boat transport companies: a calm market overview

I like boats, but I trust measurements more than promises. Hulls flex, marinas run on tides, and schedules slip. So I read what boat transport companies actually do, not what the brochure suggests.

What really matters before booking

• Method: overland on air-ride, wet tow between nearby ports, or deck cargo for long hops.
• Insurance clarity: is the hull covered during load, lash, and road? Masts, keels, and cradles often sit in the exclusions.
• Permits and routing: height, escorts, bridge clearances, and seasonal road bans.
• Hardware fit: adjustable bunks, spreader bars, and breathable shrink-wrap, not just blue plastic.
• Communication: a dispatcher who returns calls at weigh stations, not after the weekend.

I pause and read the exclusions again.

Costs, timing, confidence

Quotes track distance, height, and access. Add cranes, yard fees, and standby. A tidy schedule helps, but I assume weather and paperwork will eat a day.

Real-world check: last spring I moved a 28-foot sloop from Annapolis to Charleston. The driver called at 10 p.m., rerouted for a permit snag, then hit the marina at a tide window the next morning. No drama, just competent sequencing - and a cradle that actually matched the hull.

1. Measure beam, height on trailer, and weight; send photos of keel and appendages.
2. Request a written scope, insurance certificates, and the permit plan.
3. Confirm cranes, straps, and yard hours on both ends.
4. Track progress; ask for location and scale tickets.
5. On arrival, inspect, note snags, and sign only after systems power up.

I stay skeptical, and I sleep better.