1-888-534-BOAT(2628) 
Preparations

This boat preparation guide was compiled to assist the boat owner in properly preparing and securing the boat for overland transportation. Please make every effort to prepare the boat according to these guidelines. Oversee the preparation yourself or have a qualified yard do so. The carrier cannot be responsible for damage due to improper preparation or loading by the shipper, for faulty or defective cradles, trailers, chains, binders, or other equipment provided by the shipper to secure the cargo.

NOTE: IF BOAT IS NOT PROPERLY PREPARED FOR SHIPMENT, BOAT WILL BE SHIPPED "AS IS" AND GLOBAL YACHT HAULING INC. WILL NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY RESULTING DAMAGE.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The legal height for transporting over the road is 13' 6." Please choose a marina or boatyard with at least 14' overhead clearance, with no low tree branches or wires on its approach. See our Marina Locations to look for a Marina in your area.

If you choose a marina or boatyard to which there is no clear access, the carrier cannot accept responsibility for damage caused by branches or wires. The larger the boat, the higher the load, the more clearance required. Unless previously discussed, freight amount quoted is for legal height of 13' 6" loaded on the carriers trailer. If your boat loads higher, a freight surcharge will be added to your freight amount.

The driver will perform a survey only of the exterior of the boat. The condition of the boat will be noted on a condition report. You or your agent will be asked to sign this report at the point of pickup; a copy of this report will be given to you or your agent at that time. At delivery, the boat will again be inspected; the condition report again signed and another copy will be given to you or your agent. Any damage noted by you or your agent upon delivery must be noted on the bill-of-lading that you sign when you or your agent accepts delivery of the boat.

BASICS

1. Stow all loose gear and secure. All gear stored below must be well secured. GLOBAL YACHT HAULING INC. will not accept responsibility for damage caused by loose gear. Lock the cabin. YOU keep the key. DO NOT give the key to the driver. Boat gear only: we cannot ship household goods.

2. Boats cannot be shipped Full of fuel or water in tanks. Drain fuel and water tanks down to 1/3 . Remove any drain plugs from the hull. There should not be any water in the bilge while it is being transported. During winter months, water should be drained from water systems, pumps, air conditioners, etc. We Do Provide Winterizing for additional fee's

3. Disconnect batteries and secure. Remove anchors from the deck.

4. Please expect normal road dirt on the boat.

CANVAS COVERS/SHRINK WRAP

5. All canvas covers must be removed as they will tear or fly off during transit. If they are not removed, the carrier cannot be responsible for damages. The carrier will ship shrink-wrapped boats, however the shrink wrap may tear or fly off in transit. The carriers do carry extra shrink wrap tape and every effort will be made to repair the shrink wrap, however, if the shrink wrap becomes unrepairable, it will be removed to avoid damage from the shrink wrap beating against the boat. GLOBAL YACHT HAULING INC. will not be held responsible

CRADLES/TRAILERS

6. If your boat has its own cradle, please inspect it carefully for loose bolts or weakness of any kind. If your cradle breaks in transit, causing damage to your boat, the carrier cannot accept responsibility. If you are shipping your boat on its own trailer, the carrier cannot accept responsibility should the rollers or frame cause damage, or if the trailer breaks apart, causing damage.

DINGHIES

7. If you are shipping a dinghy on board or if you have had to remove any superstructure, these items should be well padded. DO NOT leave dinghy on davits.

EXTERNAL ACCESSORIES

8. All electronics, radar, hailers, horns, antennas, propellers, flag masts, lights, anchor lights, etc., must be removed, packed securely and securely stored below. GLOBAL YACHT HAULING INC. will not be responsible if they are damaged or if they vibrate off.

HATCHES

9. Tie and/or tape hatches from the outside. GLOBAL YACHT HAULING INC. cannot be responsible for the damage they may cause if they blow off in transit, or for damage to the boat caused by rain water if a hatch blows off.

10. If the hatches leak, seal them. A boat will not sit in the same position on GLOBAL YACHT HAULING INC. trailer as it does in the water and we cannot be responsible for rain water entering through a leaky hatch or deck.

WINDOWS/WINDSHIELDS

11. Cabin windows should be latched and taped from the outside.

12. All windshields and/or Plexiglas that protrude over the flying bridge
should be removed, packed with a cargo blanket and should be well secured below. GLOBAL YACHT HAULING INC. will not be responsible for any damage that occurs if they are not removed and properly packed and secured.

ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR SAILBOATS

13. All rigging, winches, wind indicators, and lights must be removed from the
mast. Carpet should be provided for the mast at the points of tie down. Expect some chafing at these points. If the mast is painted, it is almost impossible to keep the paint from chafing. GLOBAL YACHT HAULING INC. will not pay to repaint masts if chafing occurs. Do not secure the mast to the boat, as there is a space on our trailer for the mast. Should the mast be secured to the boat, GLOBAL YACHT HAULING INC. will not be responsible for any resulting damage to the mast or the boat?

Life lines, stanchions, bow and stern pulpits should be removed if they render the boat over height, generally over 11' keel to highest point not on the trailer.

14. On center board sailboats, make sure the board is secured and will stay up in transit. Keel sailboats may expect some separation where the keel joins the hull. This is not structural damage, but rather is the paint or filler cracking at the joint. Light built or racing sailboats can expect some hull indentation from the support pads. These indentations generally disappear when the boat is returned to the water.

ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR POWER BOATS

15. Remove all propellers, flag masts, lights, outriggers, antennas, etc.

16. If your power boat is low enough to ship with the flying bridge on, remove all lights, wheels, masts and windshields that protrude over the bridge. All Plexiglas should be removed and packed below with a cargo blanket. If your power boat is not low enough to ship with the flying bridge on, you will have to have a cradle built for the bridge to be shipped in on the forward deck or cockpit area. Every point touching the deck or rails must be sufficiently padded. Remove all electronics and valuable items from the bridge, pack securely, and store below. If you have any questions, Please give us a call. 1-888-534-2628

 

Tip - Know who you are dealing with when shipping large boats
  If you have a small powerboat, you can use almost any qualified transport company. On the other hand if you have a 40 foot cruiser, make sure the company you plan on hiring has dealt with such loads, big boats require special loading and handling. Find out if the company you are talking to are the ones that are actually going to be hauling your boat or if they are just a broker. Also find out if the driver who is going to load your boat has experience with your type of load. Ask as many specific questions as you can, how they intend to load your boat? will it require special equipment? will it require any special permits? If they cant answer these questions easily and professionally, chances are they are unfamiliar with your type of load. After talking with a few of these carriers, you will get a feel for what they are saying.

Tip - Shopping around for the "Best Price"
If you have a small powerboat, just be sure you ship with a reputable transport comapny. However if you have a large boat, saving a few dollars could cost you in the end. Professional boat movers are expensive because they do their job right. They require the proper equipment, hire experienced drivers and loaders.

Tip - Be Clear with your requests and details
When the driver arrives, your information has been passed to him from someone else, so they may have some details wrong so be sure to verify the aspects of the move. You need to be very clear on how payment is to be made, who will meet the driver, how they are going to contact you before pickup and delivery, when they will arrive, and any other thing you can think of that they may need to know.

Question - How is a transport supposed to work?
Answer - Boat transport is very simple. You should receive a call from the carrier anywhere from 10 to 24 hours in advance of your pick up date. The driver will arrive and review (inspect for damage) the boat with you and load it on the truck. The reverse happens at the delivery point. The driver calls in advance, you'll inspect the vehicle for damage and take delivery of it if there is not damage.

Question - How far in advance are reservations accepted?
Answer - Reservations are accepted by most carriers up to two months in advance.

Question - How many days in advance do I need to call to insure a pickup date?
Answer - Plan enough time for us to pick up your boat. Two weeks in advance is the minimum for most carriers. Most carriers will usually deal with urgent situations on an individual basis.

Question - How long does it take to have my boat picked up?
Answer - Shipping for your boat is usually scheduled within two to three days of the scheduled pick-up date. Carriers can usually arrange to accommodate your schedule, but you may incur additional costs.

Question - What type of paperwork do I need to ship my boat? (Insurance, title, registration, etc.)?
Answer - Unless your boat is leaving the country all that is required for your shipment is a signature and walk around (inspection) with the driver at pick up. The walk around will allow you and the driver to verify if any damage exists at pick up.

Question - How much does it cost for shipping my boat?
Answer - Prices are determined by mileage, boat size, and delivery location.

Question - Do I need to pay in advance for shipping my boat?
Answer - A deposit and a signed order are usually required before, your boat is scheduled for transport. However, there are exceptions. The balance must be be paid upon the boat's delivery by Cash, Postal Money Order, or Cashier's Check.

Question - What payment options do I have?
Answer - Most carriers accept Personal Checks, Cashier's Checks, Postal Money Orders, and Major Credit Cards (They require the customer's signature for credit card payment).

Question - What should you do if the vessel arrives with damage?
Answer - First thing you should do is make sure the driver understands that the damage is new and was not on the original bill of lading. The damage should clearly be marked and noted, then signed for by the driver. Upon completion of delivery a call should placed to your carrier or broker to inform them of the damage. In most cases the carrier will ask for an estimate and send you payment in a couple weeks. If the carrier is not responsive and unwilling to work with you to resolve the issue make sure you contact their insurance company and make a claim. Be sure however you have all the documentation to back up your claim - false claims can result in legal action by the carrier or broker.

Question - Is my boat insured during transport?
Answer - All transport companies have a general proof of insurance form, ask specifically for it. Find out exactly what amount of cargo insurance they have and what their deductible is. Anyone can present themselves as a valid transport company, but it is in the service, especially when things go wrong that, that the quality companies become apparent. You could go with a low to mid grade company and nothing could go wrong,but if something does, the difference between a low and high quality company will become very apparent as you spend valuable time trying to recover any losses or damages.

Question - Is the consumers boat insurance primary or secondary?
Answer - There is no such thing as secondary and primary insurance. It works the following way: Most carriers hold one million dollars ($1,000,000) combined single limit & two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) per incident. This insurance covers damage done to your boat in transit, there is no other insurance. The boat transport carrier is the main and only coverage. (exception: personal contents are not covered by any carrier insurance and in most cases if lost, stolen or otherwise will not be covered.)

Question - Should a consumer pay more money for a lower insurance deductible?
Answer - Absolutly not! Most carriers have deductables between $200.00 and 2000.00. Regardless of damage done to a vehicle you should never have to pay a deductible either way. If a carrier requests additional fee for a deductible they are only attempting to get a higher price.

Question - How do I choose a reputable carrier?
Answer - If you are dealing with a boat transport broker, ask for a copy of their Brokers License and insurance bond. Brokers are required to posess both a license and an insurance bond. Ask the actual transporter of your boat for their ICC number and DOT number, a copy of insurance and phone number of the insurance company, you may also check with www.safersys.org to get their safety record.