Boat transport looks simple from the dock: hook up, drive, unhook. In practice, the move is decided by width, height, weight, the trailer’s condition and how well the boat is strapped down. We are the carrier that does that work with our own trucks and drivers, so here is how it actually goes.
How we work as a direct carrier
Most companies that show up when you search for boat transport are brokers or marketplaces. They take your order, post it on a load board and wait for a trucker to accept a price. If nobody takes it, the price goes up, or the pickup date slides. You often find out who is hauling your boat the day before.
Best Friend Transport works the other way. We are a registered motor carrier (USDOT 4241168, MC 1642448). Your boat is moved by our trucks and drivers, or by our affiliate Jobe Kemba Transport LLC. That changes three things for you:
- The quote is the price. We quote what we can haul it for, because we are the ones hauling it. No re-bidding after you sign.
- One dispatcher from start to finish. The same person who builds your quote coordinates the pickup, talks to the driver and confirms the delivery.
- Real answers. When you ask whether your T-top clears an overpass or whether your trailer bearings will make the trip, you get an answer from people who load boats, not a call center reading a script.
We run nationwide across the lower 48, 24/7, in English and Spanish. If you want to know more about who we are, read about Best Friend Transport.
Types of boats we move
We haul recreational and fishing boats of most hull types. What matters to us is not the brand but the dimensions on the trailer and how the boat sits.
Center consoles
Center consoles are among the most common boats we move. The details that matter: T-top or hardtop height, outriggers, outboard engines and their trim position, and the overall width with rub rails. A tall T-top on a high trailer can push the load past the usual height limits, so we measure from the ground to the highest point before quoting.
Pontoons and tritoons
Pontoon transport is all about support under the logs. The boat has to ride on bunks sized for pontoons, with the weight spread along the tubes. Railings, bimini frames and furniture need to be checked for loose parts. Many pontoons are wide enough to approach the 8.5-foot limit, so we confirm the beam before anything else.
Bowriders, deck boats, ski and wake boats
These usually ride on their own trailers and are straightforward if the trailer is healthy. Wake towers should be folded down if they fold, and ballast tanks must be empty. Any water left in them is weight you pay to haul and it can shift.
Fishing and bass boats
Bass boats and bay boats tend to be low and light, but they carry trolling motors, electronics and rod holders that need attention. We ask you to remove graphs and screens and to secure the trolling motor in its stowed position.
Sailboats
Sailboats move with the mast unstepped and secured on the deck or on the trailer, with rigging coiled and tied. The keel needs proper cradle or trailer support. Mast removal is usually done by the marina or yard before pickup.
Cruisers and yachts
Larger cruisers, sportfish boats and motor yachts are a different job: they are often oversize, need permits on every state along the route, and may need parts removed to meet height limits. We cover that in detail on our yacht transport by truck page.
Maximum size we can move: [CONFIRMAR: eslora, manga y peso máximos que movemos].
On its own trailer vs on ours
There are two ways your boat can ride.
On your trailer (tow-away)
If your boat already sits on a roadworthy trailer, our truck hooks up and tows it. This is usually the most economical option. Before rolling, our driver checks:
- Coupler size and condition (ball or pintle), safety chains and breakaway cable.
- Tires: age, tread, pressure and sidewall cracks. Old trailer tires are a common failure point on long runs.
- Wheel bearings and hubs. A trailer that sat all season in salt air may need bearings serviced.
- Lights and, if equipped, surge or electric brakes.
- Bunks or rollers, winch strap and bow stop.
If something is not safe, we say so before the trip, not on the shoulder of the interstate. You can fix it, or we can quote a different setup.
On carrier equipment
If you bought a boat without a trailer, or the trailer is not fit for a long run, the boat goes on carrier equipment. That means it has to be lifted out of the water or off the stands with a travel lift, forklift or crane at the marina or yard, then placed and blocked on our trailer. We coordinate the timing with the facility so the truck and the lift are ready at the same moment. Equipment we use for this: [CONFIRMAR: equipo para botes sin tráiler — tráiler hidráulico / deck propio].
Tie-down and protection on the road
Most damage during boat hauling comes from movement: a strap that loosens, a cover that flaps for 500 miles, a bow that shifts on the bunks. Our routine:
- Inspection and photos at pickup. We walk around the boat with you or the marina staff, note existing scratches, gelcoat cracks and missing parts, and take photos from every angle.
- Straps at the bow and transom. The bow is secured with the winch strap plus a safety chain or strap. The stern gets transom straps on both sides, tensioned so the boat cannot lift or slide.
- Padding where straps touch. Straps over gunwales or rub rails get protection so they do not mark the hull.
- Engines and drives. Outboards are secured in the trailering position with a support if the manufacturer recommends one. Sterndrives are trimmed to the transport position.
- Covers. A loose cover is worse than no cover. If your cover is not designed for highway speed, we ask you to remove it or we secure it properly. Shrink-wrap done by a marina usually holds up well.
- Re-checks on the road. The driver re-checks straps after the first miles and at every stop.
- Photos at delivery. We photograph the boat again when it arrives, so you have a before-and-after record.
What happens on pickup and delivery day
At pickup, the driver confirms the boat matches what was quoted: length, beam, height and trailer. If the boat is at a marina or storage yard, we confirm with you ahead of time that the facility has released it and knows the truck is coming, because yards often have set hours for haul-outs and gate access. You or someone you authorize signs the inspection report after the walk-around.
During the trip, your dispatcher keeps you posted on where the load is and when it is expected to arrive. At delivery, we walk around the boat again, take photos, and you sign once you have checked it. If the delivery point is a marina, tell us whether the boat goes into the water, onto stands or stays on the trailer, so the right people and equipment are there.
Dimensions, wide loads and permits
This is where most surprises in boat shipping come from.
The 8.5-foot rule
The standard legal width on U.S. highways is 8.5 feet (102 inches). Measure the widest point of the boat on the trailer, including rub rails, swim platforms and anything that sticks out. If it is 8.5 feet or less and the load is within height and weight limits, it usually moves as a regular load.
Over 8.5 feet: oversize permits
Wider boats are oversize loads. Each state on the route issues its own permit, with its own rules about:
- Which roads you can use and which you must avoid.
- Travel hours (daylight only is common) and limits on weekends and holidays.
- “Oversize load” banners, flags and lights.
- When one or more escort vehicles (pilot cars) are required.
The width thresholds for escorts, travel hours and fees vary by state and by route, so we do not quote a single number for the whole country. We plan the route and pull the permits as part of the job, and the cost is included in your quote.
Height and weight
Height limits on many routes fall around 13.5 to 14 feet, but clearances vary and low bridges exist everywhere. A boat on a tall trailer, with a T-top, arch or flybridge, can exceed that. Sometimes the fix is removing an antenna or folding a tower. Sometimes it means a lower trailer. Weight also matters: the truck, trailer and boat together have to stay within legal limits and within what the truck is rated to pull.
Send us the length, beam, height on the trailer and approximate weight when you ask for a quote. With those four numbers we can tell you right away whether your boat is a standard load or a wide load.
Hurricane season and snowbird moves
Boat transport has two big seasons, and both are about weather.
Hurricane season in the Atlantic runs from June 1 to November 30. When a storm is forecast for Florida or the Gulf Coast, owners want boats moved inland or out of state, and every hauler gets busy at once. If you keep a boat in a storm zone, talk to us before the season: have your trailer in shape, documents ready and a destination picked, so a move can happen quickly when a storm threatens. We cannot promise a pickup slot in the last hours before landfall, and nobody honest can.
Snowbirds move boats south in the fall and north in the spring. Late October through December and March through May are tight months for boat hauling between the Northeast, the Midwest and Florida. Booking a few weeks ahead gives you better date options.
Insurance and FMCSA registration
You can verify any carrier on the FMCSA’s SAFER system. Ours: Best Friend Transport LLC, USDOT 4241168, MC 1642448. Carriers registered with the FMCSA must carry liability insurance. We also carry cargo coverage for the boats we haul: [CONFIRMAR: monto del seguro de carga y aseguradora].
What we recommend:
- Ask any company you are comparing for its USDOT number and look it up. A broker will have a broker authority, not a carrier one.
- Call your marine insurer and confirm whether your own policy covers the boat while it is on a truck. Many do, some do not.
- Keep the pickup photos. They are your best record if anything needs to be discussed at delivery.
How to prepare your boat for transport
Good preparation protects the boat and avoids delays at pickup. Here is the checklist we give our customers:
- Drain all water. Bilge, livewells, baitwells, ballast tanks, fresh water and the head. Pump out the holding tank. Pull the drain plug unless you are told otherwise, and keep it with you or taped to the helm.
- Fuel. Keep fuel low, around a quarter tank or less. Fuel is weight, and less of it is safer.
- Batteries. Disconnect them and turn off battery switches so nothing runs during the trip.
- Remove electronics and valuables. GPS units, fish finders, radios that come off, cameras, documents and keys you do not need.
- Secure everything else. Hatches, doors, windows, cushions, anchors and lines. Tape hatches that can vibrate open.
- Lower or remove what sticks up. Antennas, outriggers, bimini tops, flags, wake towers and anything that adds height.
- Covers. Remove canvas that is not made for highway travel, or have the boat shrink-wrapped.
- Clean the hull. Some states run aquatic invasive species inspections, especially in the West. A clean, dry, drained boat passes faster.
- Documents. Have the registration or title and your ID ready. If a marina or a seller releases the boat, we need their contact and a release authorization.
- Trailer check. If the boat rides on its own trailer, check tires, bearings and lights before pickup day.
Boat transport cost: what drives the price
The price of boat hauling comes from a handful of factors: distance and route, the boat’s length, beam and weight, whether it needs oversize permits or escorts, whether it rides on its own trailer, the season, and any preparation like mast or tower removal. A boat at 8.5 feet wide on a healthy trailer is the simplest case. A 10-foot-beam cruiser crossing several states is a very different quote.
For a full breakdown with examples, read our guide to boat transport cost. Our own prices are given per load, after we see your boat’s specs. As a reference, on real boat moves we hauled between February 2025 and October 2026, the median was $3.83 per mile and $2,500 per move (median trip about 790 miles), and half of all moves fell between $2.61 and $4.64 per mile. Wide, tall or heavy boats sit at the top of that range or above. That is not a quote: the exact price depends on your specific move.
Get your boat transport quote
Getting a price takes a few minutes. We need:
- Pickup and delivery locations (city and ZIP, and whether it is a marina, storage yard, dealer or home).
- Year, make, model and length of the boat.
- Beam, and height on the trailer if you know it.
- Approximate weight.
- Whether it has a roadworthy trailer.
- Your preferred dates.
Fill out the form for a free boat transport quote, call our sales line at (239) 763-5447, or send a WhatsApp to (954) 899-9436. A dispatcher reviews your boat, gives you one price, and stays with you until it is delivered. Moving an RV too? We also handle RV transport with the same team.
Updated: