Economical & Dependable Boat Shipping Services
Shiply eliminates the inconvenience of boat transportation by assisting you in locating an economical, trustworthy service that suits your needs. Simply create a posting on our site & relax as transportation providers approach you with estimates to relocate your boat. Once you discover a quote that appeals to you, contact the transporter, verify the details, and await the collection of your boat.
What Are the Reasons for Requiring Boat Shipping?
Whether you require the transportation of a narrowboat, sailboat, small craft, or yacht, Shiply can assist you. Have you recently purchased a new vessel & need it delivered? Or perhaps you need to transport your boat to a location on land? Maybe it's too sizable for you to move on your own? Regardless of the circumstance, Shiply can aid you in finding a dependable & 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 & globally will be knowledgeable about the intricacies of working with boats, marinas, & ports and should assist you with all aspects of the transportation process.
By listing your boat transportation needs on Shiply, our network of transport providers will provide you with price quotes. You simply need to complete a form with some essential 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'll be able to compare companies based on their qualifications, customer reviews, & prices.
The Expense of Boat Shipping
The expense of boat shipping 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 in the UK is around £1.50 per mile, 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 & 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 will also influence the pricing, as international boat transport will be significantly more expensive & 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 & the pick-up & drop-off dates & locations. Once your listing is posted, you will start receiving complimentary quotes from various transport providers - some of whom may contact you to better understand the required services so they can provide an accurate quote for the job.
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 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 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, then you can hire a crew to accomplish this. Crews should inspect your vessel, plot courses, & check shipping forecasts on your behalf.
Once you have received some quotes, ensure you verify the credentials & feedback of any skippers & crew hands, which you can view by accessing the transport providers' company profiles on Shiply. If you're moving a sailboat, then RYA or MCA accredited crews are the qualifications to seek out.
With any type of transportation, 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.
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 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 transported by land, there are several preparatory tasks to complete to ensure that the transportation proceeds as smoothly as possible. You'll want to plan as far in advance as possible to give yourself ample time to prepare for the transport & to enable you to find a suitable transport service. Boat deliveries can be carried out in various ways, but regardless, make sure your boat is prepared properly 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 prior damage. This way, you can determine if it sustains any during transit. You may want to take photographs of the condition before its journey.
Remove valuables - Ensure you remove anything valuable from your boat before it's transported, as these items 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 drained 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 ensure that all exposed electronics are covered & battery cables are tucked away.
Make things secure - If they aren't travelling separately, ensure 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 final details.
If any changes occur that may differ from what your transport provider is expecting, ensure 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 assist you with the unloading or docking & may help you with other aspects of maintenance & checks (depending on what you agreed upon). If there are any other services you need assistance 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 resolved 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 assists other users when choosing a transport provider for their own job, & it also helps transporters continuously improve their service.
Boat Shipping in London
London is a sought-after destination for boat shipping, both to & from the city. Many individuals opt to move their boats to London for various reasons, such as attending boat shows, participating in sailing events, or simply enjoying the city's waterways. London's prime location on the River Thames & its proximity to the English Channel make it an ideal hub for boat shipping.
Shiply's network of boat transport providers offers reliable & affordable services for those seeking to transport their boats to or from London. Whether you need to move a small boat, a yacht, or a narrowboat, our experienced transporters can handle the job with care & professionalism. They are well-versed in navigating the city's waterways & can ensure that your boat reaches its destination safely & on time.
When transporting your boat to or from London, it's essential to choose a reputable boat transport company that understands the unique challenges of navigating the city's waterways. With Shiply, you can rest assured that your boat is in good hands, as our transport providers have the expertise & equipment necessary to handle any type of boat shipping job in London.
