Full Boat Hauling Guide In 2024

Welcome to Compare The Carrier, where we understand that transporting your boat can be as crucial as the voyages you plan. Whether you’re relocating, buying a new boat, or selling your cherished vessel, navigating the complexities of boat hauling can often feel overwhelming.

That’s why we’re here to simplify the process for you. In this comprehensive guide, we delve into the ins and outs of boat transport, offering you a clear roadmap to ship a boat safely and efficiently. From understanding boat shipping costs to mastering the art of boat loading, we’ve got every detail covered. Join us as we explore the essentials of boat transportation, ensuring your prized possession sails smoothly to its next destination.

So in this article, we will cover the following points: 

When it comes to boat hauling, understanding the unique transport requirements of different types of vessels is essential. Whether you need to ship a sailboat, yacht, or dinghy, each boat has specific needs that affect boat shipping costs and loading procedures. In this guide, we’ll explore the nuances of boat transport to ensure your vessel arrives safely at its destination.

There are lots of types of boats, but here we will not list down all of them and take a look only at the most popular ones. 

Foremost, let’s classify the boats into three main sections:

• Motorboats;

• Sailboats;

• Unpowered boats. 

Some of the most popular types of motorboats are:

• Pontoons;

• Houseboats;

• Power catamaran boats; 

• Deck boats;

• Cuddy cabins boats;

• Bowrider boats;

• Personal watercraft (PWC) boats;

• Cabin cruiser boats;

• Fishing trawlers. 

The first three types are rather easy to transport as they are flat-bottomed boats, so there is no need to rent a special boat trailer. Whether a boat is on the water or stands, it can be loaded on a regular flatbed or lowboy using a crane. And in case the boat is already on the trailer, it can be connected to any pickup truck or semi-trailer truck and hauled to any location. 

As for other types of boats listed above, their transportation requires more detailed preparation. 

Deck boats, cuddy cabins boats, bowrider boats, cabin cruiser boats, small fishing trawlers are usually transported on a special boat trailer hitched to the pickup truck or the semi-trailer truck depending on the size of the boat. 

If the boat is in the marine, it can be loaded on a boat trailer using a winch or by simply driving it onto the trailer.

If the boat is on stands or it’s a brand new watercraft it can as well be loaded on the hydraulic boat trailer. It should be noted that transportation of a boat is much more difficult than shipping any kind of a car and one should pay special attention when choosing the transportation company.

Even the smallest details are important here and if the person is not very professional the boat may get damaged.

Concerning the fishing trawlers that are more than 120 ft long, they can only be transported via maritime transport like cargo ships or barges and are loaded using the deck or marine cranes.

Of course, first of all, a sailboat is a watercraft propelled entirely by sails. But as we talk about the peculiarities in the transportation of different types of boats, we decided to include sailboats and motorsailers in one group as they have the same peculiarity that makes tier transportation completely different from motorboats and unpowered boats. The most popular types of boats in this group are: 

• Sailing catamarans;

• Cruising Sailboat;

• Racing Sailboats;

• Sailing Dinghies;

• Sailing yachts.

Unlike loading a regular motorboat which may take a couple of hours at the most, loading a boat with sails takes quite a lot of time as nothing can be missed out and everything should be packed and secured properly. 

First of all, the mast should be removed and properly secured in its cradle. All winches, spreaders, lights, wind indicators, rigging, and electronic antennas should be removed as well and wrapped to keep them clean while transportation. Anchors in a bow roller should be stowed instead of just being secured.

You should also remember that securing the mast to the boat is not a good idea as it will chaf the boat while transportation and the spots may be left. Besides that, the transport trailers provide a special space for the mast.

If you are planning to transport your boat during wintertime, you need to pay special attention to winterization in order to prevent freezing problems. 

Operating an unpowered boat certainly beats going to the gym. First of all, it has the same effect on your muscles since you can choose between a pedal boat and a dinghy. Besides that, you can enjoy the weather, nature and spend time with friends. So the unpowered boat means there is nothing on the boat to provide power to itself, and you have to move the boat using pedals, paddles, an oar, or a pole. The unpowered boats may be of the following types: 

• pedal boats;

• gondola and punts;

• kayaks and canoes;

• rafts;

• dinghies. 

Transportation of the unpowered boats is rather easy as they are usually not that large and can be transported on a regular flatbed trailer or a two-wheel trailer module hitched to a pickup truck or large SUV. The boats can be loaded manually, using a winch or a crane depending on the size and weight of the watercraft. 

Understanding the boat transportation process is essential for boat owners looking to ship a boat. Whether it’s a short haul across the state or a long-distance move, the method of boat hauling can significantly impact both your boat’s safety and the shipping costs. We’ll break down the various methods and provide insights into boat loading techniques that ensure your vessel’s safe arrival.

As we have mentioned earlier, there are three main types of shipping watercraft:

• On the specially designed boat trailer;

• On a flatbed or a lowboy;

• By towing on water or loading on another ship. 

Now let’s take a closer look at each of them. 

In many cases, boat transport via a specially designed boat trailer is the most straightforward option. Ideal for various vessel sizes, these trailers allow for easy towing by standard vehicles, such as pickup trucks or semi-trailer trucks.

The carriers we collaborate with can help you with loading the boat on the trailer if the vehicle is in marine or on stands. If you do not have a trailer, you can rent or buy it at a local marine shop or a boat dealership. The driver can help you load the boat or you can hire a person to do it for you. 

If you are an owner of a flat-bottomed boat, like pontoons or punts, your watercraft can be loaded on a lowboy or a flatbed using a crane or a winch. Other types of boats can also be shipped on these types of trailers if they have boat cradles.

Huge watercraft like shipping trawlers or extremely long yachts can be towed with another boat or loaded on a large vessel using a crane and then shipped to the destination. 

Loading a boat onto the trailer may be quite hard for a new newcomer, but for experienced drivers, it is very easy.

If your boat is in the marine, a special boat trailer should be put into the water so that only the front part will be seen. Then the boat should be moved onto the trailer either by starting it and slowly moving onto the trailer or by using a winch.

In case the boat is on stands, a special hydraulic air ride trailer should be used for loading and transportation. First of all the trailer should be lined up with the keel, then the trailer airbags and hydraulic trailer arms are lowered and the trailer should be backed under the boat.

After that the trailer gate should be closed, and wood blocking is placed on the gate under the keel. Then the hydraulic arms are closed and raised to meet the hull of the boat, after which the boat is strapped, signed, and flagged for transport if required. 

At Compare The Carrier, our top priority is our customers and we do our best to provide you with top shipping companies. We want our customers to advise us to their friends. The companies we collaborate with offer the best transportation services within the US, overseas, and even internationally. 

Once you decide to have your watercraft transported you start looking for a moving company and asking your friends for any references. Unfortunately, sometimes they have no one to recommend and you look for more information about boat transportation on the Internet.

In most cases, advertisement websites are the first results you see. After submitting a quote with one of such websites, you can be sure to receive hundreds of calls with lots of different quotes. Please note that the so-called shipping companies are lead providers that just provide your request to other companies. 

To be sure that you’ll get rates from licensed and professional companies with the big experience we recommend you to use our boat shipping rates comparing service.

To set up transportation with Compare The Carrier, you don’t have to search the Internet and look through dozens of quotes. You only need to provide us with the zip-codes for pick-up and drop-off locations, the name of the watercraft and its estimated size, and the dates it is available for shipping.

After you provide these details, our company will check the database, choose some of the best shipping companies going your route. After that, you will receive the quotes from these top companies and all this will take only 10 minutes.

Once you decide what company to proceed with, you need to provide the shipping manager with the exact addresses, size of the boat, and its photo, so there will be no misunderstanding regarding the type and size of the watercraft. 

After the details are negotiated, the personal manager will send you the paperwork to sign to finalize the booking and will start checking the carriers to schedule one within your time frame. The available carrier then will be assigned to your order and you will receive his details including the name and phone number via email. 

Once your shipping date comes, the carrier will call you in advance to negotiate the pick-up and delivery time.

Choosing Compare The Carrier means more than just transporting your boat; it’s an assurance of quality and reliability that you’ll be eager to share. Start your boat hauling journey with us today, and experience why we’re the recommended choice for boat transport.

Assessing the cost to ship a boat is similar to calculating expenses for car transportation, hinging on factors like mileage, the type and size of the watercraft, and the season. Our aim is to provide clarity on boat hauling charges, ensuring you understand the variables affecting the price for a smooth boat transport experience.

The longer the route is, the higher the price will be. Depending on the type of vehicle, sailing boats are usually more expensive to transport. That is all because they require more preparation as the sails, the mast, and lots of other details have to be removed and properly packed.  Motorboats and unpowered boats are easier to transport as they just need to be loaded on a trailer, properly secured and they are ready to be shipped.  

Of course, it also depends on the size of the watercraft since sailboats may be small and there are lots of huge motor yachts. 

Besides that, the season of shipping also affects the price a lot. For example, spring is a high season for moving vehicles from southern to northern states and early autumn is a high season for moving from northern to southern states.

So if you are planning to move the boat within this timeframe, we highly advise you to plan the move far in advance or be as flexible with dates as possible.

All the professional drivers schedule their route in advance and sometimes work even without weekends during the high season, so if you don’t schedule the transportation in advance, you may have to wait for the closest available date. 

With all the above mentioned in mind, let’s take a look at the average prices for boat shipping. In the table below you can see the rate for shipping per mile for motorboats, sailboats, and motorsailers and also unpowered boats depending on their size.

The easiest way to ship a boat overseas is to work with a shipping company that has boat transport experience and will take care of all the details for you. Compare the Carrier collaborates with some companies with a dedicated staff that knows all the pitfalls of preparing and transporting overseas.

All in all, there are 4 main ways to transport the boat overseas:

The RO/RO method is a favored option for many types of vehicles, including boats. In this scenario, your boat is either secured on a trailer or cradle and rolled onto the transport ship, ready for its voyage across the seas.

This way is also a popular method of shipping vehicles but it is not used very often for boats as it is only suitable for small boat transport, that do not exceed the following dimensions: 40’L, 7’10”H, 7′ 8”W.

It is the most popular way of shipping huge watercrafts. With this method of shipping, the boat is placed in a cradle and strapped to the flat rack that is secured to the cargo ship.

That’s another popular method for oversized boats. In this case, the boat is loaded and unloaded directly from the water with the help of the crane.

The price for boat transportation overseas depends on the method of shipping, size of the boat, and the destination point. Unfortunately, the price can vary greatly here and even a 1 feet difference in height or length of the boat can change the price considerably. Despite that, we can for sure tell you that the price for shipping a boat to Hawaii starts from $2000, and to Alaska, it’s at least $2760.

Preparing your vessel for transport is a critical step in the boat hauling process. To ensure a smooth and secure journey, here are some key boat shipping tips to follow once you’ve scheduled your ship a boat service with us.

By carefully following these practical tips, you are setting yourself up for a successful boat transport experience. It’s similar to moving with boats, where attention to detail can significantly reduce stress and ensure a smooth transition. With the right preparation, you’re not just moving a vessel; you’re safeguarding an important part of your lifestyle.

After exploring the essential boat preparation tips, take your knowledge to the next level with the ‘Ultimate Boat Prep Guide’ video. This comprehensive video provides expert insights and in-depth instructions on how to prepare your boat for a move with utmost care and precision. Don’t miss out on this valuable resource that will make your boat transportation experience a breeze.

As we conclude our comprehensive exploration of boat hauling, remember that the journey of transporting your vessel, whether it’s a small boat or something as grand as yacht transportation, requires careful planning and expert handling. By understanding the nuances of the process, from initial preparation to final delivery, you ensure that your prized watercraft arrives safely and efficiently at its destination.