Transporting Your Boat

Transport your boat across town or across the county. Anacapa Marine Services will help you ship or receive your boat to or from anywhere.

The first step is to give us a call as early as possible after you know the date your boat will need to be put on the transport or the date your boat will arrive. In most cases we will need at least 2 weeks notice so we can schedule an adequate amount of hoist time, rigger time (if it is a sailboat), and boatwright labor time to prep or commission your boat.

The transport company you choose will have a checklist for you to follow. Once you choose your transport company (if you need some phone numbers, see below or give us a call, get a copy of their checklist and forward it to us.

PARTIAL LIST of BOAT MOVING COMPANIES

ABLE BOAT TRANSPORT (813) 425-3610
AFFORDABLE BOAT TRANSPORT (800) 865-5200
CAL WESTERN BOAT MOVERS (619) 296-9167
DUDLEY BOAT TRANSPORT (800) 426-8120
HAYS MARINE TRANSPORT (503) 318-4232
JOULE YACHT TRANSPORT (800) 237-0727
LYNN'S HEAVY DUTY TOWING (805) 648-7775
MOGER YACHT TRANSPORT (310) 515-6859
SAN DIEGO BOAT MOVERS (800) 660-8132
WILMINGTON BOAT MOVERS (562) 432-8767
WORLD TRANSPORT (800) 600-8625

AMS also has a checklist (see below) of things to consider when shipping your boat via over-the-road transport. Give us a call at (805) 985-1818 for a consultation. When we know all the details we can prepare an estimate of the approximate costs involved.

Preparation for Transportation of Vessels

1. Stow all loose gear and secure: Secure Everything inside and outside. Anchors Included.

2. Tie and or Tape the hatches from the outside. Seal leaky hatches.

3. Cabin windows should be latched and taped from the outside.

4. Drain fuel and water tanks.

5. Disconnect batteries and secure.

6. Remove any drain plugs from the hull. There should not be any water in the bilge.

7. During Winter months, water should be drained from water systems, pumps, etc. (The West Advisor has a good checklist for winterizing your boat.)

8. All boat tenders, superstructures (that have been removed) flying bridge, radar arches, antennas, biminis, should be well padded and tied down. Do not put tenders on davits.

9. If your power boat is low enough to ship with the flying bridge attached (10 FT, From Top of bridge to bottom of Keel)* remove lights, wheels, masts and windshields that protrude from the flying bridge.

10. A disconnected flying bridge must be situated in a cradle and be shipped on the forward deck or cockpit area.

11. Every point touching the deck or rails must be sufficiently padded.

12. Remove all electronics and valuable items from the bridge, pack securely and store inside the boat.

13. Masts must be unstepped. Rigging (refer to rigging page), winches, wind indicators and lights should be removed. Carpet should be provided for the mast at the points of tie down. (Expect some chafing, especially painted masts) Pack wood around the carpeted mast to stop movement.

14. Life lines, stanchions, bow and stern pulpits should be removed if they render the boat over height. (Usually boats over 30' and 11' high)*

15. Center board vessels should have the center board secured in the up position during transit. Keel sailboats may expect some separation where the keel joins the hull. This is not structural, but rather the paint or filler cracking at the joint. Lightly built or racing sailboats can expect some hull indentation from the support pads.

16. All canvas covers should be removed as they will tear or fly off in transit.

17. Remove the propellers, flag masts, lights, outriggers, antennae and sunshields from, power boats.

18. If your boat has its own cradle, please inspect it carefully for loose bolts or weakness of any kind.

19. Call your Boat Transit Company for legal height. The legal height over the road is 13'6".

Call (805) 985-1818 for more information.