How To Prepare Your Boat For A Safe Transport

This boat preparation guide will assist you in properly preparing your boat for a safe boat transport. Please make every effort to prep the boat according to these guidelines. Oversee the preparation yourself or have a qualified boat yard do so:

The boat transporter cannot be responsible to damage due to improper preparation or loading by the shipper.

If boat is not properly prepared for shipment, fees will be add-on to the transport’s invoice and carrier will not accept responsibility for any possible resulting damage.

The legal height for transporting over the road is 13’6”.

Please choose a marina with at least 14’ overhead clearance, with no low tree branches or wires on its approach.

Remember, the larger the boat, the higher the load, the more clearance required.

 
Basics

Stow all loose gear and secure. All gear stored below must be well secured. The boat transporter will not accept responsibility for damage caused by loose gear.

Boats cannot be shipped with fuel or water in tanks. Drain fuel and water tanks to a minimum of full. 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. Cradles / Trailers

If your boat has its own cradle please inspect it carefully for loose bolts or weakness of any kind. If your cradle breaks in transit, causing damage to your boat, the carrier cannot accept responsibility.

Disconnect batteries and secure. Remove anchors from the deck.


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. The carrier will not be responsible if they are damaged or if they vibrate off.

Mast

Take off the rigging or if you choose d to leave it in place it should be attach correctly on different points along the mast. Same thing with the roller furling. Please, take off the spreaders.


Hatches

Tie and/or tape hatches from the outside. The boat transporter cannot be responsible for the damage they may cause if the hatches blow off in transit, or for damage to the boat caused by rain water if a hatch blows off.

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 and the carrier cannot be responsible for rain water entering through a leaky hatch or deck.