Discover Budget-Friendly & Dependable Boat Transport in Bedford
Shiply is here to eliminate the hassle of boat transport in Bedford by assisting you in locating an economical, trustworthy service that suits your needs. Simply create a listing on our platform and relax as transport providers approach you with offers to relocate your boat. Once you find a quote that appeals to you, contact the driver, confirm the details, and await the collection of your boat.
What Are the Reasons for Requiring Boat Transportation in Bedford?
Whether you require a narrowboat, sailboat, small boat, or yacht transported in Bedford, Shiply can assist you. Did you recently purchase a new boat that needs to be delivered? Or perhaps you need to get your boat to a specific location on land? Maybe it's too sizable for you to transport on your own? Regardless of the reason, Shiply can help you find a dependable and professional company for shipping your boat at a competitive price in Bedford, Bedfordshire, UK.
Individuals frequently move boats to and from Bedford for various purposes. Bedford is a sought-after destination for boating enthusiasts due to its proximity to the River Great Ouse and the Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway. Many people acquire boats in Bedford and need them transported to their desired location, while others may need to relocate their boats to Bedford for storage or maintenance purposes.
Selecting a specialist boat hauler in Bedford will ensure you're in capable hands. Boat haulage companies in the UK and internationally will be well-versed in working with boats, marinas, and ports and should assist you with all aspects of the transportation process. By listing your boat transport on Shiply, our network of transport providers will provide you with quotes. You simply need to complete a form with basic information about your boat to be transported, and you will receive free quotes in pounds sterling or euros, depending on your location. Once you've received multiple quotes, you can compare companies based on their credentials, customer feedback, and costs.
What Is the Cost of Transporting a Boat in Bedford?
The expense of boat transport in Bedford will vary based on several factors, but on average, you can anticipate paying between £100 to £260 for shorter distances and between £450 and £750 for longer journeys. The average cost per mile for standard boat transport is around £1.50 per mile in the UK, but as mentioned, this can fluctuate depending on the size of the boat.
The dimensions of the boat being transported will significantly impact the cost. For instance, small boat transport is straightforward as they can often be hauled on the road, whereas larger sailboats or narrowboats will require special attention and will likely cost more to transport. A narrowboat may require specialist narrowboat movers due to its unique size. Whether the boat needs to be transported within the UK or internationally will also influence the pricing, as international boat transport will be significantly more expensive and may require different companies than those in the UK who specialize in road transport.
Utilizing Shiply to Find a Boat Transporter in Bedford
To create a listing on Shiply, you only need to complete a brief form with details about your boat, pick-up and drop-off dates, and locations. Once your listing is live, you will start receiving free quotes from various transport providers - some of which may reach out to you to better understand the required services so they can provide an accurate quote for the work.
There are two primary methods of boat transportation, and the method you choose will depend on where your boat needs to go. If your boat requires transportation in a particular way, please specify this in your Shiply listing.
By road - If your vessel needs to be hauled within the same country, road transportation is likely the best option. If you're moving only parts of a boat or a non-starting boat, transportation by road is your sole choice.
By sea or river - If your craft needs to be sailed port-to-port, you can hire a crew to do this. Crews should inspect your vessel, plot courses, and check shipping forecasts for you.
Once you have received some quotes, ensure you check the credentials and feedback of any skippers and crew hands, which you can see by viewing the transport providers' company profiles on Shiply. If you're moving a sailboat, 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 and professional insurance cover 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 transportation process, as they will often have extensive experience.
Finding the right boat transport service in Bedford can be overwhelming if you intend to compare all the prices and credentials. Larger companies might charge less, whereas smaller family-run transporters could offer you a more personalized service.
Readying Your Boat for Transport in Bedford
If your vessel is being transported 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 and to enable you to find a suitable transport service in Bedford. 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 - Thoroughly inspect the interior and 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 - Make sure you take anything valuable off your boat before it's transported, as these will not be insured.
Empty the bilge, water, refuse stores & the majority of fuel - Pump out wastewater and other liquids. Any freshwater tanks and rubbish should be emptied, fuel tanks disconnected, and the majority of the gasoline emptied to make the boat lighter to deliver and prevent any potential leakages during transport.
Disconnect battery & tidy cables - A precaution that will help avoid draining the battery and 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 and battery cables are tucked away.
Make things secure - If they aren't travelling separately, make sure all accessories and life jackets are stowed away in lockers. Secure all doors and compartments in the galley and 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 and 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 in Bedford 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 transport provider to arrange the final details.
If any changes occur that may differ from what your transport provider is expecting, make sure they are contacted and made aware so they can plan accordingly.
Finalizing Your Boat's Transportation in Bedford
When your vessel safely reaches its destination in Bedford on the delivery date, your boat transporter should assist you with the unloading or docking and may help you with other aspects of maintenance and 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 important that you inspect your craft post-transit to ensure that it hasn't been damaged and ask the transporter about any discrepancies so they can be resolved promptly.
Once your boat is safely docked or secured, you can remove the tape and 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 transportation 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 transport provider for their own job, and it also helps transporters continuously improve their service.
With Shiply, finding reliable and affordable boat transport in Bedford has never been simpler. Whether you're moving a narrowboat, sailboat, small boat, or yacht, our network of experienced transport providers will ensure that your vessel reaches its destination safely and efficiently. So why wait? Create a listing today and let Shiply take the hassle out of your boat transportation needs in Bedford, Bedfordshire, UK.
