Snowbird toy transport
Boat Transport
Boats on their own trailer or on a flatbed, north to south and back.
Overview
How boat transport works
Most seasonal boat moves fall into one of two situations. Either the boat already sits on a roadworthy trailer and a carrier hooks to it and tows it, or the boat has no usable trailer and it has to ride on a carrier's flatbed or step-deck, sometimes on a set of blocks and cradles built for the hull.
Which one applies to you is not a preference — it is decided by the trailer, the hull dimensions and the weight. Enterprise Auto Transport is a licensed broker: we arrange the shipment with a qualified motor carrier whose equipment and authority match the boat, we do not own trucks or employ drivers.
Towing your own trailer (tow-away / power-only)
A carrier supplies the truck and driver and tows your trailer. It is usually the least expensive way to move a trailered boat because nothing has to be lifted or loaded. The trailer has to be legal and sound on its own: current registration where the state requires it, working lights, tires with tread and no dry rot, greased bearings, functioning surge or electric brakes if the weight requires them, a matching coupler and safety chains, and a spare.
Riding on a carrier's trailer
If your trailer is questionable, or you have no trailer, the boat travels on a flatbed or step-deck. That takes a forklift, travel lift or crane at both ends, which is why the pickup point is often a marina or boatyard rather than your driveway. The cost reflects the equipment and the lift, not just the mileage.
When a move becomes oversize
Beam is what usually triggers it. Once total width passes roughly 8'6", the load needs permits and sometimes escorts, and it can be restricted to daylight travel. Height matters just as much: with the hull sitting on a trailer deck, a tower or hardtop can push the load past 13'6" and force a routing change. Measure to the highest fixed point, and tell us what folds down.
Quoting
What we need to quote your shipment
- Year, make, model and hull length
- Beam (widest point) and total height on the trailer, including tower, radar arch or hardtop
- Dry weight, plus roughly what is aboard
- Trailer: axle count, brakes, tire age, registration status
- Whether the boat can be towed on the road as-is
- Pickup and delivery addresses, and whether a marina or yard is involved
- Whether a lift is available on either end
Enterprise Auto Transport is a licensed broker (USDOT #2273104, MC #774106). We arrange transportation with qualified motor carriers whose equipment and authority fit the shipment — we do not own trucks or employ drivers.
Before pickup
- Drain the bilge, livewells and any water tanks — water is weight and it moves
- Remove or secure canvas, bimini and covers; road speed destroys canvas that is fine on the water
- Take electronics, cushions, safety gear and loose items off the boat
- Lower or remove the antenna, outriggers and anything else that folds
- Support and strap the outboard or lower the outdrive per the manufacturer's travel position
- Fuel down where practical, and disconnect the battery
- Check trailer tire pressure and inspect for sidewall cracking
- Photograph the hull, gelcoat, prop and trailer from all four corners before the driver arrives
From experience
What commonly goes wrong
- Trailer tires fail more from age than mileage. A tire with tread but seven years on it is a roadside breakdown waiting to happen.
- Bearings that were fine on a 20-minute run to the lake are not the same as 1,500 miles at highway speed.
- A shrink-wrapped boat can act like a sail. Wrap intended for winter storage often has to come off or be reinforced.
- Personal items left aboard are generally not covered by cargo insurance.
Questions
Boat Transport FAQs
Do I have to be there for pickup?
Someone does. A trailered boat still needs a walkaround and a signed bill of lading noting existing damage. If you cannot be there, name someone who can and tell us in advance.
Can you move a boat without a trailer?
Yes, but it changes the equipment and usually the pickup point. It typically means a flatbed and a lift at both ends, which is why we ask early whether a marina or yard is available.
Does the boat need to be registered?
The trailer generally does if it is being towed on public roads. Requirements vary by state, so have the trailer registration and the boat title or registration handy when you book.
Before pickup
Condition and repair responsibility
Tires, brakes and anything that rolls: the owner's responsibility
- Anything that rolls or tows on its own wheels — boats, RVs, campers, utility and enclosed trailers, equipment trailers — must be roadworthy before pickup. That means sound tires with tread and no dry rot, correct air pressure, working bearings and hubs, functioning brakes and lights, a good coupler, safety chains and a spare if one is available.
- Equipment that has been parked for a long season is the most common problem. Tires that look fine can be dry-rotted and years past their date code, and bearings that have not been greased will run hot. If your boat or trailer has been sitting, have the tires and bearings checked before transport.
- The customer is responsible for the cost of any repairs needed to make the unit safe to move — tires, wheels, bearings, brakes, lights, couplers or anything else that allows the unit to roll or operate.
- If a tire blows out, a bearing fails or the unit becomes disabled in transit, the customer is responsible for the cost of towing to the nearest service facility and for the parts and labor to repair it. Roadside service on the highway costs considerably more than doing the work in advance.
- Repairs made on the road can add days to the delivery window. Enterprise Auto Transport is a licensed broker and is not responsible for the mechanical condition of the equipment, for the cost of repairs or towing, or for delays caused by them.
Get started
Request a quote for this shipment
Not sure what kind of hauler you need?
Don't worry. You don't have to know whether you need a power-only truck, flatbed, enclosed trailer, RV driver or specialized carrier. Just tell us what you're moving, its approximate size, where it's going and when you need it moved. We'll review the shipment and determine what type of transportation is appropriate.
Please note: Anything that rolls on its own wheels must be roadworthy before pickup. The customer is responsible for repairs — tires, bearings, brakes, lights — and for towing and repair costs if the unit becomes disabled in transit.
Keep exploring
Related transport pages
Ready to move your boat, RV or toys?
Equipment-specific quoting on dimensions, weight and trailer condition — with a coordinator who answers the phone.