Road Haulage of boat - Likely costs?

KevO

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Am potentially wanting to move a 30ft Yacht (6500lbs) plus its cradle from Essex to Falmouth. Anyone moved something similar recently and have an idea of the likely costs? Am just trying to get an idea of the going rate. :)
 
Rates can vary hugely so unless somebody has just had a similar job done, any suggestion is a guess. Very easy to get half a dozen quotes on line to get an idea of going rate which will vary by anything up to 50% in my experience. Part if this depends on how much they want your business and part depends on the type of rig they use, so you will need to be fairly specific about the type of boat.

However when you get to do the job you will find there are ways of significantly reducing costs, particularly by being flexible and getting a return load. Inevitably there is not a regular all year round traffic, so you may find the best time is in winter. Ask in the yards at each end and in brokers to find out who they use as regulars offer the best chance of a good deal.
 
Am potentially wanting to move a 30ft Yacht (6500lbs) plus its cradle from Essex to Falmouth. Anyone moved something similar recently and have an idea of the likely costs? Am just trying to get an idea of the going rate. :)

Google 'boat transport.uk' lots of hits. Transport companies are not doing too well at the moment. Just an idea but S of France to the chanel. Has recently been done for £3,000 and Portsmouth to S of France for £4,500.

Mileage about 650 + ferry in the 2nd case.
 
I got a quote about a year ago for a thirty footer over a shorter distance (around 100 miles) and I think that the figure was around £800. Do bear in mind that the boat will need to be de-rigged before it is loaded and re-rigged at the other end. The transport company I spoke to expected me to arrange that work at my expense - you will also probably have to pay separately for the lifts on and off the trailer at each end. The rigging plus crane work is likely to add £500 or more. I think I came to the conclusion that the total bill was likely to be around £2000 for a journey of around 100 miles. Of course, the non-transport costs are not distance related, so it will not scale linearly with distance.

Do check on insurance as well - most standard boat insurances offer very limited cover, if any, for road transport, so make sure that your chosen haulage company has adequate cover for your comfort.
 
Thanks all,

I'm just trying to get a picture of what it is likely to cost by road. I could lift her in and sail her round (and might decide to do that anyway) but I would have to move the cradle by road anyway... its too good to just leave behind. The cradle was part of the deal and I want to keep hold of it rather than rely on wooden props in future.
 
It cost me £800 to get my Westerly Storm, (6.7 ton gross weight) from Dartmouth to Portland. That was just the road haulage, craning and de rigging were extra, plus £100 for a police escort out of Dartmouth.
 
I have just sold a 25ft Folkboat for a client and the buyer needed it delivered from Lymington to Falmouth by road.

Quotes were £800 excluding lifts and rigging.
 
Try the Shiply website. If you want a boat moved, you post what kind of boat, current location and destination., and whether she is on a trailer or needs craned onto a low loader. Hauliers then bid for your business. What seems to happen is that haulers who have a load one way, but no return load, will offer a good price. We recently moved a caravan from Devon to Scotland for £300, and had quotes varying from £400 - £900 for a 21 foot boat on a roadworthy trailer from Southern England to the Clyde.

You may have to be a bit flexible on dates, but we were happy enough with it. With the current cost of fuel, accommodation and meals en route, let alone our time, the lower quotes were excellent value.
 
It cost me £1400 to move my 35ft fin keel boat from Helensburgh to Plymouth plus lifts at both ends. It did depend on being flexible on dates so they could line up a return load.

Yoda
 
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