Boat Shipping Made Easy

Providing the correct measurements for your boat will ensure you get safe boat transportation. We advise manually measuring your boat even if you have the manufacturing information from the owner’s manual.

• Overall Length is measured from the tip of the bow to the center of the stern. Include bow pulpits, swim platforms, motor brackets and the length of the motors or out drives in the raised position.
• Overall Height is measured from the bottom of the keel to the highest non-removable part of the boat.
• Beam is measured from the widest point of the boat, including the rub-rail.

The legal loaded height of your boat is required to be at or under 13’6″. If this is not possible, expert transporters can offer alternative choices which will require slower travel on non-interstate routes.

If your boat is over 8’6″ wide, it will require an oversize load permit to be transported. A boat sized over 12′ wide will require a certified escort which will also add to your hauling charges.

When planning to ship your boat overseas, there are a couple different options to explore:

• Roll-on/Roll-off: Also called “RO/RO”, your boat stays on a trailer (either your own or the carrier’s) for the entire trip. This is the most common option in international boat shipping. To reduce the overall height and volume of your boat remember to remove or lower booms, antennas, and radar towers. This will greatly reduce costs as the shipping companies will usually measure the overall height including the trailer.
• Enclosed Container: Most large shipping vessels carry these containers. You may want to choose this option if your boat fits within the standard dimensions (40’ long, 7’10” high, 7’8” wide). Containerized services are usually much less expensive than RO/RO, but the height requirement includes any trailer height as well. Make sure to ask carriers about different containerized options available.
• Flat Rack: Typically used for oversized boats. A boat is shipped in its own custom cradle, strapped into the flat rack, and secured to the vessel. It is highly recommended that items such as arches or the bridge be removed and safely secured. By removing bulking items you can save hundreds of dollars on your freight.
• Submersion: Your boat is loaded and unloaded directly from the water.

Whenever shipping anything overseas, make sure to prepare any legal and customs documents ahead of time. A good place to start would be with the foreign embassies or consulates in the country to which you are transporting your boat for more information about proper documentation. By investigating and following the correct registration procedures you will save yourself from undue stress, wasted time, and any potential hazards.

Winterizing your boat before shipping is highly recommended. Failure to do so can result in ruined engines and interior damage. Shrinkwrapping is an option that is highly valued for keeping your boat clean and safe and can also provide a level of deterrence and safety while your boat is in transit. It is also a good idea to ship your valuable electronic components separately so they do not get lost during shipping.

As always, make sure you are comfortable with your shipper. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about transporting your boat or asking for advice on how to best ship your boat internationally. Most carriers have decades of experience and can guide you to the cheapest, safest way to ship your boat overseas.

The cost for boat transportation depends on the distance and the needs for your boat to be safely transported. The average cost is around $600 to $1,000 for longer hauls and $150 to $350 for shorter distance transport.

For a closer look at what it might cost to transport your boat, take a look at uShip’s cost to ship boats index. There, you can view shipments like yours that have been completed through the uShip marketplace. This will also give you a good idea of how we work.