Shiply: Hassle-Free Boat Transport Solutions
Budget-Friendly & Dependable Boat Shipping
Shiply eliminates the stress from boat shipping by assisting you in locating a cost-effective, reliable service that suits your needs. Simply create a listing on our platform & relax as transport providers send you quotes to ship your boat. Once you find a quote that appeals to you, contact the driver, confirm the details, & await the pickup of your boat.
The Necessity of Boat Shipping
Whether you require transportation for a narrowboat, sailboat, small craft, or yacht, Shiply can help. Did you recently acquire a new boat that needs delivery? Or perhaps you need to transport your boat to a land-based destination? Maybe it's too sizable for you to move on your own? Regardless of the reason, 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 ensure you're in capable hands. Boat haulage companies in the UK & internationally are well-versed in working with boats, marinas, & ports, & should guide you through all aspects of the transportation process.
By listing your boat transportation on Shiply, our network of transport providers will offer you price quotes. You simply need to complete a form with basic information about the boat to be transported, & you will receive free 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.
Boat Transport Costs
The cost of boat transport varies based on several factors, but on average, you can expect to pay between £100 to £260 for shorter distances & between £450 & £750 for longer journeys. The average cost per mile for standard boat transport in the UK is around £1.50, but this can vary depending on the boat's size. The size of the boat being moved significantly impacts the cost. For example, small boat transport is straightforward as they can often be hauled on the road, whereas larger sailboats or narrowboats require special attention & will likely cost more to transport. A narrowboat may necessitate specialized narrowboat movers due to its unique size. Whether the boat needs to be transported within the UK or internationally also plays a role in pricing, as international boat transport is significantly more expensive & may require different companies than those in the UK that 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 details about your boat, pickup & drop-off dates, & locations. Once your listing is live, you will start receiving free quotes from various transport providers - some of whom 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 requires transportation in a specific 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 only 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, & check shipping forecasts for you.
Once you have received some quotes, be sure to 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, 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 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 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 - 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 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 to arrange the details of the pickup & delivery.
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 help you with the unloading or docking & 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 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 Hitchin, Hertfordshire, UK
Hitchin, situated in Hertfordshire, UK, is a sought-after destination for boat owners who need to transport their vessels to & from the area. Many people opt to move their boats to Hitchin due to its proximity to the River Hiz & the Hitchin Lavender farm, which attracts numerous visitors each year. Moreover, Hitchin is home to several marinas & boatyards, making it a convenient location for boat storage & maintenance.
If you're seeking reliable boat transport services in Hitchin, Shiply can assist you in finding the right provider for your needs. Our network of experienced boat transport companies in Hitchin can ensure that your vessel is safely & efficiently transported to or from the area. Whether you need to move a small boat or a large yacht, our boat transport Hitchin service providers possess the expertise & equipment necessary to get the job done right.
When searching for Hitchin boat transport services on Shiply, be sure to provide detailed information about your vessel, including its dimensions, weight, & any special requirements. This will help our transport providers to offer you accurate quotes & ensure that your boat is properly secured during transit. With Shiply's help, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing that your boat is in capable hands during its journey to or from Hitchin.
