Boat Transport Services

The Basics:

• Stow all loose gear and secure it. Most carriers will not accept responsibility for damage caused by loose gear. Lock the cabin and keep the key.
• Boats cannot be shipped with fuel or water in tanks. Drain fuel and water tanks. Remove any drain plugs from the hull. There should not be any water in the bilge while it is being transported. During winter months, water should be drained from water systems, pumps, air conditioners, etc.
• Disconnect batteries and secure. Remove anchors from the deck.
• Wooden boats can be expected to dry out. A coat of linseed oil will help.

Cradles and Trailers

• If your boat has its own cradle, please inspect it carefully for loose bolts or weakness of any kind.

Dinghies

• 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.

External Accessories

• All electronics, radar, hailers, horns, antennas, propellers, flag masts, lights, anchor lights, etc., must be removed, packed securely and securely stored below.

Hatches

• Tie and/or tape hatches from the outside.
• If the hatches leak, seal them. A boat will not sit in the same position on the carrier's trailer as it does in the water.

Powerboats

• Remove all propellers, flag masts, lights, outriggers, antennas, etc.
• If your power boat is low enough to ship with the flying bridge on, remove all lights, wheels, masts and windshields that protrude over the bridge. All Plexiglas should be removed and packed below with a cargo blanket. If your power boat is not low enough to ship with the flying bridge on, you will have to have a cradle built for the bridge to be shipped in on the forward deck or cockpit area. Every point touching the deck or rails must be sufficiently padded. Remove all electronics and valuable items from the bridge, pack securely, and store below.

Windows and 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.

Sailboats

• All rigging, winches, wind indicators, and lights must be removed from the mast. 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 carriers trailer for the mast. Life lines, stanchions, bow and stern pulpits should be removed if they render the boat over height, generally over 11' keel to highest point not on the carriers trailer.
• 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.

Windows and 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.