate with the shipping provider directly.
If any changes occur that may differ from what your shipping provider is expecting, make sure they are contacted & made aware so they can plan accordingly.
Boat Shipping in Bedfordshire, UK
Bedfordshire is a popular location for boat owners, with many people moving their boats to & from the area. Whether you're relocating to Bedfordshire or simply need to ship your boat for maintenance or repairs, Shiply can help you find reliable boat shipping services in the area.
Bedfordshire is home to several waterways, including the River Great Ouse & the Grand Union Canal, which attract boating enthusiasts from across the UK. With its picturesque countryside & easy access to London, Bedfordshire is an ideal location for boat owners looking to enjoy the tranquility of the waterways while still being close to major cities.
When shipping your boat to or from Bedfordshire, it's important to choose a reputable & experienced boat shipping company. Shiply can help you find the right transporter for your needs, whether you require road transport or need to move your boat by sea or river.
Finalizing Your Boat's Shipping
When your vessel safely reaches its destination on the delivery date, your boat transporter should assist you with the unloading or docking & may help you with other parts of maintenance & checks (depending on what you agreed). If there are any other services you need help with, these should be specified at the beginning of the process when listing your required service on Shiply.
Either way, it's crucial that you check your craft post-transit to ensure that it hasn't been damaged & ask the transporter about any discrepancies so they can be sorted out quickly.
Once your boat is safely docked or secured, you can remove the tape & other securing materials, refill water tanks, reattach batteries & motors, or re-rig your sailboat so it's ready to be used again.
When you're satisfied that the shipping job has been completed, please leave a review for the service you used on Shiply on their company profile. Leaving feedback is extremely helpful to us, as it assists other users when choosing a shipping provider for their own job, & it also helps transporters continuously improve their service.
