Whether you’re shipping a boat cross country or across the state, finding the right transporter can be nerve-wracking. You’ve already prepared your boat and received some competing quotes on uShip– and now it’s time to pick a transporter that will haul your boat efficiently and safely. Take your time and follow these easy steps to find the right carrier for your boat.

Step 1: Verify Your Transporter’s Authority

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA) and the USDOT must authorize every carrier in the United States. An MC Number proves that the FMSCA has verified the carrier and that the carrier has proper liability coverage and clearance to travel across state lines. A DOT number is a unique identifying number used to verify and monitor a transporter’s safety information during government audits, compliance reviews, crash investigations and inspections. Make sure the transporter you choose has an updated MC number and DOT number as a clear sign they’re operate legally.

Step 2: Check Insurance Coverage

Along with an MC and DOT number, sufficient insurance coverage is important in choosing a transporter. Verify a carrier’s insurance information on their website or business profile, or visit SAFER to make sure the carrier offers what you need. While your standard boat insurance with liability coverage may not cover any incidents in transit, your carrier’s quote should at least include the cost of cargo insurance. Quality carriers will help you find the necessary coverage you need if they’re unable to offer sufficient coverage upfront.

Step 3: Discuss Communication and Tracking

Potential carriers should provide sufficient tracking options during your move. Independent transporters may offer a plan of communication while on the road, personalized specifically for your trip. Transporters should be available via phone at all times. Some larger carriers offer online geo-tracking that allows you to track where your boat is at all times. The best transporters will update their customers throughout the haul, including the estimated time of arrival prior to delivery.

Step 4: Look for Feedback from Other Customers

A carrier’s track record is the most important thing to take note of after verifying their MC and DOT number. Take a look at a carrier’s online feedback to make sure the majority of comments come from happy customers. Google is a helpful tool for researching other people’s past experiences with the transporter. Sites like uShip offer carrier profiles with first-hand reviews and feedback ratings from past customers so you know exactly who you are trusting your boat to.

This article was contributed by our friends at uShip. uShip is the world’s largest and most trusted transportation marketplace, primarily serving the freight, household goods and vehicle shipping markets.

Are you a fellow boater that has to experience 3-5 months away from their vessel? Finally, we can celebrate the arrival of warm weather! Our goal is to make sure you have the best experience when out on the water. Whether you are fishing, wake boarding or any other water activity, we provide enough information to ensure this happens.

First things first, if you had to winterize the boat, then it is time to clean it up and get it ready for summer. If you have a Johnson/Evinrude check out the cold start procedures shared on iboats.com Boating Forums. After you’ve cleaned the boat out, it’s time to double check all of your equipment to make sure it meets 2013 Coast Guard regulations. Life Jackets fall under this equipment check, make sure you have enough life jackets for all members on the boat.

If you haven’t attended a safety class before, then we strongly recommend you visit at least on in your area. Many classes are offered for recreational boaters of all ages. Find a boating safety course near you today and get signed up.

The boating safety course should cover the final bit of details needed before getting out on the water this summer. Also, make sure you know your way around the water. It can be really helpful to know where the shallow spots are. Use our marine navigation charts, maps and software to help you navigate this summer.

Pettit Marine Paint is celebrating their 150th anniversary this year, but just because they have been around since 1861 doesn’t mean they’re resting on their laurels. Throughout the company’s life, Pettit has consistently thrived as an industry leader by bringing the most effective and advanced products to the market, today that tradition continues.
Long before the ban on tin in the late 1980’s, Pettit Paint was producing tin-free antifouling paints to reduce the environmental impact caused by TBT. Pettit’s team of scientists worked tirelessly to develop highly effective products that are less damaging to the environment. Over the past few decades, they have continued the quest to advance the marine coatings market by creating and utilizing new technologies that are cleaner and greener.

Pettit’s Hydrocoat technology is the only paint film of its kind on the market. Developed over 20 years ago, Hydrocoat has grown to become the best selling water-based bottom paint. The family of Hydrocoat antifouling products, Hydrocoat, Hydrocoat SR, and soon to be released Hydrocoat Eco, all offer highly effective, multi-season protection while yielding a VOC content less than half that of California’s strictest regulations. Advantages such as convenient soap and water clean up, easy application, no heavy solvent smell, and the ability to overcoat just about any pre existing coating have made these products a favorite among DIY boaters and professional applicators alike.

When Jansen Pharmaceuticals developed their metal-free biocide Econea, Pettit became an obvious choice to develop paint films that could best utilize the organic biocide’s strong antifouling properties. The result was Ultima Eco, the first multi-season, copper-free, bottom paint in the world. Within the next few months, Pettit will be releasing Hydrocoat Eco, the first water-based antifouling paint to combine Econea with Hydrocoat technology.

Pettit’s exclusive Clean Core Technology was developed to remove the heavy metals commonly found in bottom paints, replacing them with more environmentally friendly additives. This amazing advancement reduces the amount of heavy metals released into the waters by up to 50% while providing a more “fine tuned” and consistent release of the biocides from the paint film. This results in cleaner, more effective bottom paints that require lower biocide levels to deliver full antifouling protection. Clean Core Technology is now featured in all of Pettit’s antifouling paints.