moving a yacht by road

[Birdseye]

my new to me 30 footer is on the opposite side of the country and I dont fancy sailing the 500nm involved in April. So I am thinking of road transport using South West Boat Transport. If anyone has used them and had negative experiences, can they please PM me?

Any recoomended alternatives in the southen half of the UK?

Any tips on preparing the boat for transport? Particularly storing the mast and boom etc.

 

[wombat88]

I'm sure they are fine, I think they have been around for some time but I suggest you get a quote from Shiply.com and compare prices. Don't forget cost of cranes at either end!

 

[Lightwave395]

Unless you're time critical, as I'm sure others will suggest depending on the where from and the where to it's always good to try and get a 'return load' price if you can. Admittedly back in 2005 I got a return load price of £1100 from Holyhead to Hamble, including escort where required from a transport company that delivered Beneteaus' all over UK .
My neighbour has just now got a similar deal in Europe from a Belgian boat transport Co - 2000 euros - to deliver a Targa 31 Mobo from Croatia to Antwerp

 

[Tranona]

Just used them going the other way from Neyland to Poole with my Golden Hind. £1500. Got 5 quotes all in the range £1500-1800. The ideal is to get a back load but the traffic to and from Wales and the east is not as great as north south, so you might have to be more flexible.

Budget about £2500 - 3000 as your mileage will be greater and mast unstepping and prep for transport plus crane at the other end will be close to £500 and crane of your end £200 plus mast stepping.

Easy to get comparative quotes for the truck - just google boat transport south and west (or the other end where your boat is) and you will plenty of choice. Nearly all have on line quote forms and you will get responses within hours. You can also try Shiply but they are often short notice offers.

 

[Sianna]

I used them to bring my 28ft Leader from Penton Hook to Southampton, very efficient and it arrive bang on time

 

[STATUE]

my new to me 30 footer is on the opposite side of the country and I dont fancy sailing the 500nm involved in April. So I am thinking of road transport using South West Boat Transport. If anyone has used them and had negative experiences, can they please PM me?

Any recoomended alternatives in the southen half of the UK?

Any tips on preparing the boat for transport? Particularly storing the mast and boom etc.

Poole Boat Transport moved my Frances 26 into a really awkward store area on a farm. Eventually the buyer also used them .Ring 'em and ask for Tina.

 

[anoccasionalyachtsman]

As far as preparing the boat goes, get plenty of old carpet if you can. The boom and pole would normally be down on the cabin floor, but wrap the ends well, and anywhere they might touch on door frames, table etc. The damage that they can do when unprotected has to be seen to be believed. You might need the pulpit and pushpit off, route depending, if not you can take a view on whether they're strong enough for the mast. Strip off all the standing rigging and I pull the halyards to the top and coil the bottom ends into a big coil that hangs and gives tailgaters something else to notice. Better to get the mast down near the deck if you can, but if not, wooden X frames may be useful, and stuff that can be securely lashed in place like fenders can make decent supports on the coachroof. Again, plenty of padding lashed around any of the lumps that might touch the deck - spreader roots, cleats, winches etc. Go mad with the lashing but be careful to keep the mast straight and well supported in the middle. Mast overhang should be over the front as much as poss, the height of it at the front might need thought if it's a tall tow vehicle. (Hire companies don't seem to check the roof for damage, thankfully). As far as tying the boat down, loads of straps, but the transport co will want too take that on.

 

[Tranona]

As far as preparing the boat goes, get plenty of old carpet if you can. The boom and pole would normally be down on the cabin floor, but wrap the ends well, and anywhere they might touch on door frames, table etc. The damage that they can do when unprotected has to be seen to be believed. You might need the pulpit and pushpit off, route depending, if not you can take a view on whether they're strong enough for the mast. Strip off all the standing rigging and I pull the halyards to the top and coil the bottom ends into a big coil that hangs and gives tailgaters something else to notice. Better to get the mast down near the deck if you can, but if not, wooden X frames may be useful, and stuff that can be securely lashed in place like fenders can make decent supports on the coachroof. Again, plenty of padding lashed around any of the lumps that might touch the deck - spreader roots, cleats, winches etc. Go mad with the lashing but be careful to keep the mast straight and well supported in the middle. Mast overhang should be over the front as much as poss, the height of it at the front might need thought if it's a tall tow vehicle. (Hire companies don't seem to check the roof for damage, thankfully). As far as tying the boat down, loads of straps, but the transport co will want too take that on.

This boat will almost certainly go on a low loader rather than on a trailer. There is almost certainly room for the mast on the bed under the boat - that is how mine was loaded. I paid the local rigger to do it all at little more than the cost of driving up there and staying overnight to do it myself. Unless you really have experience it is best to leave moving boats of this size to the professionals.

 

[anoccasionalyachtsman]

This boat will almost certainly go on a low loader rather than on a trailer. There is almost certainly room for the mast on the bed under the boat - that is how mine was loaded. I paid the local rigger to do it all at little more than the cost of driving up there and staying overnight to do it myself. Unless you really have experience it is best to leave moving boats of this size to the professionals.

You're quite right, it may well be on a low loader and mast down low, but 30' is still within the capability of a trailer - I was thinking of smaller operators.

 

[Caer Urfa]

I survey quite a few boats that have just been transported with the usual broken bits mainly because if the owner had taken a little more time protecting things most items particularly on the mast items would have been ok,

No 1 remove VHF and GPS aerials from masthead, remove wind indicators from mast head, (yes many leave them on still) bubble wrap any navigation or deck lights, radar, secure the spreaders, tie off running rigging and don't loose the tabernacle bolts if fitted.

On the boat itself any good transport company will expect you to remove ALL dodgers, covers, cockpit seat covers, danbuoy's , life-rings, winch handles, flags etc as they will either just blow off or get damaged in transport as don't forget that truck could be doing 60 mph up the motorway.

 

[Birdseye]

As far as preparing the boat goes, get plenty of old carpet if you can. The boom and pole would normally be down on the cabin floor, but wrap the ends well, and anywhere they might touch on door frames, table etc. The damage that they can do when unprotected has to be seen to be believed. You might need the pulpit and pushpit off, route depending, if not you can take a view on whether they're strong enough for the mast. Strip off all the standing rigging and I pull the halyards to the top and coil the bottom ends into a big coil that hangs and gives tailgaters something else to notice. Better to get the mast down near the deck if you can, but if not, wooden X frames may be useful, and stuff that can be securely lashed in place like fenders can make decent supports on the coachroof. Again, plenty of padding lashed around any of the lumps that might touch the deck - spreader roots, cleats, winches etc. Go mad with the lashing but be careful to keep the mast straight and well supported in the middle. Mast overhang should be over the front as much as poss, the height of it at the front might need thought if it's a tall tow vehicle. (Hire companies don't seem to check the roof for damage, thankfully). As far as tying the boat down, loads of straps, but the transport co will want too take that on.

Thanks for that. It will be a low loader but I hadnt thought about things rattling round inside. Got lots of bits of carpet and bubble wrap in the loft

 

[Praxinoscope]

We have a local independent U.K. Lea Colman, who is very good with boat transport and very competitive on price,
try contacting him on lea5872@gmail.com. Mob: 078813700249.

 

[The Q]

Why to remove breakable items.
A common sight on our local roads...

 

[WoodyP]

We have a local independent U.K. Lea Colman, who is very good with boat transport and very competitive on price,
try contacting him on lea5872@gmail.com. Mob: 078813700249.

I used him for Grimsby to Milford Haven. Pleased with the price and the service. He timed the trip with another delivery which reduced costs but did delay the move but I was ok with that. Thanks for the tip Mr P?