Important Tips when Preparing Your Boat for Transport

• Tip #1: When preparing your boat for transport, it’s important to secure everything. No matter how far your boat is travelling, you should secure it as if it were crossing an ocean. Secure anything that extends beyond the hull and anything loose that could cause damage during the voyage. Secure hatches with tape to avoid leaks and possible water damage and latch all cabin windows. Also remember to tape interior cabinet doors shut, securely close the cabin doors and lock all exterior doors.
• Tip #2: Make sure the boat transportation company offers voyage insurance that will adequately protect your vessel if anything should go wrong.
• Tip #3: Inform the yacht transportation company of your vessel’s specs in advance. Make sure your measurements are accurate, because they are allocating space for your boat according to the information you give them. Keep in mind, they want to know your boat’s actual weight – not its Tonnage. If you’re not sure where to find this information, look in your boat’s stability book for Displacement.
• Tip #4: Inspect your boat for damages and take pictures to document any that already exist. Also, if you dismantle any parts to fit size requirements or prevent them from getting damaged, be sure to take pictures of their location and set-up.
• Tip #5: Remove all personal items from the cabin and store any breakables in a safe place. Your boat may be traveling on another boat, but it’s still going to experience the force of the ocean. Don’t forget to remove any prohibited items from your vessel’s lockers, especially if you’re going to be passing through customs.
• Tip #6: Protect the outside of your yacht form soot, salt, etc. with shrink wrap. If your vessel is too large to cover completely, just stick to the most vulnerable areas such as teak and non-skid surfaces. Also cover all stainless steel and chrome fittings or apply an insulator wax to this exposed metal. If possible, remove and store the windshields.
• Tip #7: Deliver your ship as light as possible. Empty all fuel and water tanks as much as possible, however, keep enough on board to get to and from the transport ship. Remove anchors from the deck, remove drain plugs from the hull and make sure there is no water in the bilge. You may also want to flush and sanitize your tanks with a chlorine bleach solution.
• Tip #8: Power down everything, unplug your batteries and store your cables to prevent any contact. You don’t want dead batteries when your vessel is offloaded at your destination.
• Tip #9: Bring your original registry and boat keys on the date of your trip. Also, make sure you have all necessary customs paperwork if you’re going on an international voyage.

If you’re transporting a sailing yacht: Remove sails or protect them with covers. All boats need to fit height requirements.

If your voyage is during winter months: Weatherize the engine and drain air conditioning unit.

If you’re preparing a wooden boat for transport: Use linseed oil to help prevent the wood from drying out.

There are several important steps you need to take to ensure smooth sailing for your vessel. However, once you do the preliminary work you are free to sit back, relax and rest assured knowing that your yacht is in good hands.

Contact DYT and schedule your next boat transport voyage today.