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Boat Transportation
Most of the time, boats are hauled behind a car or truck, but if you're going to be shipping your car, or don't want to haul a boat for thousands of miles across the country, you'll need another method. This is actually not that difficult.
Talk to your auto shipping company to see if they can accommodate boats. Not every company has the equipment necessary, so check this ahead of time. It's usually easier to ship your car and your boat with the same company, so make sure the one you want to use for your other vehicles is also ready to take the boat.
The company will need special equipment to take the boat. They may be able to fit it into an enclosed trailer, or it may be placed on the regular open trailer, depending on space and equipment.
You should make sure you have a tarp to cover the boat and keep out dust and debris while it's on the road. This will help it arrive in better condition. Just attach the tarp securely before it's loaded.
Boat transportation can get a little tricky if you have a larger than normal boat, so make sure you give the measurements when talking to the car transport company. They'll be able to tell quickly if they can handle it or not.
Motorcycle Shipping
Motorcycles are infinitely easier to ship than a boat, because of their small size. You can fit a motorcycle into just about any cargo without problems. Because of this, they are usually shipped with the cars. You may want to request that your bike be placed in an enclosed trailer for extra protection.
The main thing to determine when deciding on a motorcycle shipping company is whether or not the company has the appropriate restraints for a bike. Don't let them use auto restraints, since those won't be adequate for the much narrower motorcycle. Your bike should be placed at the front or middle of the carrier, too, not the back. Since a motorcycle is easier to maneuver, it's also easier to steal. Positioning is one way to make that less likely to happen.
Whether you are looking at motorcycle shipping or boat transportation, keep in mind that you will need to check out what type of insurance the company carries for these vehicles. In most cases, you'll want to supplement with your own, which means talking to your insurance company about travel insurance for the boat or bike and possibly adding a little to your existing policy if it doesn't cover third party transport.
Using a transport company to move your vehicles is a great way to ease the hassle of getting from one place to another. Even if you are only moving a few states over, you'll want to take advantage of a transport company's ability to make the move happen smoothly. Then you can focus on other things, like packing and getting yourself and your family to the new location.
Motorcycle shipping is usually a lot easier to find than boat transportation, but if you can, it's best to get a company that can move all your vehicles. This might include your car, as well as the bike or boat. You'll save a lot of time and perhaps even money, by getting the same company to do everything for you. Plus, you'll only have to deal with one service.
