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Transporting Boats - Handy Information

guywilkes

By guywilkes
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guywilkes

guywilkes

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Boat Transport – Some handy information

If you are thinking of changing your cruising area temporarily or are about to purchase a boat that is on another waterway, then in most cases you will have to think about how to transport it to (or from) The Broads. I have put some useful information together and some things to consider when looking at options.

It is worth mentioning that modern road transport is governed by a significant amount of ‘regulation’, mainly for safety reasons. Responsible transporters will always keep within the regulations and will advise you on what is and is not possible. When choosing a transporter ask to see insurance details and check they have the right experience and equipment for the boat that you are asking them to move. Afterall this is your pride and joy and if not properly supported on the right trailers, significant damage can occur which might not be immediately obvious. Don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as you like to get comfortable.

A boat that has a beam up to 2.9m wide can be classed as a normal load. Boats with a beam of over 2.9m wide are classified as wide-loads. If your boat is wider than this, then by law, the transporter is required to notify the Police force in each county through which the route will pass. The Police require two clear working days notice together with the exact dimensions, weight and height of the vehicle and load, the collection and delivery addresses, the date(s) of the move, and the route. The Police may delay the movement times in the interest of road safety or if it may hold up other road users (for example rush hour) and in Norfolk and Suffolk for example travelling in the hours of darkness is also not allowed. This is worth noting if you are moving your pride and joy in the winter months as it makes the driving day quite short and may mean the transporter needs to take more time than usual. 

Sometimes it is necessary to provide an escort vehicle for the load if the police require it, and boats over 3.5m wide require an assistant to travel with the load usually with an escort vehicle.

The overall height of the boat needs to take into consideration and sometimes it will be necessary to remove or lower items (e.g. radar arches, light masts, aerials, deck gear) from the roof to ensure the traveling height is as low as possible. This makes routes easier to plan and can keep the distance travelled lower. 

Things like canopies and aerials don’t react well to transport, and ideally should be removed to avoid accidental damage or coming undone during transit and becoming a hazard.

When you know that you are moving your boat it is a good idea to prepare it as best as you can for transportation.

  • Disconnect/Isolate batteries
  • Check and turn off all water and fuel tank valves.
  • Remove any flammable substances – paints, thinners etc…
  • Close and secure all windows and hatches.
  • Close drawers and cupboards.
  • Store and/or secure all loose items. (Internal/External)
  • Remove and store ropes, fenders, life-rings etc.
  • Remove canopies.
  • Lower or remove any antennas or radar arches.
  • Tilt up outdrive units for loading.
  • For yachts - mast rigging and cabling must be removed or securely attached to the mast. Bottle screws should all be removed and stored safely on board.
  • Any wind instruments/ roof mounted Nav light masts must be removed.
  • If the boat has been in the water for a long time, it is worth arranging for the keel to be power washed when it is lifted out as weed and growth can cause problems on the roads for other road users if it drops off plus there is the environmental side of things to think about when moving from one waterway to the other and possible cross contamination.

Cranes / Lifts
Lifting of the boat has to be co-ordinated for transport day. We are lucky on the Norfolk Broads with a number of great marinas that offer cranage with easy access for lorries and large articulated trailers on both the Southern and Northern side.

Depending on the size of boat, some yards have lifting capacity restrictions or in some cases access restrictions for certain types of trailers. Some transporters will offer to arrange a package with both the lift on and lift off + the transport included in the price. The transporter will arrange the times with the Marina directly (for a small fee) while others will liaise with the boat owner who arranges the lifts directly with their chosen provider.

Insurance
Always good to check what insurance is in place to cover your pride and joy while it is being moved. Most professional transporters will have a specialist goods in transit policy that covers their service on an ‘all risks’ basis. This is the most comprehensive cover that can be applied. There will be a standard so it is important to check the level in place. If your boat is over this value, a very small additional premium will be required to ensure full cover. It is still advisable to have full comprehensive insurance on your craft whilst in transit. Most marine policies will cover the transport by road on the basis the insurance company is informed beforehand of the move.

Costs of Transport
Costs of the transport will vary of course depending upon the distance to be travelled, the size and weight of the boat, the number of days the move will take and any additional services the transporter provides (such as cranage). There are online sites that offer anonymous bidding services for transport but be careful that your chosen transporter knows how to handle boats, where to support them and even has the right kind of trailer.

In Norfolk and Suffolk there are several really experienced and professional transport companies who specialise in small boat movements or indeed larger craft.

Here are some pictures of our own recent moves to and from Norfolk

Guy
 

372022496_6248540848601543_2557489437020345149_n.jpg

Bounty 30 Shepperton 3.jpg

20230626_091704.jpg

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dom

dom

Posted
Posted
58 minutes ago, guywilkes said:

Tilt up outdrive units for loading.

Loads of really useful info there. Worth adding to the above, where possible, loop a rope around the outdrive(s) and secure to a deck cleat or similar, so the drive doesn't drop if the rams fail or lose pressure, especially when using smaller trailers. There have been instances of drives dropping, coming into contact with the road surface and grinding half the gear casing away. Aside of very expensive damage to the outdrive itself, I'd imagine there's also a significant risk of transom damage in cases like this.

Just for reference, what's a ballpark figure for shifting a 30ft boat from, say, St.Ives, Cambridgeshire to Wayford Bridge, Norfolk? A few of us on here have mentioned possible moves along these lines lately.

 

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floydraser

floydraser

Posted
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Good info but in addition to costs: Some companies specialise in certain geographic areas and can offer better rates. I rang one company and they told me they don't really go there (where I wanted to go at the time) but recommended a company that did.

You may also get a better rate if you are prepared to wait while the operator finds a boat to move in the opposite direction as a "return load". 

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floydraser

floydraser

Posted
Posted
2 hours ago, dom said:

Just for reference, what's a ballpark figure for shifting a 30ft boat from, say, St.Ives, Cambridgeshire to Wayford Bridge, Norfolk? A few of us on here have mentioned possible moves along these lines lately.

May be worth asking at a decent size marina around St Ives or Wayford Bridge for recommendations?

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Happy

Happy

Posted
Posted
10 hours ago, guywilkes said:

Boat Transport – Some handy information

If you are thinking of changing your cruising area temporarily or are about to purchase a boat that is on another waterway, then in most cases you will have to think about how to transport it to (or from) The Broads. I have put some useful information together and some things to consider when looking at options.

It is worth mentioning that modern road transport is governed by a significant amount of ‘regulation’, mainly for safety reasons. Responsible transporters will always keep within the regulations and will advise you on what is and is not possible. When choosing a transporter ask to see insurance details and check they have the right experience and equipment for the boat that you are asking them to move. Afterall this is your pride and joy and if not properly supported on the right trailers, significant damage can occur which might not be immediately obvious. Don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as you like to get comfortable.

A boat that has a beam up to 2.9m wide can be classed as a normal load. Boats with a beam of over 2.9m wide are classified as wide-loads. If your boat is wider than this, then by law, the transporter is required to notify the Police force in each county through which the route will pass. The Police require two clear working days notice together with the exact dimensions, weight and height of the vehicle and load, the collection and delivery addresses, the date(s) of the move, and the route. The Police may delay the movement times in the interest of road safety or if it may hold up other road users (for example rush hour) and in Norfolk and Suffolk for example travelling in the hours of darkness is also not allowed. This is worth noting if you are moving your pride and joy in the winter months as it makes the driving day quite short and may mean the transporter needs to take more time than usual. 

Sometimes it is necessary to provide an escort vehicle for the load if the police require it, and boats over 3.5m wide require an assistant to travel with the load usually with an escort vehicle.

The overall height of the boat needs to take into consideration and sometimes it will be necessary to remove or lower items (e.g. radar arches, light masts, aerials, deck gear) from the roof to ensure the traveling height is as low as possible. This makes routes easier to plan and can keep the distance travelled lower. 

Things like canopies and aerials don’t react well to transport, and ideally should be removed to avoid accidental damage or coming undone during transit and becoming a hazard.

When you know that you are moving your boat it is a good idea to prepare it as best as you can for transportation.

  • Disconnect/Isolate batteries
  • Check and turn off all water and fuel tank valves.
  • Remove any flammable substances – paints, thinners etc…
  • Close and secure all windows and hatches.
  • Close drawers and cupboards.
  • Store and/or secure all loose items. (Internal/External)
  • Remove and store ropes, fenders, life-rings etc.
  • Remove canopies.
  • Lower or remove any antennas or radar arches.
  • Tilt up outdrive units for loading.
  • For yachts - mast rigging and cabling must be removed or securely attached to the mast. Bottle screws should all be removed and stored safely on board.
  • Any wind instruments/ roof mounted Nav light masts must be removed.
  • If the boat has been in the water for a long time, it is worth arranging for the keel to be power washed when it is lifted out as weed and growth can cause problems on the roads for other road users if it drops off plus there is the environmental side of things to think about when moving from one waterway to the other and possible cross contamination.

Cranes / Lifts
Lifting of the boat has to be co-ordinated for transport day. We are lucky on the Norfolk Broads with a number of great marinas that offer cranage with easy access for lorries and large articulated trailers on both the Southern and Northern side.

Depending on the size of boat, some yards have lifting capacity restrictions or in some cases access restrictions for certain types of trailers. Some transporters will offer to arrange a package with both the lift on and lift off + the transport included in the price. The transporter will arrange the times with the Marina directly (for a small fee) while others will liaise with the boat owner who arranges the lifts directly with their chosen provider.

Insurance
Always good to check what insurance is in place to cover your pride and joy while it is being moved. Most professional transporters will have a specialist goods in transit policy that covers their service on an ‘all risks’ basis. This is the most comprehensive cover that can be applied. There will be a standard so it is important to check the level in place. If your boat is over this value, a very small additional premium will be required to ensure full cover. It is still advisable to have full comprehensive insurance on your craft whilst in transit. Most marine policies will cover the transport by road on the basis the insurance company is informed beforehand of the move.

Costs of Transport
Costs of the transport will vary of course depending upon the distance to be travelled, the size and weight of the boat, the number of days the move will take and any additional services the transporter provides (such as cranage). There are online sites that offer anonymous bidding services for transport but be careful that your chosen transporter knows how to handle boats, where to support them and even has the right kind of trailer.

In Norfolk and Suffolk there are several really experienced and professional transport companies who specialise in small boat movements or indeed larger craft.

Here are some pictures of our own recent moves to and from Norfolk

Guy
 

372022496_6248540848601543_2557489437020345149_n.jpg

Bounty 30 Shepperton 3.jpg

20230626_091704.jpg

We used the original owner of this Company to move our Seamaster 30.  Brilliant and totally faultless.

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guywilkes

guywilkes

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Hello - To answer some of the comments: 

A ballpark figure for shifting a 30ft boat from, say St Ives Cambridgeshire to Wayford Bridge Norfolk - on the basis that the beam is less than 3.5m, would be in the region of around £950 to £1,000 + VAT. For something like a Borne 40 / Aquafibre 35 with a beam of 3.65m (where we would also have to use a pilot vehicle) from or to say River Thames (Penton Hook for example) to Norfolk would be around £1,600-1,700 + VAT. For 2024 we are reviewing tariffs as costs like insurance keep going up + fuel of course can vary. I know that we are not the cheapest company around but we aim to provide a high standard of service. This year we have invested in a new truck and carried out major trailer refurbishments. We also converted a 2nd trailer designed by ourselves specifically for transporting boats such as the smaller Brooms / Aquafibre and other Broads style cruisers. We are boatowners ourselves (on the Broads) so know that it can be a daunting process.

Guy
 

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