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Boat Shipping
You may find it challenging to ship a boat from one state or country to another. The good news is that expert boat transporters have the necessary equipment and expertise to transport your boat safely and securely.
A-1 Auto Transport has transported smaller and larger boats between the east and west coasts and internationally for over ten years as a boat transport company. You can count on us to provide the highest quality shipping services due to our expertise.
Types of Maine Boat Transport Services
Our company provides boat transport services between Maine and the rest of the country.
DOT regulations apply when shipping a boat to or from Maine. These include:
- Vessels wider than 8'6" require a state permit.
- An escort is required for boats wider than 12'.
- Police escorts are required for vessels over 16' wide.
- Travel restrictions may apply on federal and state holidays.
Boat transport
Boats and ships are among the things that our company transports. Additionally, we offer shrink wrapping, roll-on/roll-off, overland transportation, international yacht transportation, and full-service moving.
Powerboat shipping
You can ship your powerboat smoothly if you keep the small details in mind. Because you are more familiar with your powerboat, you must prepare it before pickup by the boat haulers. Our staff will handle the other details, but you must prepare your boat before we pick it up.
It is essential to keep the bottom of your vessel clean. Some states restrict the movement of plants and organisms, so grass and life forms must be removed from boats.
Sailboat Transport
Shipments of sailboats require specialized knowledge, so only professionals should handle them. Remove all lights, winches, wind indicators, and rigging after hauling out your sailboat.
We have experience moving sailboats, so you can trust us with your sailboats.
Yacht shipping
Generally, yachts are larger than 14' wide and 14' tall and weigh more than 40,000 pounds. Transporting yachts differs slightly from transporting smaller boats.
You can rest assured that your yacht is in good hands with our expertise in shipping oversized boats.
Small boat transport
Small boats can be transported using a trailer, over land, on their bottom, or a yacht transport ship. It is less expensive to transport boats on their trailers.
International Boat Shipping
International shipping of boats and yachts is more expensive. More rigorous processing is involved than when it is sent within the country. A complete set of required documents is necessary to clear customs for international boat transports.
Customs experts at our company can assist you with this process.
Container Boat Shipping
Boats can also be shipped overseas as freight on cargo ships.
How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Boat to or from Maine?
When calculating the shipping costs for your boat to or from Maine, you should take the following factors into account:
- Dimensions - Shipping costs are significantly influenced by beam size, length, and weight.
- Distance - Mileage and its types, like overland, on the keel, and waterborne, can affect shipping costs.
- Season - When many people transport their boats in the summer, shipping costs increase. The seasons in origin and destination ports may differ, especially for international shipping, affecting shipping times.
- Destination - There may be additional charges at some ports.
Fill out the form at the top of this page to receive a FREE boat shipping quote.
How to Prepare a Boat for Shipping
Ensure that your boat is thoroughly prepared before shipping it to prevent it from being damaged. As a general rule, shipping companies are not responsible for properly preparing your boat, so they are not responsible for any damage it causes. Preparation does not require any technical expertise or experience.
Step-by-step guide
- Remove and store loose items, including propellers, anchors, flag masts, antennas, electronics, and valuables.
- Lock the cabinets and cabins, and keep the key. Secure all windows, doors, and hatches.
- Empty all tanks. Remove water and fuel, and also the hull's drain plugs. Pumps, water systems, and air conditioners should be drained of all fluids.
- Take the anchors off the deck.
- Batteries, electronic components, and alarms should be disconnected and secured.
- You can coat your wooden boat with linseed oil to prevent it from drying out, but it may cause dirt to accumulate on the road.
- Take accurate measurements of your boat. Check the information on how to measure your boat here.
You can trust A-1 Auto Transport to ship your boat safely. You can make a reservation or ask for a free quote by calling 1-888-230-9116. Visit our website for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Making a family boating plan is a lot easier than shipping the boat. It is chaotic and quite hectic. Usually, first-timers don't realize how expensive this can get. Most aren't aware of the factors involved in making up the total cost. Once they pile up, it gets pricier than standard deliveries.
That is why boats are known for their high transportation cost. Getting a spot can be difficult because the boat moving companies are always transporting. It may take some time. As an experienced company, we suggest you try for regular weekdays. It would help to choose a time that is not too close to summer vacation. Everyone is more likely to plan a boat shipping day during those times. Even if you manage to secure a vacancy, the cost will be high.
The tools that are used for the handling and delivery of your vehicle are pretty expensive too. For a secure and safe delivery, the companies ensure that whatever equipment they use for the handling is appropriate and necessary. These will fit your budget, or ask for a few more dollars. These include Roll On, Roll Off, Full-service moving, overland transport, and interstate boat shipping.
The duration of the delivery is primarily dependent on the distance. The distance is the measure of miles between the pickup and the drop-off. If the distance is longer, it will require more wait. If you want to wait, you must ask the company about the delivery days. A few only work on weekdays, while a few do it during the weekends too. If the company you choose works on weekdays only, it requires more days than the one who works seven days a week.
You might feel anxious once you hand over the boat to the company. It is not easy to give something this valuable to strangers. If you select a company that is reliable and known for being responsible, you have nothing to worry about. It will know how to handle and transport the boat in one piece. Although if you still feel worried, there are a few things you can do before giving away your boat. The first step must be to take off all the removable things, may they be valuable or not. This step will help you know that nothing is left to be stolen. Another one is setting up the alarm system. In case of any emergency, you and the company will be informed.
This measure will help you take action on the spot.
You must get insurance if you want a safe delivery of your boat. This insurance policy is made in a way to protect the clients. This policy states that the company will take the blame in case of any harm or loss to the vehicle during transport. Not only that, but also give compensation for the loss caused. You can also ask for the certificates and driver’s licenses to be confident in your choice.
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