Ship Boat to Europe

How to Ship Boat to Europe?

There are 3 main methods you can use to ship boat to Europe. You can find a description of each method below:

1. RoRo Boat Shipping. This is the most common way boats are shipped. They are placed on a trailer, then rolled onto the ship’s deck. You can ship your boat on a cradle using the RoRo method, but you will have to place the cradle on a flat rolling rack, so you can load it onto the shipping vessel’s deck. The RoRo option normally has a 15 ft. height restriction, but to confirm this, you must speak to those in charge of the ship.
2. Lift on Lift off: For larger boats, the RoRo option may not be feasible. In such cases, a crane is used to lift them onto the ship, after which they are strapped and blocked in place. There is no restriction on the boat’s height for this service, since the boat will remain on the upper deck for the entire trip. However, you will have to pay a tax for using the crane at the destination and origin points.
3. Water to Water: Big yachts and super boats cannot be carried on a ship due to their size. To transport them, you can use a semi-submersible vessel. These vessels go under the boat, lift them out of the water, and then put them back down at their destination point. More specifically, the carrier will lower its deck until it is submerged, allowing your boat to move above it. Afterwards, divers swim in and strap your boat tightly, before the vessel goes above the water once more.

How to Prepare your Boat for Shipping

To ship boat to Europe, there are a few steps you need to consider:

• Speak to your transport company and give them the information they require. This can be
  • Your boat’s delivery and current location;
  • The size, measured as weight, height, and length, of your vessel. Not measuring these accurately may cause the company to bring inappropriate equipment for your shipment;
  • Carefully note your boat’s condition. Take photos, write any flaw you find in an inventory and have the carrier sign it.
• Your boat’s contents and components must be safely strapped beforehand. Remove any items you can to lessen the weight, and secure the rest. Drivers normally don’t take care of this part of the move, so the responsibility falls on you.
• Disconnect or turn off any electrical parts, such as the battery.
• The boat’s destination should be prepared to receive it. Otherwise, the vessel will be placed in storage, costing you additional storage fees.

Price to Ship a Boat to Europe

To ship boat to Europe, you may end up paying $1000 per foot of your boat’s length. However, that is just the worst case scenario. The best way to come up with an accurate measure is to call several auto transport companies and compare prices.

Remember to take into consideration how much of the move they will take care of. If the company can take your boat from its current location to its final destination in Europe, then you can rest assured the price they give you is the approximate final price.

However, if the company can only send your boat from the U.S. to the European port closest to your destination, then the rest of the trip will have to be done on land. Insurance, storage, and other costs may stack up and should be thoroughly discussed with your company before the move.

Thanks to the industry’s competition in the past few years, you can now find an auto company at a relatively low cost. However, those willing to work for such quotes will likely not have the experience to do their jobs well.

Compare the cost of transport to the value of your boat. If the total cost is much lower than your vessel’s value, the service you receive will probably be subpar.

For the cheapest way to ship boat to Europe, choose the RoRo service. Your boat will be protected from the sea, sun, and rain, since it will be transported below deck. It will also be strapped tightly in place, so the increased risks associated with this transportation method are largely unfounded. Unless you’re shipping an extremely valuable boat, and you want to be absolutely sure of its safety, then the RoRo method is more than sufficient.

Remember: You cannot ship personal items along with your boat when using the RoRo method. These can only be sent when you ship boat to Europe in a container.