A yacht is a luxury that cannot be afforded by most people. For those lucky few who can purchase, or have inherited a yacht, then this page will hope to explain how to prepare your yacht for safe transport. Having your yacht transported safely is very important, should any issues arise, or should you want it moved without doing it yourself? Some people live on their yachts while moored and never sail them – others are not confident sailing across the ocean. Yachts can be transported in many ways, but this page will focus specifically on cross-ocean transport.
Yachts come in all shapes and sizes, so transport is entirely subjective to the size and model of your yacht. Some yachts cannot be transported at all – while others can. It is often the larger yachts that encounter difficulty with transport, while the smaller ones are easier to move. Whichever size of yacht you have, this page will hope to offer you a few ways to prepare your yacht for safe transport. Considering a small yacht costs tens of thousands of dollars – it is no surprise yacht owners want their yachts transported effectively and safely.
Here is how to prepare your yacht for safe transport.
Reliable Transporter
When first preparing to move your yacht – you must find a reliable and trustworthy transporter. Yachts cost a lot of money, so it is only right you should want to find the best yacht transporter that money can buy to ensure your yacht is kept safe and transported effectively, although find a deal when you can. The yacht specialists from Cross Chartering Yacht Transportation share this sentiment and explain that a yacht transporter must be skilled, reliable, and cost-effective. If you entrust your boat into the hands of an unscrupulous and untrustworthy transporter, you risk compromising your boat and having it potentially damaged or not returned the way that you sent it out. Finding a reliable transporter is the first (and most important) part of the process.
Voyage Insurance
When you are locating a transporting company, look for voyage insurance; voyage insurance is essential, as if you do not have it (or the company does not offer it), you could wind up paying tens of thousands of dollars in repairs should your yacht become damaged. While voyage insurance is expensive, it safeguards your yacht and the belongings contained within.
Secure the Boat
When you are preparing to transport, and your transporter has been arranged, it’s time to secure everything inside the boat for transport. You must secure everything regardless of the distance in which your boat is traveling, as repairs can be very costly. Anything that could potentially cause damage must be secured and taped down – and you must tie down anything that extends past the hull. You must secure down hatches and windows to avoid leaks and water damage – latch the windows as well. It is also good practice to tape close cabin doors so that they do not fly open and cause damage to the interior of your yacht—lock exterior doors to prevent anyone from coming into your yacht during its transport.
Specifications and Measurements
You must update and inform the transportation company about your yacht’s measurements and specifications. You should ensure that the measures you provide are reliable and accurate, as if they are not, you will find that your boat could become damaged. You may be liable for delivering inaccurate measurements. They will allocate room for your yacht according to the specifications and measurements that you provide. They will want to know its weight, width, and depth.
Pre Existing Damages
Inspect your boat before it is loaded into the shipping container for damages and scratches. If there are any, take photographs of them – and if there is not, still take photographs. This will ensure that should any damages occur in your boat, that you will be able to prove in court (or to your insurance company) that they were not there, and those that were have become worsened. Take pictures of their exact locations and the damages themselves.
Personal Items
It is a good idea to empty your boat of personal belongings and items. This is because, firstly, your boat, while it will be traveling on another boat, will still experience the power of the ocean, and secondly, your boat will be on a boat with other people. It is not safe to leave your personal belongings, unattended around strangers. Remove anything that may be prohibited as you will likely be passing through customs.
Shrink Wrap
It is recommended by most transportation experts that when you are transporting your boat, you should shrink-wrap it to protect it from mineral build-up, soot, or salt. You can do this on most vessels providing you buy enough shrink wrap – but if you cannot, and your yacht is too large, then shrink-wrap the areas you believe will be the most vulnerable and open to damage. Cover all steel and chrome and apply wax to metal. Remove windshields if possible.
Weight
You should deliver your boat to the transportation vessel as light as is possible. You should remove all of the fuel and water form your yacht, although keep enough on board to get to and from the ship. Remove your anchors and remove drain plugs and ensure you have no water build-up in the bilge. Flush and clean your tanks with chlorine and bleach – as mold could grow during the transportation.
Electricity
It is also best that you turn all of the power off and power everything down. Remove batteries and store cables somewhere safe to prevent contact. You do not want dead batteries upon arrival, as it can mean your boat is stuck and will not move.
Registry
When you return to pick up your boat, be sure to bring your original registry and your yacht keys. Ensure you have all of the correct customs paperwork if your boat is going on an international voyage. It is always good practice to have your customs paperwork.
Now, with the help of this page, you know everything that one may want to know about safely transporting their yacht. Owing to the price of these boats, it is no surprise a yacht owner should wish to their yacht transported safely. With this page, you know now how.
