Economical & Dependable Boat Shipping in Bishop's Stortford with Shiply
Shiply eliminates the inconvenience of boat shipping by helping you discover an economical & reliable service that suits your requirements. Simply post a listing on our platform & unwind while shipping companies send you estimates to transport your boat. Once you discover a quote you prefer, reach out to the transporter, verify, and await the collection of your boat.
What Are the Reasons for Needing Boat Shipping?
Whether you need to transport a narrowboat, sailboat, small craft, or yacht, Shiply can help. Did you recently acquire a new boat that requires delivery? Or maybe you need to get your boat to an inland destination? Perhaps it's too large for you to move on your own? Regardless of the circumstance, Shiply can assist you in finding a trustworthy & professional company to ship your boat at a fair price. Opting for a specialized boat hauler will guarantee your boat is in capable hands. Boat haulage firms in the UK & globally are experienced in collaborating with boats, marinas, and ports and should support you with all aspects of the shipping process.
Bishop's Stortford, situated in Hertfordshire, UK, is a favored destination for boat owners. Many individuals frequently move their boats to and from Bishop's Stortford for various purposes, such as switching marinas, participating in boat shows, or relocating to a new region. The town's proximity to the River Stort and its well-equipped marinas make it an appealing location for boat enthusiasts.
Posting your boat shipping on Shiply and our network of transport companies will provide you with price quotes. You simply need to complete a form with some essential information about your boat to be shipped & you will receive complimentary estimates in pounds sterling or euros, depending on your location. Once you've obtained several quotes, you'll be able to compare companies by their qualifications, customer reviews, & prices.
What Is the Cost of Transporting a Boat?
The expense of boat shipping varies based on several factors, but on average, you can anticipate paying between £100 to £260 for shorter distances & 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 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 shipping is straightforward as they can often be hauled on the road, whereas larger sailboats or narrowboats will necessitate special attention & will likely cost more to move. A narrowboat may require specialized narrowboat movers due to their unique size. Whether the boat needs to be shipped within the UK or internationally will also influence the pricing, as international boat shipping will cost substantially 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 and drop-off dates and locations. Once your listing is complete, you will start receiving complimentary quotes from various transport companies, some of which may contact you to comprehend the required services more clearly so they can determine how best to quote for the job.
There are two primary methods of boat shipping, & the method you choose will depend on where your boat needs to go. If your boat is required to be transported in a specific manner, please indicate this on your Shiply listing.
By road – If your vessel needs to be hauled within the same country, you'll find that road shipping is likely to be the optimal option. If you're moving parts of a boat only or a non-starting boat, shipping 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 accomplish 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 and crew hands, which you can see by viewing the transport companies' 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 shipping, it's crucial to check the level of experience & professional insurance coverage that they provide (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 shipping process, as they will often have a high level of expertise.
Finding the right boat transport service can be daunting 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 that the shipping 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 – Make sure 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 – Make sure 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 shipping.
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 shipping. 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 shipping company.
If any changes occur that may differ from what your shipping company 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 & 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 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 shipping company for their own job, & it also helps transporters continuously improve their service.
In summary, if you're looking for dependable & economical boat shipping in Bishop's Stortford, Shiply is here to help. Our platform connects you with experienced shipping companies who specialize in boat transportation, ensuring that your vessel reaches its destination safely & efficiently. Whether you need to move a narrowboat, sailboat, small craft, or yacht, Shiply makes the process simple & stress-free.
