Boats are the most damage-prone cargo on Australian roads: tall, wide, heavy in the wrong places, and often sitting on trailers that haven't turned a wheel in years. Whether it's a tinnie or a flybridge cruiser, these are the mistakes that turn a boat move into an insurance claim.
The boat is seaworthy; the trailer often is not. Seized bearings, perished tyres and rusted brakes fail hundreds of kilometres from home. Ask your carrier whether they use their own equipment or require you to supply the trailer — and what condition checks they perform.
Overpasses, service stations and tunnels do not move. A flybridge, hardtop, antennas or an unmeasured keel-to-highest-point figure can make a route illegal or physically impassable. Measure loaded height precisely — professionals plan routes around it.
Biminis, cushions, electronics, eskies and fishing gear become projectiles or fly off at highway speed — and none of it is insured in transit. Strip the boat, latch every hatch and remove or secure canvas before transport.
Hundreds of litres of fuel and water add weight, shift the centre of gravity and can leak. Run tanks down before the move — it also lowers the transported weight you are quoted on.
Anything that extends above or beyond the hull needs to come down or be professionally braced. A snapped outrigger or bent antenna array is a common — and avoidable — claim.
Many hull policies cover the water and your own trailer, not a third-party road move. Confirm transit cover before the boat leaves its cradle, and get the carrier’s insurance in writing.
Boats are not general freight. Hull support points, lifting, cradles and tie-down locations are specialist knowledge — get them wrong and the hull flexes or cracks. Use a carrier that moves boats routinely.
Boats without trailers can be transported on cradles. Provide hull dimensions and weight when enquiring and we will confirm what setup is available.
Remove loose gear and canvas, latch hatches, drain fuel and water tanks, lower or remove masts, antennas and outriggers, and disconnect batteries.
Always confirm transit insurance cover for your specific boat with your carrier before booking — ask for it in writing. Do not assume your marine hull policy covers third-party road transport; most do not.
Get a no-obligation quote — contact us with your details.
