How to Prepare Your Dinghy Boat for Shipping
While we handle most of the work, we may ask you to prepare your dinghy for transport. For your assistance, here is a checklist:
- Inspect and Document: Thoroughly inspect your dinghy boat and document its condition with clear photos or videos. This helps in the event of damage claims or post-delivery inspections.
- Remove Personal Items: Remove all personal belongings, electronics, and loose gear, such as oars, life vests, and tools, to prevent loss or damage during transit.
- Secure External Components: Secure or remove any detachable parts, such as sails, rigging, motors, or mounted accessories. Loose items may cause damage to the boat during the movement.
- Drain Fuel and Water: Ensure the boat is completely drained of water and the fuel level is no more than a quarter full.
- Disconnect Power: If your dinghy has a battery-powered motor or lights, disconnect the battery to prevent electrical issues. Also, secure the wires or cables.
How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Dinghy Boat?
While there’s no fixed rate for transporting a dinghy boat, the average cost generally starts around $1.50 to $5.00 per mile, depending on several important factors. Although dinghies are smaller than ferries or barges, pricing still varies based on size, mode of transport, and route specifics. Below are the primary considerations when estimating the total shipping cost:
1. Size and Weight of Dinghy
The dimensions and weight of your dinghy directly affect the cost. Even smaller boats may require special trailers or handling if they exceed standard limits.
Be sure to measure:
- Length – From bow (front) to stern (rear)
- Height – From keel (bottom) to the highest fixed point (e.g., outboard motor or mast)
- Width (Beam) – The widest point, including oarlocks or flotation extensions
Dinghies wider than 8’6” or taller than 13’6” may be classified as oversized loads, requiring permits, special routing, and additional handling fees.
2. Additional services:
Larger boats also require oversized load permits and additional handling during the loading and unloading process, which adds to the cost. Furthermore, transporting a larger boat to urban areas often requires escort vehicles, which contributes to the overall cost of transportation.
3. Distance:
The distance between the pickup and destination location is also a significant factor. Longer routes typically cost less per mile and incur higher overall costs. Local hauls and intercity movements tend to have lower prices than interstate or nationwide shipments. Additionally, for shorter regional distances, inland transportation on a trailer is used, which is more cost-effective than other options.
4. Peak and off-peak seasons:
Summers and springs are typically peak seasons for the transportation industry; hence, due to limited carrier availability and tighter schedules, prices tend to increase. However, off-peak seasons offer more discounted prices and flexible scheduling.
5. Pickup & delivery locations
Depending on the ease of access to the pickup and delivery location, prices may fluctuate. Remote areas, with limited access, may cost more than central locations on major routes, as they require extra miles to pick up or deliver the boat.
6. Flexibility of schedule
Flexible shipping dates often lead to better rates. Rushed or guaranteed delivery services add to the overall cost.