When I moved to the big city, buying a car seemed like a waste of money. The subway takes me anywhere I want to go, and there are always cabs as a backup. When I do want to get out of the city for a weekend, I arrange for a car rental. Rentals are great for me. I get to choose the type of vehicle that I want, buy insurance to cover the trip, and concentrate on enjoying myself. If the car develops engine trouble, I call the agency and they pick me up in a replacement. Thanks to my club discounts, I even get price breaks on some of my rentals. If you are new to the idea of renting a car, let me help. I'll show you how to get the best terms, including the lowest price. That'll make for a more pleasant trip.
If you need boat transport services, you will find that there are plenty of options available. If you have never used a boat transport service before, the available options can seem confusing. Understanding your available options can help you decide which option is best for you, your budget, and your boat.
Roll-On/Roll-Off Transport Services
One option is the roll-on/roll-off transport service, which is a relatively popular option. You can lower the cost of the service by removing bulky items from your boat, such as antennas, radar towers, and booms. Transport companies consider the height and width of your boat when determining shipping costs. Antennas and booms add to the height of your boat, which means removing them lower the overall height of your boat.
Lift-On/Lift-Off Transport Services
The lift-on/lift-off method entails loading your boat onto a larger transport ship using a crane. Once the transport ship reaches the destination for delivery, a crane is used once again to remove your vessel from the transport ship. During transport, your vessel will be secured to the transport ship's deck for safekeeping.
Flat Rack Transport Services
If you have a larger boat in need of transport services, you may benefit from flat rack services. Flat rack services are often used to haul oversized vessels from one location to another. You should keep in mind, however, that flat rack services may cost more than other transportation methods since it requires the use of a custom cradle.
The transport company will provide a custom cradle based on the height, width, length, and other specifications of your boat. The custom cradle is used along with a flat rack to transport your boat from point A to point B. Your boat, custom cradle, and flat rack are all secured to the deck of a large transport boat.
It is best to speak with the transport company to determine the best option based on your hauling needs, budget, and distance from pickup to delivery. The transport company may provide recommendations based on the size of your vessel. Keep in mind that the size of your vessel may limit which transport options are available to you.
Preparing Your Boat for Transport
Do not expect your boat to arrive in clean, pristine condition. Transporting a boat, whether across land or over water, means it is likely to get dirty. There are steps you can take to protect your boat from dirt, debris, and weather. For instance, you can choose to shrinkwrap your boat. Shrinkwrapping your boat protects carpets, seats, and other aspects of your boat from dirt, damage, and even personal item theft.
However, shrink wrapping is not cheap. At the least, it can cost hundreds of dollars to shrinkwrap your boat, and the cost climbs considerably for larger vessels. Although, if you can afford to shrink wrap your boat, it is a recommended way to keep it clean and safe during transport. Vessels exposed to elements such as prolonged sunlight can experience fading or the materials of the boat's exterior drying out, which you can prevent with shrink wrapping.
You may also want to consider purchasing additional insurance for your boat. Many transport companies have liability insurance, but it may not cover the entire value of your boat. Therefore, purchasing additional insurance prior to the shipment of your vessel may be something worth looking into.
Talk to a company like Safe Harbor Haulers about your boat transport needs to find out more about any recommendations they may have. An expert can assist you in determining which transport options best suit you and how to best prepare your boat for shipment.
Share11 September 2019
