Discover Budget-Friendly & Dependable Boat Transport with Shiply
Shiply eliminates the stress from boat transportation by assisting you in finding an affordable, trustworthy service that meets your needs. Simply create a listing on our platform & relax as transport providers send you quotes to transport your boat. Once you find a quote that appeals to you, contact the driver, confirm the details, and wait for your boat to be collected.
What Are the Reasons for Requiring Boat Transportation?
Whether you need to transport a narrowboat, sailboat, small boat, or yacht, Shiply can help. Did you recently acquire a new boat & require delivery? Or perhaps you need to get your boat to a location on land? Maybe it's too sizable for you to transport on your own? Regardless of the reason, Shiply can assist you in finding a reliable & professional company to ship your boat at a fair price. Opting for a specialized boat hauler will ensure you're in capable hands. Boat haulage companies in the UK & internationally will be well-versed in working with boats, marinas, & ports and should assist you with all aspects of the transportation process.
By listing your boat transportation on Shiply, our network of transport providers will provide you with price quotes. You simply need to complete a form with some basic information about your boat to be transported & you will receive complimentary quotes in pounds sterling or euros, depending on your location. After receiving several quotes, you can compare companies based on their credentials, customer feedback, & costs.
The Expense of Boat Transport
The expense of boat transport will vary based on several factors, but on average, 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 transport is around £1.50 per mile in the UK, but as mentioned, this can vary 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 something like a larger sailboat or narrowboat will require special attention & will likely cost more to transport. A narrowboat may require specialist narrowboat movers due to their unique size. Whether the boat needs to be transported within the UK or internationally will also play a role in the pricing, as international boat transport will cost significantly more & may require different companies than those in the UK who specialize in road transport.
Utilizing Shiply to Find a Boat Transporter
To create a listing on Shiply, you only need to complete a brief form with some details about your boat & the pick-up & drop-off dates & locations. Once your listing is live, you will start receiving complimentary 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, & the method you choose will depend on where your boat needs to go. If your boat is required to be transported 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 sole 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 quotes, ensure you check the credentials & feedback of any skippers & crew hands, which you can see by viewing the transport providers' company profiles on Shiply. If you're moving a sailboat, then RYA or MCA accredited crews are the qualifications to look out for.
With any type of transportation, it's crucial to check the level of experience & professional insurance cover that 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 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 Transport
If your vessel is being transported by land, there are several preparatory tasks to ensure that 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 transport 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 inspect 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 transported, 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, make sure 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 transport provider directly.
If any changes occur that may differ from what your transport provider is expecting, make sure they are contacted & made aware so they can plan accordingly.
Finalizing Your Boat's Transportation
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 important that you inspect 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 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 helps other users when choosing a transport provider for their own job, & it also helps transporters continuously improve their service.
Boat Transport in Crewe, Cheshire, UK
Crewe, situated in Cheshire, UK, is a popular destination for boat owners seeking to transport their vessels to & from the area. With its proximity to several major waterways, including the Shropshire Union Canal & the Trent & Mersey Canal, Crewe is an ideal location for those looking to explore the picturesque countryside & historic towns of the region by boat.
Many people choose to move their boats to Crewe for various reasons, such as participating in boating events, undergoing maintenance or repairs at local boatyards, or simply enjoying a change of scenery. Whatever the reason, Shiply can help connect boat owners with reliable & affordable boat transport services in the Crewe area.
By using Shiply to find boat transport in Crewe, boat owners can rest assured that their vessels will be handled with care & expertise by experienced professionals who understand the unique challenges of transporting boats in the region. Whether you need to move a small dinghy or a large narrowboat, Shiply can help you find the right transport provider to meet your needs & budget.
