Boat Transports

Boat Preparation
A successful boat transport requires detailed coordination and preparation with many agencies including marinas, ports and boat yards, transport permit agencies, and the carriers who physically haul the boats. Preparation is the key to avoiding costly delays.

Proper preparation of your boat for transport is the responsibility of the owner. Many marinas and boat yards will assist you in preparing the boat for transport; however, most will only do this on premises. It is imperative to not skip any steps in the boat preparation process before hauling it to a new location as drivers will not accept responsibility for damage caused by an improperly prepared boat or trailer.

If you need assistance with preparing your vessel, we can help by pointing you in the direction of marinas, boatyards, captains who will accommodate your particular needs.

How To Measure Your Boat For Transport:
Please follow these guidelines for measuring your boat accurately. We try and match your boat with a carrier who has the necessary space available to haul it. If a carrier has the space to transport multiple boats or other vehicles during one trip, it will greatly reduce the cost of your transport. For this reason, the accurate dimensions are vitally important when requesting a quote.

Measuring Length
Please include bow pulpits, swim platforms, outboard motor brackets, and outboard motors. If your boat is being transported with its trailer, please include the length from the tip of the tongue to the end of the motor.

Measuring Height
When measuring the height of the transported vessel, it is critical to measure from the bottom of the keel to the highest non-removable part of the boat. While transporting your boat on interstate highways, the most common maximum height allowed is 13’ 6”. Boats with an overall height greater than 13’ 6” when loaded on the trailer require special handling, routing and permits. Many oversized yachts and boats require wide-belly low-boy trailers. By using these trailers, it will often times allow us to sit low enough to avoid using a pole car. Please note that many eastern states have varying maximum heights.

The draft (from the waterline to the bottom of the keel) + clearance (from the waterline to the highest part of the vessel) equal the total standing height. Depending on your model the fly or command bridge may need to be removed. It is important to measure the vessel without the bridge and also provide bridge dimensions to ensure appropriate transport space. Always measure twice just to be sure.

The bridge should be placed somewhere suitable on the boat and make certain it is safely secured. If it must be placed on the trailer, a frame should be prepared for it to rest upon. If your radar arch is removed, it should be secured against your boat. You might consider using carpet to protect areas where surfaces may touch to prevent rubbing or chaffing.

Measuring Width
The beam of your boat is measured as the widest point of the boat including anything attached to the boat. Boats wider than 8’ 6” are regarded as oversized and require special state permits to transport.

Please Remove & Properly Store or Secure

Valuables, Exterior Electronics
Anchors, Antennas, Propellers, Flagstaffs, Lights & Outriggers
Any Item That Extends Beyond The Stated Length, Width Or Height Of The Vessel
All Canvas, Screens, Cushions, Weatherboards
All Radar Transmitters, Hailers, Horns, Windshields & Dinghies.

Preparing The Boat For Transport

Please check the drain plugs. There should not be any water in the bilge while it is being transported.
Drain fuel and water tanks as much as possible. Please be sure the tank is no more than ¼ full. During winter months, water should be drained from water systems, pumps, and air conditioners to prevent freezing.
The batteries should be disconnected and the cables tied off to prevent contact.
If the engine hatch covers are battery operated, they should be secured to prevent their opening while in transit.
Check for any loose items or items that could become loose.

Covers & Shrink-Wrap
Canvas covers must be removed as they will tear or fly off during transport. We do not recommend shrink-wrap on boat transports. While shrink-wrap can protect the boat from road tar and dirt, Shrink-wrap can and does tear or fly-off during transit. This can cause considerable damage from beating against the boat and chaffing. Drivers will not be responsible for missing canvas coverings, shrink-wrap, or other covers, or the damage caused to or by shrink-wrapping of your vessel.

Wood Boat Transports
It is highly recommended that wood boats be transported on their own custom cradle. This is suggested because there may be structural weaknesses that are not readily visible or detectable. A well designed cradle will spread the weight of the boat over a much wider contact area. Wooden boats can be expected to dry out. A coat of linseed oil will help. Most boat transport companies will ask you to sign a release of liability for wood boats.

Power Boat Transports
Any inboard/outboard or outboard motors should be raised and locked. We advise to place a 2x4 securely between your out-drive and bracket. If possible, you should consider removing the props and store them safely.

Please make sure the windshield is strong enough to withstand the rigors and wind of over-the-road travel. Please confirm the seals are tight and screws are not rusted or corroded. If there is doubt to whether the windshield can withstand over-the-road travel, tit is typically best to remove it and safely secure it.

Sailboat Transports
Make certain that all mast poles are un-stepped and de-rigged. All cables and spreaders should be bound to the pole. All rigging, winches, wind indicators, and lights must be removed from the mast. The strongest side of the mast should be left "clean" to rest on our trailer. Wrapping of poles is optional, but should be considered. Carpet should be provided for the mast at the points of tie down. Expect some chafing at these points. If the mast is painted, it is almost impossible to keep the paint from chafing. The carrier will not pay to repaint masts if chafing occurs. Do not secure the mast to the boat, as there is a space on the carrier’s trailer for the mast. Should the mast be secured to the boat, the carrier will not be responsible for any resulting damage to the mast or the boat.

Life lines, stanchions, bow and stern pulpits should be removed if they render the boat over height. On center board sailboats, make sure the board is secured and will stay up in transit. Keel sailboats may expect some separation where the keel joins the hull. This is not structural damage, but rather is the paint or filler cracking at the joint. Light built or racing sailboats can expect some hull indentation from the support pads. These indentations generally disappear when the boat is returned to the water.

Rudders, sticks, ladders, outboards, and anything else that can turn or flap in the wind, should be removed and/or well secured.

Dinghies
Dinghies can not be transported on its davits. The dinghy should be stored in the cabin or securely lashed and padded in the cockpit. If you are shipping a dinghy on board or if you have had to remove any superstructure, these items should be well padded. Do not leave dinghy on davits.

Hatches
Hatches should be tightly secured and sealed with tape to prevent damage from wind-driven water. The latches should also be taped securely to prevent the hatch from coming open while in transit and to prevent damage to the boat caused by rain water thru a missing or leaking hatch or deck. A boat will not sit in the same position on the carrier's trailer as it does in the water.

Windows & Windshields
Cabin windows should be latched and taped from the outside. All windshields and/or Plexiglas that protrude over the flying bridge should be removed, packed with a cargo blanket and should be well secured below.

Zebra Mussels
If you are moving your boat from an infected State, thoroughly inspect your boat. Check engine intake strainers, and all other through-hull fittings. Check drain scuppers, out-drives and all possible areas of attachment. DOT officers are checking boats for Zebra mussels at weigh stations. If zebra mussels are found, your boat will be seized. You will have to arrange for hot water removal, and you may also be required to have your boat launched first in salt water if your intended destination was fresh water.

Inspecting The Trailer For Road-Worthiness
Prior to booking your transport, you must inspect the trailer for road worthiness. Please take the time to make your trailer safe for transport. It will certainly be much more expensive if you transport a boat on a trailer that fails during shipping. You will be responsible for any repairs, time out of service, or damage caused by your trailer.

Please check tires to insure proper inflation. Please be sure there are no visible signs of dry rot, uneven wear, or balding. Please be sure there is sufficient tread on the tires with no signs of cracks, bubbles, or gouges in the rubber. It will always be less costly to replace tires now and avoid dangerous blowouts and repairs while in transit. A spare tire is required.

Remove wheels and hubs and inspect hubs for wear and rough surfaces. Turn drums if necessary.

Many breakdowns occur due to neglect of the wheel bearings. If the bearings have not been maintained on a strict schedule or it has been more than 6 months since they were last checked, please have this professionally done. Throughout transit, a significant amount of heat builds up in bearings that have not been properly maintained, often causing their premature failure. Also, bearings exposed to salt water are especially vulnerable. You should remove bearings and inspect them for wear. If you replace the bearings, also replace the seals. If bearings are fine upon inspection, always repack them and install new seals.

If your trailer has a surge break, inspect the brakes & hubs for wear. Check brake fluids and, if necessary, replace brakes and turn hubs.

Check the springs, shackles and bushings for wear and corrosion and replace if necessary.

Salt water will destroy trailer wheels, springs and axles if not properly rinsed after each use in salt water.

Check all lights and wires. Plugs must be in good condition, turn signals and brake lights must work properly, as well as all marker lights. If repairs need to be made, have them done well in advance of the pickup date.

This work should be done by a professional or someone very knowledgeable on trailers.