Yacht and Boat Moving Preparations

Measuring Your Boat for Shipping

To accurately measure your boat for shipping and transport please use these guidelines:

Preparations | 4 men preparing to haul a large boat on a semi truck

Overall Length include bow pulpits, swim platforms, motor brackets and the length of the motors or outdrives in the raised position.
Overall Height is measured from the bottom of the keel to the highest non-removable part of the vessel.
Beam is measured as the widest point of the boat including anything attached to the vessel.

Getting Your Boat Ready for Shipping

Proper preparation of your boat before hauling is vital to assure a safe and successful move. Please follow these suggestions to get your boat ready for moving day:

Make certain that all loose items in your vessel such as plates, galley utensils, personal items or any other non-secured items have been secured or removed from the vessel.
Empty all fuel and water from the vessel.
Disconnect all battery cables.
Remove any device or fixture that extends beyond the hull of the vessel such as antennas, radar, compasses or depth sounders. Secure these devices before shipping.
Secure decor such as tops, curtains, seat cushions.
Remove the hull drain plug from the craft.
You will need to store and secure plastic and Plexiglas windshields below decks.
If you are moving the boat during the winter months, then you need to winterize the engine, toilets, the water systems or any other weather sensitive device on the vessel.
Shrink wrap is an excellent way to protect your boat during transport. However, a poor shrink wrap may tear due to the high winds generated by road travel. If this happens, the vessel could suffer damage from the shrink wrap beating, chaffing and scratching the vessel. C and J Transport cannot accept responsibility for damages caused by shrink wrap.
If your larger boat needs to be loaded transom forward, then the craft needs to be shrink wrapped. If it’s not, we cannot accept liability for damage that may occur to the windshield during transport.
When moving a sailboat, you must remove all standing rigging, lights, spreaders, wind indicators and all other types of mast rigging prior to transport. Otherwise, C and J Transport cannot assume liability for damage such as scratches or abrasions that may occur on the mast or damaged rigging or lights left on the mast during transport.
All personal belongings should be removed from the boat before transport. These include cash and valuables, clothing, sporting goods or any other materials that are not part of the vessel.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to Contact Us.