Boat Transport
Overland hauling for pontoons, fishing boats, wake boats, cruisers, and sailboats. On your trailer or ours, by insured carriers, with no deposit.
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Moving a Boat Over Land
Alabama has more navigable water than almost any other state, from the Tennessee River lakes in the north to Mobile Bay and the Gulf. Boats move between those waters constantly. A family buys a wake boat in Florida and needs it on Lake Martin. A fisherman sells a bass boat to a buyer in Texas. A couple retiring to Orange Beach brings their cruiser down from Guntersville. Each of those trips happens on a highway.
Hauling a boat is not like towing a small utility trailer. The load is tall, wide, and top-heavy. Its weight has to be distributed correctly on the trailer. Straps must hold the hull without crushing it. The route has to suit the height and width of the load, and above certain dimensions the law requires permits and sometimes escort vehicles.
How a boat travels depends on two things: whether it has its own roadworthy trailer, and how big it is. A boat on a good trailer can be towed by a carrier with a properly rated truck. A boat without one rides on the hauler's trailer, which is fitted to the hull. Any boat wider than eight feet six inches is an oversize load and is moved by a carrier licensed and equipped for it.
Heartland Auto Transport is an FMCSA licensed broker. We arrange boat transport throughout Alabama and nationwide, using vetted, insured carriers with marine experience. There is no deposit, and the price we quote is the price you pay. Call us with your boat's measurements, and we will put together an accurate quote.
What You Get With Boat Transport
A carrier chosen for your boat, not the other way around.
The right rig
A truck rated for the weight, and a trailer suited to the hull if you do not have your own.
Marine experience
Carriers who know how to support, strap, and balance a boat for the road.
Insured hauling
We verify the carrier's insurance and tell you what it covers.
Permits handled
For oversize boats, the carrier obtains the permits and plans a legal route.
Marina and ramp coordination
We schedule with marinas, dealers, and storage yards at both ends.
One point of contact
A dispatcher who keeps you informed and answers the phone at any hour.
What Boat Transport Costs
Every boat is quoted individually. Distance, overall length, beam, height on the trailer, and weight are the main factors. A boat on its own trailer costs less to move than one that needs a hauler's trailer.
Once a boat is wider than eight feet six inches, it is an oversize load. Permits are required in every state it passes through, travel may be limited to daylight hours, and very wide loads need escort vehicles. All of that is reflected in the price, and we include it in a single all-in figure.
| Boat | How it moves | Price basis | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trailerable, on its own trailer | Towed by the carrier | By distance | Trailer must be roadworthy |
| Trailerable, no trailer | On the hauler's trailer | By distance | Hull type and weight needed |
| Beam over 8 ft 6 in | Oversize load | Quoted | Permits, sometimes escorts |
| Sailboat | Mast lowered and secured | Quoted | Keel type and draft needed |
Boat transport is quoted individually. Launching, hauling out, and shrink-wrapping are arranged with your marina.
How Boat Transport Works
Measure first. Everything else follows from the numbers.
Measure and call
Give us the make and model, length, beam, height on the trailer, weight, and the two locations.
We arrange the carrier
We assign a vetted marine carrier and confirm any permits. No deposit is due.
Pickup
The driver inspects the boat with you, checks the trailer, secures the load, and departs.
Delivery
At the destination, inspect the hull, the drive, and the trailer, sign the report, and pay.
Boats We Haul
Fresh water or salt, power or sail.
Pontoons and deck boats
Wide, light, and tall. Often right at the legal width, so accurate beam matters.
Bass and fishing boats
Low, fast hulls that travel easily on their own trailers.
Wake, ski, and runabout boats
Towers fold down, covers come off, and the boat rides snug on its bunks.
Cruisers and sailboats
Larger vessels that usually need a hydraulic trailer, permits, and a planned route.
Trailerable or Oversize?
The beam of your boat decides which rules apply.
| Trailerable boat | Oversize boat | |
|---|---|---|
| Beam | 8 ft 6 in or less | More than 8 ft 6 in |
| Permits | Not required | Required in each state on the route |
| Travel times | Any time | Often daylight hours only |
| Escort vehicles | No | Sometimes, for very wide loads |
| Lead time | About a week | Two to three weeks |
| Cost | Lower | Higher, quoted on the dimensions |
How to Prepare a Boat for Road Transport
A boat that is ready for the water is not ready for the highway. Wind at seventy miles an hour finds anything that is loose. Use this list in the days before pickup.
Take accurate measurements. We need the overall length including the swim platform, the bow pulpit, and the outboard or outdrive. We need the beam at its widest point, and the height from the ground to the highest fixed point when the boat is on its trailer. Add the weight with fuel and gear.
Reduce the height. Fold or remove towers, radar arches, antennas, outriggers, and bimini frames. A few inches can decide whether the load needs a permit.
Strip the outside. Remove canvas covers, cushions, flags, fenders, and electronics. Covers that are not made for trailering will shred. If the boat is shrink-wrapped, make sure the wrap is tight and vented.
Secure the inside. Lock hatches, doors, and cabin windows. Stow everything loose below, and latch cabinets and drawers.
Drain everything. Empty the bilge, the livewells, the ballast tanks, and the fresh water system. Remove the drain plug. Run the fuel down to a quarter of a tank or less.
Look after the drive. Raise the outdrive or the outboard and support it with a transom saver. Disconnect the batteries.
Check the trailer. Tires, wheel bearings, lights, brakes, bunks, and winch strap should all be in good order. Many transport delays come from the trailer, not the boat.
For sailboats, the mast must be unstepped, padded, and secured, and the rigging coiled and tied.
Finally, photograph the hull, the propeller, the gelcoat, and the trailer, and remove all personal belongings.
Boat Transport Questions
How much does it cost to transport a boat?
It depends on the distance and on the size and weight of the boat. A trailerable boat on its own trailer costs the least. Oversize boats cost more because of permits and escorts. Call with your measurements for an all-in quote.
What measurements do you need?
Overall length, beam at the widest point, height from the ground to the highest fixed point when on the trailer, and weight. The make, model, and year help us confirm them.
Does my boat need its own trailer?
No. If it has a roadworthy trailer, the carrier can tow it. If not, the carrier brings a trailer suited to the hull. Tell us which applies.
What makes a boat oversize?
A beam of more than eight feet six inches. Height can also be a factor. Oversize loads need permits in each state, and very wide ones need escort vehicles.
Can you pick up from a marina and deliver to one?
Yes. We coordinate with the marina staff at each end. Hauling the boat out of the water and launching it again are arranged with the marina and are not part of the transport.
Is my boat insured during transport?
The carrier is insured, and we verify that before booking. Ask what the policy covers, and check with your own marine insurer about coverage while the boat is on the road.
Can I leave gear in the boat?
Loose gear should be removed or stowed below and secured. Personal items are not covered by the carrier's insurance.
How far ahead should I book?
About a week for a trailerable boat. Two to three weeks for an oversize boat, since permits take time. Spring is the busiest season, so book early then.
Can you ship a boat I am buying in another state?
Yes. Give us the seller's or dealer's details. We schedule the pickup with them and deliver to your home, your marina, or your lake.
Can you haul a pontoon boat?
Yes. Many pontoons are right at the legal width of eight feet six inches, so measure carefully, including the rails and any fenders or ladders that stick out. A pontoon wider than that travels as an oversize load.
Do you transport personal watercraft?
Yes. Jet skis and similar craft on a trailer are simple to move, singly or in pairs, and can often be combined with another shipment.
Is there a deposit?
No. You pay on delivery, and the price matches your quote.
Ready to Move Your Boat?
Call with the length, beam, height, and weight for an all-in quote, or start with the online tool.