What’s the Best Way to Transport a Boat Safely?

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motteatoj

Recruit
Joined
Apr 12, 2024
Messages
3
Hello everyone.

I’m looking for genuine advice on boat transport and hoping to learn from people with real experience. If you’ve ever moved a boat, what method did you use and why?

Is it better to hire a professional boat transport company, or is trailering it yourself a realistic option?

I’m especially curious about costs, safety concerns, and how much prep work is involved before transport. Are there common problems people run into, like damage or permit issues?

Any tips, warnings, or recommendations would be really helpful before I decide how to move mine.
 
M

motteatoj

Recruit
Joined
Apr 12, 2024
Messages
3
motteatoj said:
Hello everyone.

I’m looking for genuine advice on boat transport and hoping to learn from people with real experience. If you’ve ever moved a boat, what method did you use and why?

Is it better to hire a professional boat transport company, or is trailering it yourself a realistic option?

I’m especially curious about costs, safety concerns, and how much prep work is involved before transport. Are there common problems people run into, like damage or permit issues?

Any tips, warnings, or recommendations about boat transport services would be really helpful before I decide how to move mine.
Click to expand...
thanks in advance for any help
 
R

racerone

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 28, 2013
Messages
39,270
What size boat?----Location ?---Length of the trip ?--Nature of the roads along the trip ?-----Over 8 feet in the beam?
 
Bondo

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
71,368
motteatoj said:
Hello everyone.

I’m looking for genuine advice on boat transport and hoping to learn from people with real experience. If you’ve ever moved a boat, what method did you use and why?

Is it better to hire a professional boat transport company, or is trailering it yourself a realistic option?

I’m especially curious about costs, safety concerns, and how much prep work is involved before transport. Are there common problems people run into, like damage or permit issues?

Any tips, warnings, or recommendations would be really helpful before I decide how to move mine.
Click to expand...
Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,...... Answer Racer's questions if you want any reasonable answers,.....

Step one is to have a solid well maintained trailer, that fits the hull,....
 
R

racerone

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 28, 2013
Messages
39,270
Many different regulations.----All depends on your location.-----And the towing rating of vehicles is for when they were new.-----Many older ( rusty ) vehicles should be inspected before a " hefty " towing job is attempted !
 
J

Jeff J

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 23, 2021
Messages
437
Yep, the variables need to be narrowed down a bit. I own a 17.5 foot aluminum fishing boat that I don’t hesitate to drag across the country with my F150. I have towed 21 foot ski boats and 27 foot tri-toons with the same truck but would not want to go very far that way with the surge brakes jerking on my transmission. I pull heavier loads with the 18 foot dovetail without much concern or brakes (never got around to installing a controller).

We need to know what you are moving and what you have for equipment. I would NOT recommend moving it yourself if it’s very big and you have never towed anything like it. It’s a good way to get into real trouble. It doesn’t take much to cut a corner and have the trailer fall into a ditch or knock over a power pole. I had a friend with plenty of experience towing trailers catch a curb and destroy a tire and rim on a pontoon boat trailer.
 
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Lpgc

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jun 17, 2023
Messages
370
I tow my 95 Four Winns Sundowner 205 on unbraked trailer behind a Nissan Elgrand. Have towed it on narrow Welsh roads on which the trailer is wider than half the total width of the road, there are dry stone walls on both sides of the road, the road is winding, steep hills and heavy trucks come in the opposite direction lol.
 
Ifishmuskie2

Ifishmuskie2

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Oct 5, 2025
Messages
41
Probably the safest way I’ve moved a boat was with roof racks.
A boat on a trailer that is narrower than your tow vehicle is great.
What are you towing?
 
Scott Danforth

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
Staff member
Joined
Jul 23, 2011
Messages
51,921
Need to know what size.

I moved 4 times with boats. Trailered all 3 times. Pulled 2 times with the rented box truck, moved twice pulling with a truck

The last move had a smaller boat in the cockpit, and all my clothes were in the cabin
 
B

bakerjw

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 3, 2013
Messages
306
Could be AI training. We call them AIs but they are not truly intelligent. I believe that Musk bought Twitter to train Grok.
 
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