BE AN EDUCATED CONSUMER ......
		J. Daniel Marine the Yacht Transport Specialists (800)488-5933	! BEWARE THE DANGERS ! ! AVOID THE RIP-OFFS !
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		TIPS to getting a GREAT transport Experience !

 

We have been in business for over 23 years exclusively transporting large yachts cross-country. During that time we have heard a lot of horror stories from fraud to pure recklessness from within the boating community regarding bad experiences with boat transport -- we have seen and heard alot!

In almost all of the cases - either the customer was too trusting or blinded by the enticement of a great price or assurance of a specific timeframe. Unfortunately they "paid the price" in the end for not being willing to pay the price in the beginning … and especially in yacht transportation … there is no getting around the fact that you get what you pay for.

So we thought it was timely that we compile a CHECKLIST to help educate the consumer and "arm" the client with techniques to better avoid the pitfalls and minimize the risks. Of course all the usual disclaimers apply as this is not a 100% guarantee against fraud --- but you should be better informed on how to achieve a GREAT transport experience!

Thank you and happy boating!

Dan and Nancy

 

1. Different modes of transportation

When planning to relocate your vessel from Point A to Point B it is helpful to start by understanding the different options available … by land or by sea?

The basic options are: if operational and waterway accessible your vessel can be moved on it's own bottom, or it can be loaded onto a sea-going ship or barge, or can be shipped overland via truck/trailer (sometimes it may require a combination of some or all of the above).You will need to assess the feasibility and costs associated with each one.

RISKS -->

The risk of moving a vessel on it's own bottom is the realistic fuel-consumption, obvious wear-and-tear on the running gear, the looming chance of breakdowns/groundings, insurance costs, and if so employed -- daily rates for a captain and crew.

The risks of shipping via an overseas shipping line is determining the real total cost of logistics -- longshoreman and port fees, insurance, cradle and transfer costs, etc. Our suggestion is to employ a reputable shipping broker WHO SPECIALIZES IN BOATs to assist you in assessing the real costs -- get the quotes itemized so you are sure you are comparing "apples to apples" and your quotes are truly all-inclusive. Get references from past customers.

The rest of this dialog will address understanding overland transportation and minimizing the associated risks …

 

2. Know your vessel specs - size matters!

As a professional transporter it is our practice to research and obtain the specifications of all vessels we are requested to transport. However, there are some carriers who rely solely on the accuracy of the client's input.

The specifications of most vessels are well-documented by those manufacturers who are still in operation and are the best source for this information. For all others we advise to consult valid publications and/or take your own measurements. Be aware that actual vessel weights can vary for many reasons -> some builders publish hull displacement weights before any rigging/gear has been installed --> some vessels can add as much as 10,000 lbs with commissioning and provisions.

The length, width, height and weight will impact the cost of an overland transportation. Of all the dimensions - "height" is the most readily reducible (unless the structure is molded or welded). For a sailboat this obviously entails stepping the mast and perhaps the rails and stanchions while for a powerboat this could entail dismantling a flybridge, radar arch or tower. Depending upon the size of the dismantled components - and remaining hull - for the larger vessels this may require the use of more than one truck to complete the transport in order to travel through the states necessary to get from point A to B.

RISKS -->

1. Equipment? Different carriers use different types and styles of equipment. Some have trailers that can load your vessel lower than others and therefore some components may not need to be dismantled. Some can handle more weight - most are air-ride but some are not. Ask for a description of the equipment that will be used.

2. Be wary of low bids! Without getting into the nitty-gritty of the different requirements for each state (because they do vary) suffice it to say that sometimes additional vehicles (called escort/pilot cars or police escorts) are required to accompany the load for a safe and legal transport. Some carriers may forego these vehicles to reduce costs but at great risk to you and your investment -- IF IT'S NOT LEGAL then in the event of a mis-hap IT MAY NOT BE COVERED by their insurance.

Another technique we have heard is a carrier could load your vessel onto the trailer (get possession) and then start increasing costs because of the inaccuracy of the dimensions the client provided. Make sure you have made the carrier aware of any custom or after-factory add-ons. This should all be well-documented in a contract (discussed later).

 

3. Different types of carriers!

There are basically three types of transporters you can choose from:
1) A transport BROKER - or a freight forwarder - provides a service by sub-contracting to the actual carrier who will be moving your boat. Typically the broker will take a sales commission and pay the carrier the balance. Some brokers are forthright - others disguise themselves with vague and misleading language about a fleet they may not actually own.
2) A TRANSPORT COMPANY owns multiple trucks and/or leases to owner-operators who own their own truck. In this case the transport company will carry the insurance (a few are self-insured). Sometimes you will - and sometimes you won't - know the driver actually assigned to moving your boat and often do not have direct access to him -- instead you will have contact with the dispatcher managing the fleet. Some in the industry say that if you have 50 boats to transport you hire a carrier that can supply 50 trucks -- but if you have only 1 boat to move then hire a carrier with 1 truck … which brings us to the next category ->
3) INDEPENDENT OWNER-OPERATOR. This carrier owns his own equipment and insurance and is the sole party responsible from start to finish. No added sales commissions - no "middleman" or dispatchers.

RISKS->

Know who you are doing business with before signing a contract or releasing any funds. GET A COPY OF THE INSURANCE CERTIFICATE - this will identify your actual carrier. But you are not done yet … CALL AND CHECK that it is valid. You can also request that you are made a "named certificate holder" in which case the insurance company will issue a certificate directly to you and notify you of any changes or lapses in coverage. Another option is to have your own agent who handles your boat insurance directly contact the carrier's agent to review and verify coverage while in transit (many of our clients do this).

 

4. Selecting the right carrier for you!

1. Get the "short list" ...

We always advise our potential clients to get at least 3 quotes from reputable transporters -- but how do you find them?

We have found the BEST source for a referral is to go right to the "front-line". Ask a BOAT YARD - because they see hundreds of pick-ups and deliveries every year and can verify the consistency of a transporter over time. A single happy client is good, but one call to a boat yard gives you the benefit of HUNDREDS of experiences. So seek out quality yards in the area (at both the pick-up AND delivery points) and ask them for their list of preferred carriers. Some boat yards post lists of preferred transporters on their webpages - others can hand you a written list.

The next great source is your yacht broker, boat dealer, marine surveyor, or other professional in the boating community.

2. Email a request for bid ...

Try to get everything in writing and then be sure to compare "apples to apples".

3. Interview your candidates ...

There is nothing better than a good conversation to give you an honest feeling as to whether or not the carrier is right for you - judge how they speak to you on the phone, their knowledge, and assess their follow-up. In all cases try to speak directly with the actual driver responsible for handling your vessel. Remember if they are not helpful at the selling stage … it probably won't get any better down the road (no pun intended).

4. Gather the credentials ... and CHECK them!

-> Get their references … and check them! You would be surprised how many people don't!
-> Get a copy of their insurance certificate… and validate it!
-> Get the carrier's MC# and check them out at the government website www.safersys.org to validate that they are an authorized carrier with a good record.
[By the way -- the government issues MC#s in chronological order so the lower the MC number is the longer the carrier has been operating -- this will separate the "men from the mice" for those claiming to have 20 years experience with a number only issued a few years ago!]
-> Visit their webpage. You can see for yourself the investment your carrier has made in presenting their company as well as see photos of their equipment and review other transports - this will be reflective of the years of experience they claim to have. Remember to validate any claims made on their sites!

 

5. Documents you must have!

Needless to say -- NEVER pay 100% in advance for the transportation -- however many reputable companies require a deposit to secure a booking. This actually demonstrates that you are dealing with a business-savvy operation that wants a commitment from a client who in turn is dealing in earnest. Standard deposits range from 25% to 50% -- just be sure it is clarified in writing the default policies for these advanced funds.

RISKS --> these (2) documents are a must before releasing any funds !!!

Make sure the total cost is clear (no hidden fees - clarify any fuel surcharges) and the timeframes.

1. Get a written contract which clarifies all the terms and conditions -- especially the handling of the deposit in the event of default.
2. Get a copy of their insurance certificate and validate it - you can also request to become a "named certificate holder" on their insurance.

 

6. Reported problems ...

Here are some cases of scam, fraud, or recklessness which have been reported to us over the years. Hopefully after reading all our previous dialog you should be enlightened to see how the client could have avoided these. But we recognize that there may be more on the horizon and so we will continue to update this site.

Case #1:OOPS!

A tall boat was delivered to a boat yard arriving with the topside damaged -- the carrier had hit a bridge along the route. The client wasn't too upset until he called the insurance which had been provided to him by the carrier .... only to discover that the actual policy was expired and no longer valid. When we asked if he had checked the certificate that the carrier had provided to him -- he said "no".

SUGGESTION --> validate the insurance before you select a carrier -- you can be made a "named certificate holder" to be notified directly by the insurance company about any changes in coverage!

J DANIEL MARINE--> we email our certificate of insurance with every written contract along with a written endorsement from our insurance agent verifying our flawless track record and offering direct contact for verification.

Case #2: SPECS!

The transporter will quote a price based upon the specifications you provide perhaps knowing that your figures are incorrect. Your vessel is loaded onto the trailer -- then once in possession -- they can begin dictating the new terms and prices. Others have been known to fail inspection at a federal weigh station along the route and are impounded until all fines are paid in full and transport price renegotiated to complete the journey (as much as doubled).

SUGGESTION --> be accurate with specifications and give yourself room on the actual weight (even travel hoist scales are not always accurate). Ask the carrier to clearly specify the limitations before you are subject to a price increase - maybe you need to hire a carrier with larger equipment and more weight capacity to begin with. Another option is simply not to declare any specifications at all -- leaving this information to the carrier for research.

J DANIEL MARINE --> we take responsibility to research the specifications prior to bidding and have on-board gages to measure the weight of your vessel before ever leaving the boat yard.

Case #3: NO-SHOW!

The transporter may accept a deposit to pick-up the vessel for a great price and on a desired date. Then, after numerous delays and reschedules, NEVER shows to pick-up the boat at all - eventually never even answering the phone. We get dozens of calls from these types of clients every year! The root to most of these has been a cheap bid -- the carrier bid the job low but then better paying work came in. Now the client is stuck paying additional yard fees and frantically seeking out another carrier ... but by now all the reputable ones are booked!

SUGGESTION --> get quotes from at least 3 reputable carriers and be wary of the low bids!

J DANIEL MARINE --> We are careful about committing to fixed dates because there are so many variables impacting safe travel -- reasonable delays do occur. Instead we commit to bookings with a window of flexibility which affords us the time to complete each transport properly and safely -- and at a fair market price.

Case #4: YOUR RISK!

A transporter may quote a low price but then inorder to reduce operating costs will eliminate the required escort vehicles or bypass purchasing permits. But it is YOUR INVESTMENT at risk in the event of an incident -- if it's not legal then it may not be covered by the transit INSURANCE!

SUGGESTION --> again -- get quotes from at least 3 carriers and be wary of the low bids!

J DANIEL MARINE --> We carry our own dedicated escort vehicle with us at all times and hire the additional pilot cars as required -- ordering all the necessary permits and all paperwork necessary to maintain a legal status and stellar insurance record.

Case #5: EQUIPMENT!

There are different types of boat transport trailers - most are air-ride, some are not - some are able to handle more weight - others can load your vessel at a lower shipping height.
Some carriers will not reveal that your vessel may NOT need to be dismantled if moved on a different trailer and you can incur unnecessary additional costs for dismantling/reassembly!

SUGGESTION --> ask about the carrier's equipment -- how low can your vessel be loaded and what are the weight limits and associated impact on price? Multiple bids should reveal this information for you and you can compare "apples to apples".

J DANIEL MARINE --> We use air-ride "wide belly" tri-axle Xtra-low trailers -- one is 53' fixed and the other one is 10' wide and stretches to 65' to accomodate the jumbo motor yachts. In addition we are one of the FEW that have a hydraulic 5th wheel on our 4-axle tractor so we can RAISE the trailer an additional 24" on demand to avoid ground obstructions like railroad tracks, etc. This means : your vessel rides as low as safely possible without the fear of getting stuck on dangerous objects -- no tow trucks yanking your loaded boat from risky positions.

7. To Internet or not?

Although there are websites on-line that provide a venue for carriers to bid on your transportation, you are engaging in an international internet brokerage environment with regulated dialog and restricted documentation exchange and/or validation until after you have paid an initial fee. BUYER BEWARE.

 

8. The final wrap on shrink!

In most cases we advise never to shrink-wrap a painted or cold-molded hull - unless the shrink-wrapper is experienced and willing to warranty his work. Special materials are available to protect areas of your hull that are susceptible to chafing from the shrink material.

The success of a shrink-wrap transport is based upon 2 key factors:

1. The application by the shrink-wrap contractor (padding the sharp points of your vessel which can puncture through the material while in transit, proper supporting, and a good heating job of the material with no weak areas or stretching, etc).

2. Maintenance of the shrink-wrap by the carrier while in transit (early repairs to any tears in the material, driving slow to minimize windage, etc).

RISKS -> This is a team effort -- you need a good contractor to apply the material and a willing carrier to do what is necessary to preserve it while in transit. Bottom-line is that the success of your shrink-wrap is only as good as the weakest link. The risk is that if the material tears on the journey it can cause serious "chafing" to your vessel and end up causing more harm than good.

 

FINAL: A Checklist for you ...

In summary here is a simple 7-step CHECKLIST to select the carrier which is right for you. Based upon your confidence with the initial referrals you receive in step 1 you can skip forward to the necessary steps 5-7.

STEP1 - Consult with reputable boat yards, yacht brokers, or any contacts you have in the boating community for referrals on a yacht transporter -- some may have a published list of preferred carriers.

STEP2 - Compose an email request for quote which includes the following information:
PART ONE/ Your info:
Your name and contact info, your vessel make/model/year and identify any after-factory add-ons, document the condition of your vessel, identify the transportation origin and destination (identify boat yards if known), state the desired timeframe and flexibility. Give them a target date to receive their responses.
PART TWO/Their info:
Request information such as a copy of insurance, Federal MC#, references, and a webpage. You may also ask to see photos of a similar vessel they have transported.

STEP3 - Issue your email request to those carriers you find are candidates.

STEP4 - Review and evaluate their responses -- scrutinize low bids -- and formulate a "short list".

STEP5 - Personally call the ones in which you are interested.

STEP 6 - Validate
Call references, call insurance, check their MC# @ www.safersys.org

STEP 7 - When you make your selection be sure you :
Get a signed contract and get a validated copy of their insurance BEFORE issuing a deposit.