Preparing Your Boat For Shipping

Proper preparation of your boat for transpiration requires careful planning and attention to derail for both the owner and ourselves.   However, proper preparation of the boat for transport is the responsibility of the owner.  Boat transport companies typically do not prepare boats for transport.

If you require assistants with the preparation of your vessel, our agents can help by working with you to select a full service marina, boatyard, captain or marine surveyor to help with your needs.

If a boat is not properly prepared for shipment, boats will typically be transported “as is” and the carrier will not be responsible for any resulting damage.
Our company and drivers have the experience and permits necessary to properly transport your boat anywhere you need it to be.

Things to Consider When Preparing your Boat for Transportation:
 

• Have your boat ready to load when the truck arrives at its scheduled time.
• Have your boat prepared by an experienced boat yard.  For boats 30 feet and up, we recommend that it be supervised or inspected by a licensed marine surveyor.
• Understand that transporters will not be responsible for damage to or caused from improper preparation.  This includes anything that shakes loose, becomes unattached, drops, falls or breaks.  These can be due to road vibration or high winds that are a normal part of boat transportation, and not the result of driver negligence.
• Understand that your boat will be moving at 60 miles per hour into a 14 mile per hour head wind.  This means it will be going under hurricane force conditions, plus any inclement weather that may also arise during transport.  Expect normal road dirt and debris on the boat.
• Properly Measure your boat for transport.  When requesting a quote, the dimension are extremely important.
• Check the Overall Length: Including bow pulpits, swim platforms, outboard motor brackets, and outboard motors.  If on a trailer, include from the tip of the tongue to the end of the motor.
• Check Overall Height: The maximum height of many overpasses is 13 feet 6 inches. Boats with an overall height greater than 13.6’ loaded on the trailer require special handling and routing. It is critical to measure from the bottom of the keel to the highest non-removable part of the boat.
• Pending on your model, the fly or command bridge may need to be removed.   It is important to measure the vessel without the bridge and also provide bridge dimensions to ensure appropriate transport space.  The bridge should be placed somewhere suitable on the boat and make certain it is safely secured.  If it must be placed on the trailer, a frame should be prepared for it to rest upon. If your radar arch is removed, it should be secured against your boat.
• Check Overall Beam (Width): This is measured as the widest point of the boat including anything attached to the boat.  Boats wider than 8 feet 6 inches are regarded as oversize permitted loads and require state permits.

It is important to remove and properly store these items:

• All valuables, all exterior electronics, Anchors, Antennas, Propellers, Flagstaffs, Outriggers, any item that extends beyond the stated length, width or height of your vessel, all canvas, screens, cushions, and weatherboards, radar transmitters, hailers, and dinghies.
• Check the drain plugs.  There should not be any water in the bilge while it is being transported.
• Drain fuel and water tanks as much as possible.  Be sure the tank is no more than ¼ full. During winter months, water should be drained from water systems, pumps, and air conditioners.
• The batteries should be disconnected and the cables tied off to prevent contact.
• If engine hatch covers are battery operated, they should be secured to prevent their opening while in transit.
• Check for any loose items or items that could become loose.

Tips for Choosing the right marina:

• Do they have a travel lift or fork lift to load or offload your boat?
• If necessary, can they shrink-wrap or cradle your boat for international transport?
• Do they have a service bay for disassembly or reassembly of the radar arch or fly/command bridge?
• Can they assist with the preparation of the boat for transport?
• Does the facility have enough overhead clearance, free from low-lying trees and branches?

Contact Mars Marine Transport, Inc. today at 863-258-8586, or browse the website for more information about boat shipping or photo gallery.