We are enjoying a tight schedule as far as hauling boats is concerned but it is tough to stay on schedule. I wish customers would understand that hauling boats is not a science. Things happen and your schedule can become a mess in a heartbeat!! We wish all our fellow boat haulers a terrific season and safe driving.

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.

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.

Washington has some of the best cruising grounds in the United States. The San Juan Islands are a favorite. Anacortes, Friday Harbor, Bellingham, Olympia, Port Orchard are just a handful of the ports of call in this beautiful area.

As a destination for a boat transport to Washington here are a few we through the years  have learned to prefer. In Olympia you have Swantown at the port of Olympia. In Anacortes you have Marine Service Center. Belingham hosts Seaview North Boatyard.

Logistics of transporting boats of all kinds, sailboats, powerboats and yachts are pretty straight forward as Maryland is a pretty easy state to transport boats around in. The routes are good and there are very few height restrictions in and out of the marinas.

Here are some of the marinas we like to use when transporting boats in the state of Maryland. In Annapolis we like to use Bert Jabins, In Baltimore we like to use Edwards Boatyard. In Tracys Landing we prefer Herrington Harbour North. Deal Maryland has a great boat yard, Harbour Cove Marina.

Washington State has alot of terrific destinations to spend time at while boating. Vancouver Island, San Juan Islands, Lake Washington to just name a few. Some of the ports of call that are terrific are Friday Harbor, Anacortes, Bellingham, and Port Orchard.

As a destination point for transporting boats into this area we have found a few we really enjoy working with. Here are a few, In Olympia Washington we like Swan Town at the Port of Olympia. Anacortes has a good boat yard. In Seattle we like Shilshole marina.