Boats are one of the world’s main shipping vehicles, from goods to people to even other ships.
Sometimes though, boats need to get somewhere that doesn’t have water and they need to be transported. This is where the DQC transporters can step in.
Boats come through Delivery Quote Compare surprisingly often and our drivers have transported over 700 to date. Of course boats come in all shapes and sizes. You have to make sure, both as a customer and a transporter, that you get the boat to its destination safely. Following these important tips will enable you to transport boats by road.
List your type of boat
Using the DQC Boats and Watercrafts form you are given enough options to allow for most types to be listed correctly. Our transporters will then be able to give quotes as accurately as possible. As a customer this means you won’t get caught out. This also allows the transporters to bring the right equipment in to transport your craft.
Bring the right equipment
As the form shows there are multiple types of boats that need transporting. You can lash a couple of kayaks to the roof-rack of a car. A jetski will require an average trailer and chocks to keep it upright.
A yacht or a large speedboat will need something a bit bigger. Their length, width and shape make them into heavy goods, meaning different standards for safety and towing.
Plan your route
Moving a giant boat down British roads is an all hands on deck event. If as a transporter you plan to take on such a job clear the calendar to make sure you can make your delivery on time. You should meet the needs of the buyer as well of course. The towing laws in the U.K allow a driver with a standards driving license to tow a maximum of 3.5 tonnes including the trailer. Bigger weights and dimensions will require an HGV license. The specifics of towing large items can vary depending on whose jurisdiction the road falls under. Control of this goes to Local councils and private land owners and need to be considered.
The other thing to remember is physical limits. You should avoid tight turns and low bridges as much as possible to avoid both damaging the boat and your drivers pride.
Make the boat lighter
Big boats, even though they can float, are very heavy. This makes it difficult to transport, both legally and physically. Fortunately you can remove a lot of the interior of a yacht. You can remove the electronics such as radios, GPS and entertainment systems for example. Shipping the electronics and other things not bolted down separately can save the transporter problems. If they can’t leave the boat, place them securely in a cabin and lock all doors found. This provides security and prevents damage to your pride and joy.
You can drain the ballast and fuel (the boat’s not going to need either while on a trailer) to save of size and weight. Remove any loose mechanics such as propellers and keel boards if possible. You should remove radar, decorations and horns and secure them in the boat. You will then by allowed to carry your boat easier and more importantly, sit lower. The lower your boat can sit on the trailer and the lower it is in overall height the more options for transport open up like being able to get under lower bridges. The highest Motorway bridges often reach is around 13 feet.
You can make the process of transporting boats, especially bigger ones, easier using these tips. All that remains is unloading it into the water, after re-attaching everything first of course. For transporters, they should take every step to make the journey simpler and more effective.
Christopher East 2018