Getting ready your Boat for transportation
If you are unable to prepare the boat for transport yourself, you should have an experienced boatyard that is qualified for such projects to take care of it for you. You might even want to have your boat inspected by a marine surveyor as well. Before the transport truck arrives, make sure your boat is ready to go. It is recommended to prepare it early in case the transport company needs to come a day or so earlier because of the weather or any other pending issues.
Preparing Your Boat for Transport
Before you dismantle anything that is on your boat, you should take pictures of your watercraft so you have something to refer to when you are putting your boat back at its new destination. Take all of your personal items out of your boat. Clean the exterior of the boat, carefully checking for any damages. Make a list of any problems then take photographs stamped with the date to show existing damages. The transport driver should go over a condition report with you when you both check for damages at the time of pickup.
- Your boat should be at a boatyard or marina that offers clearance of at least 14 feet so electrical wires and branches won’t interfere with the boat’s removal.
- Make sure any gear that is loose on the boat gets secured properly.
- After closing the hatches, secure them by either tying them or taping them. If they leak, avoid water damage by sealing them.
- From the outside, latch and then tape cabin windows.
- Drain the water and fuel tanks and take out any of the hull’s drain plugs.
- During the winter months, to prevent damage you should drain the water from all air conditioners, water systems, and pumps.
- Batteries should be disconnected and their cables should be secured to avoid contact.
- Remove any anchors or valuable electronics. Secure and properly pad all the items that you can inside the boat’s cabin. Do the same with any windshield or plexiglass extending over the flying bridge.
- If there is something large, such as a dinghy, secure it on board the boat and pad it properly.
- Any flybridge or radar arch might have to be removed. If removed, they must be padded and then properly secured to the boat.
If you are needing your boat transported, contact the reliable team at We Will Transport It, Inc. will get your boat from one location to another safely.
If you are planning on shipping a sailboat, here are the steps you need to take when preparing a sailboat for transportation.
The first thing to do is remove the sails. The sails should then be folded and bagged before they are placed in the cabin.
Remove the spreaders from the mast and wrap them in bubble wrap before putting them in the cabin. Take all cables, lines and shrouds from the mast and label them before they are coiled and bound to avoid them unrolling. Remove all antennae or wind indicators.
To prevent the mast from being covered with road debris and dirt during sailboat transportation, you can wrap it in bubble wrap secured with tape so it doesn’t come loose. Be sure to secure the anchor prior to sailboat shipping as well.
Lastly, ensure that any connector canvas, dodger, and Bimini should be removed and put in the cabin. The frames need to be tied and secured. Store all instrument covers, wheel covers, grab rail covers, winch covers, and instrument covers.
Many people do not realize how much work goes into preparing a boat for transport. There are a lot of steps that need to be taken and some of these steps may take some time. One such step is removing certain items for transport. There are many things that need to be removed from the boat before transport and failure to remove some of these could cause delays or even serious fines.
Check out the list below to see what items you should remove from your boat when preparing it for transport:
- Remove All Sea Life Growth – Boat bottoms and thru-hull valves collect sea life. This is a common annoyance and needs to be removed before shipping. This step is necessary to protect the environment at the drop-off location and is especially important during overseas transportation. Even state-to-state species transfer is not recommended. A dirty boat could result in a fine or a holding charge while your get your boat cleaned.
- Drain Tanks – Draining all fuel and water tanks is required before travel. It is also important to remove propane tanks. This is required for transport safety. Disconnect all batteries as well and insure air conditioners are also drained.
- Things To Remove On Deck – All attendees need to be removed before transport to ensure they are not harmed during transport. The anchor needs to be removed as well. It is quickly heavy and can do some serious harm. Any loose furniture on the deck, or any furniture that can be removed easily, should be taken off the boat and stored. This goes for decorations as well.
- Personal Items – All personal items need to be removed from the interior of the boat. Anything that is not boat-related needs to be removed. This includes personal electronics, linens, clothes, food, and pictures. Take the time to make sure all cabinets are locked.
- Flammable Items – In addition to propane tanks and fuel, any other flammable items need to be removed before shipping. This includes emergency flares, Sterno cans, and extra fuel.
- Final Check – Before you ship your boat, it is a good idea to take one final look around to make sure everything is secured or put away. Dingies need to be padded and secured on the deck and all windows need to be latched and taped shut. This is also a good time to take some pictures. Take close-up and long-distance shots and send a copy to your transport company. This makes filing a claim easier if there is an accident.
By removing all the items listed above, your boat will be ready for travel. However, it is also a good idea to check the boat owner’s manual to make sure you have prepared everything for transport. It is also recommended to contact your transport company with any questions.
Need help preparing a sailboat for transport? Sailboats are beautiful vessels, but they come with a lot of parts and pieces. All of these pieces can make transportation prep difficult and a bit confusing. However, once you know what needs to be done, preparing your sailboat for shipping will seem much less daunting.
The mast will need to be removed from the sailboat and transported to a separate trailer. It should be wrapped in carpet or bubble wrap and the wrapping should be secured with tape or other securing methods.
Spreaders should also be removed, wrapped, and stored in the cabin. Cables should be coiled tightly, labeled, and placed in a secure location. All antenna and wind instruments need to be removed as well.
The anchor must be secured so that it does not cause any damage and all water tanks should be drained. Fuel tanks may remain full. Lastly, remove any items that may become damaged or fall off the vessel easily.
Following these simple steps (and choosing the right shipping company) will ensure your sailboat gets where it needs to be safe.
Preparing a Boat For Transport In The Winter
Need help preparing a boat for transport in the winter? If you intend to transport a boat in the winter but aren’t sure how you should prepare your boat beforehand, this video is for you. When it comes to transporting a boat in the winter, it’s important that you thoroughly prepare it so that it arrives in pristine condition (keeping in mind that some exposure to winter road slush may be unavoidable). Here are some tips for you to follow.
- Ensure that you choose a boatyard that has a loading spot with a 14′ clearance. This will help to ensure that neither wires nor branches will interfere with the boat at the beginning of the said trip.
- The secure loose gear is below and above the deck.
- Drain all water and fuel tanks, plus remove drain pumps from the hull.
- Disconnect the batteries and move the cables away from them to ensure that they do not come into contact with the batteries.
- When it comes to avoiding winter-related damage, all pumps, air conditions, water systems, etc should be drained of water.
What Company to Use?
It’s highly recommended that you use a reputable company when it comes to transporting your boat. We Will Transport It, Inc. has gained an invaluable amount of experience when it comes to transporting boats during the winter season.
Should You Hire Someone to Prepare Your Boat for Transport?
If you are having your boat transported, you need to make sure you have everything in order for a safe, damage-free ride. Usually, boat owners prepare their own boats for transport, but you can hire someone to take care of the job for you.
Regardless, you need to make sure that it is done properly, so both the people on the boat, as well as your vessel, are safe on the journey. Depending on the boat and the journey, shrink wrap might be beneficial. However, you should consult with the boat transport service for advice about that.
First, you need to drain all water tanks and fuel from the boat. Remove any drain plugs from the hull. If your boat is being transported during the winter months, drain water from all water systems, pumps, and air conditioners. Before you dismantle anything on your boat, take photos so you can have a reference for reassembling it later.
Make sure all gear above the deck and below the deck is properly secured. Wrap a layer of shrink wrap over any vinyl interior pieces to offer extra protection. Any electronics and anchors should be removed from the deck, properly padded and then secured in the cabin. If you have a windshield protruding over the flying bridge, make sure you remove it and pad it as well.
If all of this sounds like a hassle, then feel free to call We Will Transport It today, not only can they transport your boat, but they can also recommend a service that will help you prepare your boat in advance.
Boats for Transportation Nationwide or Overseas
Should you hire someone to prepare your boat for transport? If you are having your boat transported, you need to make sure you have everything in order for a safe, damage-free ride. Usually, boat owners prepare their own boats for transport, but you can hire someone to take care of the job for you.
Regardless, you need to make sure that it is done properly, so both the people on the boat, as well as your vessel, are safe on the journey. Depending on the boat and the journey, shrink wrap might be beneficial. However, you should consult with the boat transport service for advice about that.
First, you need to drain all water tanks and fuel from the boat. Remove any drain plugs from the hull. If your boat is being transported during the winter months, drain water from all water systems, pumps, and air conditioners. Before you dismantle anything on your boat, take photos so you can have a reference for reassembling it later.
Make sure all gear above the deck and below the deck is properly secured. Wrap a layer of shrink wrap over any vinyl interior pieces to offer extra protection. Any electronics and anchors should be removed from the deck, properly padded and then secured in the cabin. If you have a windshield protruding over the flying bridge, make sure you remove it and pad it as well.
If all of this sounds like a hassle, then feel free to call We Will Transport It today, not only can they transport your boat, but they can also recommend a service that will help you prepare your boat in advance.
At We Will Transport It, Inc., we specialize in boat transport. Getting your boat where it needs to go is our passion! In our line of work, we find that one of the most important factors for making sure your boat transport goes smoothly is preparing your boat properly.
- Plan ahead! Marine transport takes time, and there are numerous factors that both you and the shipping company will need to contend with—and not all of them are easy to control. By planning ahead, your boat will be where it needs to be when it needs to be!
- Measure your boat accurately. Knowing the exact dimensions of your boat helps your shipping company give you an accurate estimate. It also means they’ll be able to prepare the right equipment for transporting it.
- Ship electronics separately or take extra precautions to secure them. Keep in mind that a boat traveling at highway speeds is experiencing the equivalent of hurricane conditions.
It’s important to consult with your boat transport representative for specific instructions, but this list is a good start!
Preparing Your Boat for Transport (Suggested Links)
