Last year, Steffen
Schmidt wanted to move his 37-foot sailboat from Seattle to Rhode
Island. Schmidt was not unfamiliar with hiring boat transportation
services, and had done it once before with no issues. But this time
was different: the boat was delivered in Wickford, Rhode Island with
its mast gashed and mangled; the prop and cutlass bearing damaged. Then
problems occurred in getting compensated for the damages. How can a
boat owner looking to transport their boat over the road avoid an
experience like Schmidt's? Boat Owners Association of The United States
(BoatUS) has four tips:
1. Find a boat transportation specialist:
It's best to use a shipper that specializes in boat transport. Request
copies of DOT or state license documents and cargo insurance -
reluctance to provide this information is reason enough to look
elsewhere. You can also check a company's history of inspections,
crashes and the status of commercial carriers' licenses at http://safer.fmcsa.dot.gov/companysnapshot.aspx.
Had Schmidt checked here, he would have found his shipper had high
percentage of failed truck inspections - a red flag. All transportation
agreements should be in writing, with complete information about
costs, taxes, tariffs, scheduling, security, and pickup and delivery
locations, as well as rules about refunds for cancellations or delays.
Make sure you read and understand the shipper's contract.
2. Prepare the boat for shipping:
"When shipping overland, most insurance claims come from poor
preparation - not from hitting bridges," says BoatUS Director of
Consumer Affairs Charles Fort. Consider that your boat may be traveling
down the highway in hurricane-force winds and experience road
vibration for days. To help prepare, Fort strongly advises boat owners
use an experienced prepper and consider hiring a marine surveyor
for the loading and arrival of the boat, as they know load points and
can also document damage. Also take lots of pictures with the date
imprinted, just in case you need prove your case for compensation.
3. If something does go wrong, document it: It's
the boat owner's responsibility to document any damage upon arrival
and unloading. Don't let a trucker depart without acknowledging in
writing any damage on the "condition of cargo" documents and share
copies. This is where more photos can help your case. And call your
insurance company immediately if any damage is noted.
4. A word about online bidding websites: The BoatUS Consumer Protection
Bureau has received numerous complaints from members who used bid-type
clearinghouses to find transportation service providers. For a fee, the
websites allow you to enter your information and receive bids from
several transport providers. Unfortunately, the websites don't verify
or validate the claims about experience, insurance coverage, and
licensure made by trucking companies that are bidding for your
business. They also won't help if you have problems with the shipper.
If you decide to use such a service, use the same diligence you would
if you called a shipper directly. BoatUS members have access to the
BoatUS Consumer Protection Complaint Database and can also check for
any record of complaints.
To see more detailed information on boat transport, go to: BoatUS.com/boattransport.
