Yachts are expensive. If you own one, then you already know this. Because of how expensive they are, you need to take care of yours. Transporting a yacht can be very complicated and increases the risk of your yacht becoming damaged. In order to avoid your yacht becoming damaged, you need to select the method of transport that’s safest and best for it. You also need to find a company that’s professional and experienced to move it for you. This article will present everything that you need to know so that you can find a company to move your yacht for you:
Method
As already mentioned, the first thing that you need to do is to find a method that’s right for your yacht. There are many different methods. The most popular method of transport, for good reason, is by ship. The method of transportation that you choose depends largely upon where you are going, and how far away it is. The most common methods are:
Ship
Transporting your yacht by ship is perhaps the fastest and safest method because your yacht can be moved from marina to marina without having to go on land. The downside to ship transportation is that it can be expensive. If money isn’t a concern, then ship transportation is definitely something that we would recommend. Most shipping companies will allow you to purchase an additional insurance policy so that you can get compensated if your yacht is damaged.
Truck
Large trucks are used to move yachts. With that said, it’s only possible to move small yachts by truck, because they’re often too large to fit in the back. Despite that, it’s still worth checking this option out if you can’t afford to hire a shipping company to do it for you. Digressing from the subject of trucks slightly, it’s also worth bearing in mind that shipping your boat is a much more effective method too, because size is not a concern. You can ship more or less any type of yacht, regardless of size (unless it’s a superyacht), by ship.
Towing
If your yacht is small, then you may be able to connect it to a trailer and tow it by road yourself. The downside to towing your boat is that it’s unlikely you can get it insured, and the chances of it being damaged increase significantly. Accidents happen all of the time. One of the most common involving yachts being towed is that the trailer they are attached to unhooks, causing the yacht to fall off of the back of the trailer. If you are travelling at high speed, this can completely destroy your yacht and injure people that are travelling behind you.
Sailing
Finally, we arrive at sailing. If you are not travelling very far and are a competent captain, you could always sail your yacht. This could take a lot of time, however, so if you are in a hurry then this isn’t the method for you.
Checklist
Before moving on to the qualities that you should look for in a transportation company, let’s first cover a quick checklist on everything that you need to have prepared before you can ship your yacht.
- Insurance is an absolute necessity. You should not ship your yacht without it. If you try to ship your yacht without insurance and it becomes damaged, you may not be able to pay for its repairs. It’s very likely that the company responsible for shipping your yacht will not assume responsibility if it is damaged. They will probably ask you to sign a waiver, confirming you will not take legal action against them. Insurance, with this in mind, is very important. It will ensure that you are compensated for the cost of your boat and that you don’t end up out of pocket.
- Protection is also important. When we say this, what we mean is protective wrapping around your boat and proper indoor security. Make sure that the doors to your yacht are locked and that there isn’t anything valuable inside. You also need to make sure that you remove anything that isn’t attached to the floor. During transit, if something were to come loose then it could damage your yacht’s interior or worse, break the windows.
- Destination needs to be worked out. You need to know exactly where your yacht is going so that when it arrives, you have somewhere to store it. There is only a fixed period that the shipping company will hold your yacht for you. If you are shipping it by land, keeping it out of the water risks it being stolen or damaged, so you need to have a marina for it to go to. Make sure that you have a storage destination arranged for it when it arrives.
Transportation Company
When you are searching for a transportation company, professionality and experience is everything. You can’t entrust your yacht to a company that doesn’t know what it’s doing, otherwise, it could become damaged. The best way to determine whether or not a company’s worth using is by checking their reviews. Reviews give you a glimpse into how the company operates. It also gives you the opportunity to learn about the company directly from their customers. You should also consider reading reviews that have been published on independent review sites because they are unbiased and reliable.
Another thing to consider is your boat’s security. If you entrust your boat to a company that doesn’t have many reviews published online, then you won’t be able to relax knowing that they’ve got your boat. For your sake, and your yacht’s sake, make sure that you find a company that’s established, reliable, and secure. If your boat falls into the wrong person’s hands, it could be stripped and sold. It could also be stolen. Yacht theft is a very big industry. Make sure that the company you deal with has all of the required licenses necessary for them to legally operate.
If you are looking for yacht transportation, then you need to look carefully. Your yacht should only be entrusted to companies that are reliable and licensed. If your yacht falls into the wrong hands, it could be damaged or stolen. Make sure to properly secure your yacht and take everything else suggested here into consideration.