With around 11.6 million recreational boats registered in 2024 in the United States, it’s not uncommon for auto shippers to move boats. However, not everyone of them is experienced in moving sailboats, and that too, at an affordable cost. Of course Easy Auto Ship moves all kinds of boats, yachts, and other watercrafts, so we’re better positioned to tell how how much to transport a sailboat, Let’s uncover the costs and the factors influencing them:
Sailboat Transport Options Compared:
Self-Towing
If you’re thinking of self-towing your sailboat it’s important to understand what you’re getting yourself into. If your sailboat is around 2.59 meters wide you’ll be better off with a standard vehicle. Anything bigger and you’ll need a permit or even a professional to haul it for you.
Another important thing to keep in mind is to make sure your trailer is up for the job. It needs to have working lights, brakes, a winch and must be able to bear the weight of your sailboat. The towing hitch should have a reasonable towing capacity, too. Before driving off, take a minute to secure the boat well and cover it with a protective shade.
As far as the price is concerned, your final bill will depend on factors such as fuel consumption, trailer rentals and the dimensions of your sailboat.
Professional Towing Services
If you’re not up to self-tow, you can always hire a professional to do it for you. Professional towing services take the hassle out of the job. They know what they’re doing, they’ve got the right equipment and training to do it safely and efficiently. Their insurance coverage also has you covered in case things go south.
These services usually handle moves within your city and even the next town over. If you need a crane to lift or launch your sailboat, they can handle that aspect for you, too. This sort of peace of mind obviously comes at a steep price. Generally it’ll cost around $500 to $800 to tow a 30 foot sailboat across a distance of about 100 miles. Prices will vary depending on the route you take and the provider you opt for.
Shipping a Sailboat on a Cargo Ship for International Moves
If you’re planning to ship your sailboat overseas, cargo shipping is the way to go. This process usually involves hiring an agent to handle all the nitty gritty details for you. An agent will manage your boat’s shipping to the port of origin and then ensure its safely loaded for international RoRo move. Once your sailboat arrives at its destination safely you’ll also need to transport it to a marina or a storage facility.
While it’s hard to provide an exact figure for international move, shipping a 30 foot boat will typically start at $2000 base price for RoRo (only port to port). Distance, time of year and extra services will drive up the cost. Add-ons will also include import fees, customs and insurance.
Hiring Auto Transporter for National Road Moves
If your sailboat has a long-haul ahead of it, auto transport companies are your best bet. These companies specialize in long-distance boat moves and can take care of preparing your boat for its journey ahead. This includes draining fluids including petrol which is considered a Class 3 flammable liquid, securing any loose gear and strapping the sailboat securely.
The cost depends on how far you’re going and the size of your sailboat. Short distance trips (500 to 1000 miles) would cost $1.5 to $3.75 per mile. Longer hauls of about 1500 to 2000 miles would cause the price to drop to $1 to $2.5 per mile.
How Boat Transport Cost Per Mile is Calculated?
There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to transportation costs per mile. A big part of what determines the final cost you pay is the size of your boat. A houseboat and a yacht may be travelling the same distance, but their size difference changes the final cost simply because the latter is harder to handle.
Big boats require special gear, permits and extra care which all add to the final cost. The starting point also affects the cost. Some pickup locations may be trickier or may have higher base rates for transport.
If you’re trying to figure out how much it’ll cost to transport your sailboat, start with the most obvious factor: its size. This usually means measuring three important things:
- Length: start from the tip of the bow to the center of the stern to find its length
- Height: start from the highest fixed point all the way down to the bottom of the keel
- Beam width: this is the widest part of your ship and is usually measured around the middle of the sailboat
Once you’ve got these numbers you can request an accurate quote from shipping companies.
Prices tend to vary mostly depending on the boat beam size. For instance, a sailboat with a 12 foot beam might cost $2.5 to $3.5 per mile to ship.
This means if you’re shipping a 12-foot wide sailboat across 2500 miles and you’re given a quote of $3 per mile, you’ll pay a final cost of $7500.
The answer to how much it costs to transport your boat isn’t fixed and depends on a number of factors. Here are some examples of how much to transport a sailboat from the east coast to the west coast:
| Beam Width | Boat Transport expenses Per Mile | Example Boat Transport Distance | Example Price | Total Boat Transport Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 9 Ft | $1.50-$2.50 per mile | 2,500 | $2 | $5,000 |
| 9 Ft | $1.75-$2.75 per mile | 2,500 | $2.25 | $5,625 |
| 10 Ft | $2-$3 per mile | 2,500 | $2.5 | $6,250 |
| 11 Ft | $2.25-$3.25 per mile | 2,500 | $2.75 | $6,875 |
| 12 Ft | $2.50-$3.50 per mile | 2,500 | $3 | $7,500 |
| Over 12 Ft | $2.75-$3.75 per mile | 2,500 | $3.75 | $9,375 |
Boat Transport Case Studies and Cost Estimates of Moving 40’ Sailboat
We’ll kick off with the Per Mile Cost for different sizes. For instance, the price of transporting a 40ft boat per mile would fall from $9.50 to $10.50. If you have a larger 35ft boat the cost would maybe be a little less - in the range of $8.25 to $9.25 per mile. The cost would be even less for a 30ft boat - in the range of $7.00 to $8.00 per mile.
Moving on to some real-life boat transport case studies:
Let’s start with a 30ft sailboat transport.
- Shipping a 30ft boat for short distances such as 100 miles would cost between $700 to $800.
- If you move the boat 200 miles, the price doubles, i.e., $1400 to $1600.
- If the distance is a little longer like 400 miles, then prepare to pay between $2800 to $3200.
- Expect the price to increase further from $4900 to $5600 for 700 miles
- For 900 miles, expect to shell out $6300 to $7200 on boat transport.
If you’re doing a 35ft sailboat transport:
- A 100 mile boat moving cost for a 35ft vessel can fall between $825 to $925.
- If you move a 35ft boat 200 miles, you might need to pay $1650 to $1850
- For 400 miles, moving can cost $3300 to $3700.
- For longer distances like 700 miles, it would cost you between $5775 to $6475
- For 900 miles, the expense would range from $7425 to $8325.
For a 40ft sailboat transport:
- Expect to pay $950 to $1050 for 100 miles of boat shipping.
- If you ship 200 miles, the price can be $1900 to $2100
- As for 400 miles, expect to pay $3800 to $4200.
- Hauling the boat 700 miles means spending between $6650 to $7350
- The cost to move your boat 900 miles would be between $8550 to $9450.
Nevertheless, these are just ballpark estimates. The final bill to move your boat can fluctuate depending on different variables.
For example you might have to pay additional taxes, permit fees, or oversize costs. Similarly, for large boats, cranes or forklifts might be used for loading and unloading, which can increase the overall boat transport expenses.
Tip: If you’re moving the boat long distances, let’s say over 2,000 miles or to another country via sea, it’s sometimes better to sell it and then add the money you may have spent on transport to the amount you get for selling and buying a new boat from the local dealer at the destination.
The boat’s condition, size, weight, monetary value, total shipping distance and state laws vary, which also affect the final prices. So, call our staff at Easy Auto Ship for a customized quote that fits your specific needs.
Preparation for Sailboat Transport
Boat Preparation Responsibilities of Owners
Before your sailboat can hit the road you need to take care of a few important things.
This is what you need to handle as a boat owner:
- Clean out your sailboat and remove gear, trash and any other loose items
- Secure everything that needs to remain onboard
- Double check all hatches and windows and close anything open
- Drain all fluids and water tanks
- Disconnect batteries to prevent battery drainage
These might seem like a lot of hassle. But in reality they’re incredibly important to help maintain the value of your sailboat and arrive at its destination safely.
Recommended Boat Preparation Steps
With the right approach you can make your sailboat’s transportation a breeze. Here are a couple more things you need to take care of:
- Photograph for reference: before your ship is loaded, take a couple of pictures of its current condition from the inside and outside. These pictures will come in handy in case of damage or when reassembling it.
- Clean the exterior: this might seem like an unnecessary step, but it’s really not. Not only does a clean hull improve its fuel economy and speed which is a perk for you, but it also helps the transport crew handle the sailboat.
- Secure loose gear: any gear such as cushions, electronics or deck tools needs to be either properly stowed or strapped down. This helps prevent potential damage to your sailboat in transit.
Additional Preparations
Here are some additional preparations to take care of before your sailboat is on its way.
- Close all hatches and windows: lock down anything that could let water, wind or dirt inside your sailboat during transport
- Drain those tanks: make sure to remove all water from the tanks. Not only does this cut off unnecessary weight, but it also saves you a bunch of cash
- Unplug the batteries: disconnect all batteries to keep them from draining during the trip.
- Secure your cables: most people miss out on this but organizing your cables can prevent tangling and breakage. This helps keep your electrical system intact and makes setting everything back up easier.
Parting Words
When it comes down to the final cost of transporting your sailboat, there’s no one solid answer. This is because rates tend to fluctuate based on the size of your boat, how far it’s going and what route it’ll cover. A small boat covering a small distance will come out to be cheaper than a larger one sailing across the country.
Aside from the basics there are also additional factors that affect your final bill:
- Permits and escorts require an additional fee
- Extras such as engine winterization or shrink-wrapping also come at a premium cost
- Some companies such as ours include insurance coverage in the quote. Others may not.
What’s the bottom line?
Transporting your sailboat could cost you anywhere between a couple of hundred dollars to several grand. It all comes down to the dimensions of your sailboat, your route and the level of service you opt for.
If you want to know how much it’ll cost to ship your specific boat, call 888-687-3243 today to get a free, no-obligation boat transport quote in minutes.
