Economical & Dependable Boat Shipping with Shiply
Shiply eliminates the inconvenience of boat shipping by helping you discover an economical, reliable service that fits your requirements. Simply post a listing on our platform & relax as shipping providers send you estimates to transport your boat. Once you discover a quote you prefer, reach out to the transporter, verify, and await your boat's pickup.
What Are the Reasons for Needing Boat Shipping?
Whether you need a narrowboat, sailboat, small craft, or yacht transported, Shiply can help. Did you recently acquire a new boat that needs delivery? Or maybe you need to get your boat to an inland destination? Perhaps it's too large for you to move yourself? Regardless of the reason, Shiply can assist you in finding a dependable & professional company for transporting your boat at the appropriate price. Opting for a specialized boat hauler will guarantee you're in capable hands. Boat haulage companies in the UK & globally will understand the intricacies of working with boats, marinas, and ports and should support you with all aspects of the shipping process.
Posting your boat shipping on Shiply and our network of transport providers will supply you with estimates. You simply need to fill out a form with some essential information about your boat to be transported and you will receive complimentary estimates in pounds sterling or euros, depending on your location. Once you've obtained several estimates, you'll be able to compare companies by their qualifications, customer reviews & prices.
The Price of Boat Shipping
The price of boat shipping will differ depending on several factors, but on average, you can anticipate paying between £100 to £260 for shorter distances and between £450 and £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 vary depending on the boat's size. The size of the boat being shipped will significantly impact the price. For example, small boat shipping is simple as they can often be hauled on the road, whereas something like a larger sailboat or narrowboat will require special consideration and will likely cost more to move. A narrowboat may require specialist narrowboat movers due to their unique dimensions. 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 and may require 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 complete a brief form with some details about your boat and of the pick-up & drop-off dates and locations. Once your listing is finished, you will start to receive complimentary estimates from various transport providers - some of which may contact you to comprehend the required services more clearly so they can know how best to estimate 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 moved in a particular way, please specify 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 to be the optimal 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 estimates, make sure you check the credentials & 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, 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.
Do not 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.
Fife, UK: A Popular Destination for Boat Shipping
Fife, situated in Scotland, is a popular destination for boat owners. Many people often move their boats to and from Fife for various reasons. Fife boat shipping is in high demand due to the region's stunning coastline, which offers numerous opportunities for sailing, fishing, and other water activities. The area is also home to several marinas and boatyards, making it a convenient location for boat storage and maintenance. Whether you're relocating to Fife or simply want to explore the region's waters, boat shipping Fife services can help you get your vessel to its destination safely and efficiently.
Readying Your Boat For Shipping
If your vessel is being moved 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 shipping and 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 - Make sure 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 - Make sure you take anything valuable off your boat before it's moved, 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 & 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 & 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 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 & 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 directly with the transport provider.
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 Shipping
When your vessel safely reaches its destination on the delivery date, your boat transporter should help you with the unloading or docking and may assist 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 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 helps other users when choosing a transport provider for their own job, & it also helps transporters continuously improve their service.
