Economical & Dependable Boat Shipping Services
Shiply eliminates the inconvenience of boat transportation by assisting you in locating an economical, dependable service that meets your needs. Simply create a listing on our website & relax as transport providers approach you with estimates to transport your boat. Once you find a quote that appeals to you, contact the driver, confirm, 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 boat, or yacht, Shiply can help. Have you recently acquired a new boat that needs to be 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 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 that you are in capable hands. Boat haulage companies in the UK and internationally will be well-versed in working with boats, marinas, and ports, and should guide you through 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'll be able to compare companies based on their qualifications, customer feedback, & 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 and £750 for longer journeys. The average cost per mile for standard boat transport in the UK is around £1.50 per mile, 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 larger vessels like 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 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 & the pick-up and drop-off dates and 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 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 specific way, 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 for you.
Once you have received some quotes, ensure that you verify 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 for.
With any type of transportation, it's crucial to check the level of experience & professional insurance coverage 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 extensive experience.
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 Shipping
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 that 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 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 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). 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 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 Somerset, UK
Somerset, situated in the southwest of England, is a popular destination for boat owners & enthusiasts. With its picturesque coastline, rivers, & canals, Somerset offers a range of opportunities for boating activities. Many people often move boats to & from Somerset for various reasons, such as purchasing a new boat, relocating, or participating in boating events.
When it comes to boat shipping in Somerset, Shiply can connect you with reliable & experienced transport providers who specialize in moving boats of all sizes & types. Whether you need to transport a small boat, a sailboat, or a narrowboat, our network of transporters can handle the job efficiently & safely.
Somerset's location makes it an ideal starting point or destination for boat shipping within the UK. Its proximity to major cities like Bristol & Exeter, as well as its access to the Bristol Channel & the River Severn, allows for convenient boat transportation by road or water.
If you're looking for professional boat shipping services in Somerset, Shiply is here to help. Our platform simplifies the process of finding & comparing quotes from reputable transporters, ensuring that you get the best value for your money. With Shiply, you can have peace of mind knowing that your boat will be in capable hands during its journey to or from Somerset.
