{"id":1571,"date":"2019-04-19T15:46:19","date_gmt":"2019-04-19T21:46:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citizenshipper.com\/blog\/?p=1571"},"modified":"2026-05-15T09:14:50","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T15:14:50","slug":"boat-shipping-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citizenshipper.com\/blog\/boat-shipping-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Boat Shipping: Tips and Tricks on Transporting Boats"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">There are almost 12 million recreational boating vessels <a href=\"https:\/\/www.statista.com\/statistics\/240634\/registered-recreational-boating-vessels-in-the-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow external\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">registered<\/a> in the USA, and about 4 million boat owners go sailing at least once per year. If you\u2019re among those happy few, odds are you\u2019ve faced issues pertaining to boat shipping already.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you\u2019re uncertain how to go about your transportation needs, and you want to explore a variety of choices within your requirements and budgets, then using a marketplace such as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/citizenshipper.com\/boat-transportation\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" rel=\"follow\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">CitizenShipper<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> is the right pathway to pursue! But before you hire a transporter, below are some of our friendly tips on how to choose the right person for the job.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Make Your Own Estimate<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Before reaching out to professionals, it\u2019s good to have an idea of what their service is going to cost you. This rough estimate is just that \u2013 no more, no less \u2013 but it can inform your negotiating position.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The main factors influencing boat shipping rates are the distance traveled and the size of the vessel. For illustration purposes, let\u2019s assume an average beam width of 10 feet. With boats of that size, the industry standard is about $2-$3 per mile. So for a journey of 1,000 miles, your estimated cost of transport might be about $2,500.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Again, the purpose of this estimate is just a rough sense of what kind of bid you can expect. Don\u2019t stick too closely to it \u2013 drivers might bid higher or lower depending on other factors. For example, if the boat width is closer to 12 feet, the shipping costs should increase by about $1\/mile.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Pick the Right Person<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Once you\u2019ve got an idea of what kind of expenditure you\u2019re looking at, go ahead and post your shipment. Make sure to include all the relevant details about the boat. When the driver bids start coming in, all you have to do is review their offers and pick the one you like best.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Making this choice is more of an art than a science, but some guidelines are available. When reviewing a bid, here\u2019s what most boat owners are looking for:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Experience<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Drivers with experience in boat shipping are usually your best bet.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Reputation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Obviously, you can\u2019t go wrong with a highly-rated driver.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Equipment.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> When listing your shipment, make sure to specify all the details regarding your vessel so that you can choose the right driver for the job.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Security<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Ask your driver about their <a href=\"https:\/\/citizenshipper.com\/blog\/what-are-the-basics-of-cargo-insurance\/\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" rel=\"follow\">cargo insurance<\/a> provider, or check their profile to see if they have verified it with CitizenShipper.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Once you\u2019ve found a driver that fits your criteria, just accept their quote and wait for them to get in touch \u2013 it really is that easy.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Size Does Matter<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Regardless of what you may or may not have heard, size can be absolutely vital (in boat shipping).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The width, length, and height can present challenges when navigating the roads. Some state laws restrict the transport of oversized boats to certain hours of the day, which is a common cause of detours and delays.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As the boat\u2019s size affects the drivers\u2019 bids, make sure to include all the measurements when posting the shipment. Beamwidth is measured at the widest point of the vessel. Height is measured from the highest non-removable fixture to the bottom of the keel. Length is measured from the tip of the bow to the middle of the stern. Listing these correctly should help avoid misunderstandings later on.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">While discussing details of the shipment with the driver, you might want to consider the planned route if the boat\u2019s dimensions make certain roads inaccessible. However, most shippers prefer to leave these specifics to the driver\u2019s discretion, focusing only on the date of the delivery.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Batten Down the Hatches<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Finally, any boat owner should know how to prepare the vessel for transport while prioritizing security:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Drain all the fuel tanks and water tanks to no more than \u00bc capacity.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Disconnect all batteries, and make sure there are no loose cables around.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Secure all doors, windows, and hatches on the boat, locking them if possible.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Remove all detachable parts from the deck and store them safely away. This might include anchors, cushions, canvases, hardtops, instruments, consumer electronics, and more.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If using your own trailer, confirm that all its tires, lights, and latches are operational. If using the driver\u2019s trailer, make sure that there\u2019s enough space available for loading and unloading.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">With these preparations out of the way, you should be good to go. Consult the driver directly if you have any specific boat shipping concerns not discussed here. You\u2019ll find that most drivers are as flexible as they are considerate, and expect the same in return. Many will provide regular call-ins to keep you up to date and preserve your peace of mind. And once the delivery is complete to your satisfaction, please take the time to rate and review your driver before casting off.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; There are almost 12 million recreational boating vessels registered in the USA, and about 4 million boat owners go sailing at least once per year. If you\u2019re among those happy few, odds are you\u2019ve faced issues pertaining to boat shipping already. If you\u2019re uncertain how to go about your transportation needs, and you want<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":80,"featured_media":1632,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"custom_post_schema":"<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@graph\": [\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"HowTo\",\n      \"name\": \"How to Ship a Boat: Tips and Tricks for Transporting Boats\",\n      \"step\": [\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"HowToStep\",\n          \"name\": \"Make your own estimate\",\n          \"text\": \"Before reaching out to professionals, estimate your shipping cost. The industry standard for a boat with an average beam width of 10 feet is about $2 to $3 per mile. For a 1,000-mile journey, expect to pay around $2,500. If the boat width is closer to 12 feet, costs increase by about $1 per mile.\"\n        },\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"HowToStep\",\n          \"name\": \"Post your shipment and pick the right driver\",\n          \"text\": \"Post your shipment with all relevant details about the boat. Review incoming driver bids based on their experience in boat shipping, reputation and ratings, appropriate equipment, and verified cargo insurance before accepting a quote.\"\n        },\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"HowToStep\",\n          \"name\": \"Provide accurate vessel measurements\",\n          \"text\": \"Include the boat's beam width (measured at the widest point), height (from the highest non-removable fixture to the bottom of the keel), and length (from the tip of the bow to the middle of the stern). 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