BOAT PREPARATION (Terms and Conditions)
We need you, the boat owner, to understand how to properly prepare and secure the boat for overland transportation. If the boat is not properly prepared for shipment, the boat will be shipped 'as is' and the carrier will not accept responsibility for any resulting damage.
Choose the right location
Please make sure pickup and delivery location are accessible for our trucks and no speed bumps, rail road rails or low hanging wires are in the way. The carrier cannot be responsible for damage due to low hanging tree limbs or branches. Please let us know in advance if your marina has low tree branches. Also, don’t hesitate to ask your marina to cut these branches back.
Please check if your marina has the right equipment to load/unload your boat and if they can assist you in prepping the boat for transport.
OUTSIDE YOUR BOAT
Check the height of your boat
Lifelines, stanchions, and bow/stern pulpits should be removed if they cause the boat to be over legal height.
The legal height limit is 14’0” in most States. This means that the total height of your boat should be no taller than 13' 6". If you boat is taller than 13’ 6", you will need to notify us immediately. Please check with your marina, if the radar can be removed and/or the radar arch be folded down.
Remove all flag masts, lights, outriggers, antennas, etc.
If your power boat is low enough to ship with the flybridge on, remove all lights, wheels, masts and windshields that protrude over the bridge. All Plexiglas should be removed and packed below with a cargo blanket. If your power boat is not low enough to ship with the flying bridge on, you will have to have a cradle built for the bridge to be shipped in on the forward deck or cockpit area. Every point touching the deck or rails must be sufficiently padded. Remove all electronics and valuable items from the bridge, pack securely, and store below.
Another way to reduce the overall height of your boat is in removing the props and rudders. In case they stick out below the keel, they will most likely need to be removed.
Equipment and Canvas
Equipment such as radios, depth sounders, knot meters and such should be removed from their brackets on deck and stowed inside the cabin. All electronics, radar, hailers, horns, antennas, propellers, flag masts, lights, anchor lights, etc., should be removed, packed securely and securely stored below. The carrier will not be responsible if they are damaged or if they vibrate off.
Remove anchors, spinnaker poles and any loose items from the deck and secure properly.
If you are shipping a dinghy on board or if you have had to remove any superstructure, these items should be well padded. DO NOT leave dinghy on davits.
All cloth and canvas, including but not limited to, side curtains, biminis, compass covers, boat covers, etc. should be removed in order to prevent wind damage. The carrier will not assume any responsibility for any canvas left on the topside of boat during shipment.
All ports, hatches, windows, etc. should be locked tightly shut. Check all fittings for weakness or rotting. If the hatches leak, seal them. Tie or tape over hatches, windows and locks from the outside. The carrier will not assume any responsibility for damages caused by hatches that blow open or windows that break due to wind damage.
For boats with outboard or I/O engines, please make sure that there is power to the battery in order to raise or lower your engine (s) or drives if needed. If you have a small outboard engine, i.e.: for a dinghy, please remove it from the boat and/or stow it properly in the cabin to prevent theft.
For all other boats, please disconnect batteries and secure, or if there is a disconnect switch, be sure the switch is in the “Off” position prior to
transporting.
Bottom Paint
The carrier will not be responsible for damages to bottom paint, which may peel off or scratch during long trips. Due to vibration during transport the paint might be damaged although the pads are secured with carpet and the carrier can not guarantee the paint condition.
Shrink wrapping
We can arrange to shrink-wrap boats; however shrink-wrap may not stand up to highway speeds or high winds. The drivers do carry extra shrink wrap tape and every effort will be made to repair the shrink wrap, however, if it starts to rip and come off, the driver may at his/her discretion, remove the wrapping. The carrier is not responsible for any damage that occurs due to shrink-wrap.
INSIDE YOUR BOAT
All items inside your boat should be stowed and properly secured. Drawers and cupboards should be taped shut. We do not assume any responsibility for damages that occur due to items shifting inside the cabin.
We cannot ship household goods inside the boat.
For safety and weight concerns, drain all water and fuel from tanks, holding tanks should also be empty to prevent any spillage during transport.
Remove any drain plugs from the hull. During winter months, water should be drained from water systems, pumps, air conditioners, etc.
Carrier will not assume responsibility for any household items left inside the boat: stereos, televisions and such should be secured. The cabin should be locked and the key taken with you. Please do not give the key to the driver, unless you have a duplicate.
Using your own trailer or cradle
If you are planning to ship your boat on a cradle or a trailer, some extra precautions should be taken.
Inspect the trailer/cradle carefully for loose bolts or weakness of any kind. Check the lights, brakes, bearings and tires for functionality and safety. Any damage during transit caused by faulty equipment will be fixed on owners account and downtime will be charged accordingly.
A cradle should fit and support the hull of your boat securely, and also be in good repair. Your boat needs to be well secured to the cradle or trailer. The carrier does not assume responsibility for damage attributed to these devices. Our driver, at his/her discretion, may decide to load your boat separately from the cradle or trailer, if he/she feels they will not stand up to the overland transportation.
Wooden Boats
Due to the inherent problems of a wood boat, the carrier does not accept any responsibility of damage or loss to a wood boat.
Additional Instructions for Sailboats
On center board sailboats, make sure the board is secured and will stay up in transit. Some sailboats may develop some separation between the keel and the hull. This is not structural damage but separation of the mounting bolts or drying out of the paint or filler. Light built or racing sailboats can expect some hull indentation form the support pads. These indentations generally disappear when the boat is returned to the water.
Sailboats also require a little more preparation, standing rigging, turnbuckles, masthead lights, antennas, wind indicators, mast winches, spreaders, and etc. should be removed from the mast. The carrier does not assume liability for damage attributable to rubbing and/or chaffing by equipment left on the mast. Mast should not be freshly painted prior to shipment because of chaffing. Mast should be wrapped in plastic film since it will be secured on the trailer beside the boat, as it may get road grime on it. Carpet should be provided for the mast at the tie down points. Do only secure the mast to the top of the boat boat after confirmation from carrier, since there is a space on the trailer for the mast. Should the mast be secured to the boat, the carrier will not assume liability for damages caused by mast hitting the sailboat while in en-route.
Please make every effort to prepare the boat according to these guidelines. Oversee the preparation yourself or have a qualified yard do so.
All of our drivers are fully licensed and insured. They are experienced, dependable boat transporters who will take the utmost care to deliver your boat in the best condition. However, please keep in mind that the boat has to be strong enough to withstand overland shipment. The carrier cannot take responsibility for damage due to weakness or inherent dry rot. The carrier is not responsible for damage due to weather and vandalism.
The carrier cannot be responsible for damage due to improper preparation or loading by the owner or his/her agent, for faulty or defective cradles, trailers, chains, binders, or other equipment provided by the owner or his/her agent to secure the cargo.
The driver will perform a brief inspection only of the exterior of the boat. The condition of the boat will be noted on a condition report. You, the owner, or your agent will be asked to sign this report at the point of pickup. At delivery, the boat will again be inspected; the condition report signed. Any damage noted by you or your agent upon delivery must be noted on the bill-of-lading and signed when you or your agent accepts delivery of the boat. Photos will
be taken at loading and unloading. A copy of the condition report will be send to your email.
Truck My Boat's liability is limited to terms and conditions warrantied by insurance underwriters and to actual damages caused by collision, theft or vandalism as outlined under insurance policy terms. In the event of any damages to the Boat, insurance claim has to be submitted and claim decision rendered by underwriters will be considered as final to both parties. Insurance claim has no bearing on payment of freight or balance of freight due to the carrier under current transport contract.