This blog entry is about boat transport and things to think about prior to and during preparation of your boat for transport.

The first thing that needs to addressed to accurately get a quote from a boat transporter is get the correct measurements. We need the overall height and beam. On larger boats the weight becomes a factor. The boat measurements are needed for factoring which boat transport trailer is dispatched for your boat transport. It is also needed for the assessment if a escort is needed for either the height or the beam.

Boat transporters need to have a marina that has the capability to load a boat properly. That means a travel lift or a crane. It also should have the personnel to disassemble and prep a boat for transport. Being able to maneuver in and get loaded with a boat is of great importance. Being able to easily get into the marina and get out loaded with a large oversize boat is mandatory.

When preparing a boat for transport, the canvas needs to be taken down and put below decks to ensure a safe boat transport. Canvas does not travel well as does not lexan windshields, these need to be removed prior to transporting your boat.

Most times while transporting a boat the dingy will fit somewhere on the trailer or on the boat for transport. It will need to be deflated if it is a inflatable. The outboard motor needs to be removed and stored elsewhere for transport.

When preparing a boat for transport the anchor needs to be stowed or removed. The anchor can possibly come loose in transport or possibly even chafe the gel-coat on the bow of the boat.

All electronics should be removed or firmly secured. Radar domes or television antennas need to be removed as well. Any dash mounted electronic heads need to be stowed below prior to shipping a boat. Flush mount electronic heads can usually be left in place.

Smaller boat are sometimes shipped on their own trailers. When preparing a boat for transport on its own trailer maintenance items need to be addressed. When transporting a boat on its own trailer the brake fluid needs to be topped off. The wheel bearings need to be up to speed, meaning the grease should be fresh and in good serviceable order to protect the axles from burning up.

Hays Marine Transport specializes in transporting yachts, sailboats, powerboats and trailerable boats on their own trailers. Any questions not covered in this page can be addresses by calling 360 414 8888 Additionaly if you google our company there is a wealth of info in our website.

Tags: Boat Transport, Powerboat Transport, Sailboat Transport, Yacht Transport by jim
No Comments »

   Transporting oversize boats has become quite challenging this year as the road construction in some of the states has made it hard to obtain permits. Due to the weather this year, some of the states has put off all the construction projects until now. There are multiple states with a unusual amount of over-width and oversize restrictions that make routing oversize boats being transported difficult to transport.

When transporting oversize boats, we need to get the authorization to travel on the roads, be it county, city or state routes. When a permit is ordered for a oversize boat and there is a construction project in the route, they deny the permit and we have to start from scratch. Some times they will issue a permit and give us a route that is a lot more miles to transport than originally planned. That is when you the customer will get a call bringing you up to date on the additional miles needed to travel to get from point A to point B. When transporting a oversize boat that is needing a escort or two, the costs will go up. Oversize boat transport usually has its pitfalls and snags but when road construction delays and detours get in the way it usually takes much longer to facilitate a move.

Tags: Boat Transport, Powerboat Transport, Sailboat Transport, Yacht Transport by jim
No Comments »

I have always been a admirer of Sea Ray Boats and Yachts. When I owned my boat repair facility in Portland Oregon we had the opportunity to be working on Sea Rays all the time. The north west is Sea Ray country, and has the full range of boats represented there. From the Sport Boats that range from 17 ft to 30ft, the Sport Cruisers that range from 24ft to 37ft, the Sport Yacht that range from 38ft to 51ft and of coarse the Yachts that range in size from 52ft to 61ft. I have always found Sea Ray boats to be well made considering they are a production boat and built by Bayliner!! Now the only Sea Ray boats we get to see are the larger boats that we transport, the 30ft and up to the 61ft yacht.

Sea Ray was founded in 1959 and was one of the first boat builders to use fiberglass reinforcement technology in manufacturing their boats and yachts. Brunswick Corporation acquired Sea Ray boats in 1986. Sea Ray operates 8 factories  in North America.

Tags: Boat Transport, Powerboat Transport by jim
No Comments »

Currently due to the extreme weather we are seeing a delyed season for transporting powerboats from one location to another. This has been the strangest weather I personaly have ever seen for spring and has boat owners not quite ready to think about the upcoming boating season. I project a real busy season as when the weather does break there will be a abundance of boat transporting both sailboats and powerboats to boat owners desired vacation locations. In a normal year we are very busy moving powerboats south to take advantage of the cruising destinations found in a warmer climate. Hays Marine Transport

Tags: Powerboat Transport by jim
1 Comment »

I know houseboats are a breed of there own but I thought I would include this post on transporting houseboats in the Powerboat Transport section. We loaded this 47 Boatell Houseboat in Grand Rivers Kentucky yesterday after the flood waters went down a bit. She is going to Florida to be a second residence for a retired gentleman. This houseboat was 47 feet long over thirteen feet wide and she loaded out at 14 feet tall. With the 53 foot stretch trailer stretched out we were able to loaded her very low which kept the costs involved in transporting this boat as low as possible. We get involved in transporting large oversize boats, yachts, powerboats and sailboats quite often due to the specialized equpment we use.

Tags: Powerboat Transport by jim
No Comments »