If you’re trying to figure out how to ship a houseboat, we can help! Shipping a houseboat isn’t the easiest of things to do, but it’s doable if you know what you’re doing. Luckily for you, here at American Auto Shipping, we know how to handle just about anything.

The first thing you should know is that shipping a houseboat overland is expensive, time-consuming, and not everyone can handle it. In fact, most auto transport companies in general can’t move a houseboat – that is, unless it’s already on a trailer. But most houseboats don’t come with their own trailers. If yours doesn’t, there’s a good chance we can’t move it. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be done! It also doesn’t mean that you can’t find out how to ship a houseboat from us. So keep reading to learn more about how to ship a houseboat, what you can expect when shipping a houseboat, how it’s all done, and more. Finally, read on to learn about how American Auto Shipping can help you get it moved.

How companies ship houseboats?

When shipping a houseboat overland, it’s going to need to be trucked. It’s the same for any other kind of vehicle, boat or otherwise. But houseboats are different because, well, they’re boats, but they’re also houses. So it’s not just moving watercraft; it’s also shipping a house! This, of course, brings with it a lot of potential issues that most car transporters don’t handle. Indeed, most can’t, because they don’t have the right types of licenses.

 

Houseboats are often moved by heavy-haul companies that are licensed to handle oversized shipments. They have to be; most just won’t fit on your typical flatbed haulers. So they require bigger flatbeds, and usually they are considered oversized loads. And, with oversized loads comes escorts. You’ve likely seen them on the road before – trucks or cars that flank a massive flatbed truck hauling something massive. That, of course, adds to the cost.

 

It will also require special permits, especially if the houseboat is going across state lines. There are a whole lot of rules and regulations that are above and beyond what most car transporters can offer. But that doesn’t mean you can’t ship a houseboat. It can definitely be done.
Shipping a house boat explained by American Auto Shipping

How much does shipping a houseboat cost?

Shipping a houseboat is definitely doable, but what about the price? There are a lot of different factors that go into shipping a houseboat – more than when you ship a car, for instance. The size of your houseboat usually plays the biggest factor in the price you pay to ship it. Bigger houseboats require larger trailers and more work to get moved properly. The smallest of houseboats, though, will be cheaper, and some may not even need the oversized load tag. So be sure to talk to your shipping representative about the size of your houseboat.

But there are other factors that go into the price you pay as well. A big one is distance. Like when you ship a car, the further it’s being shipped, the more expensive it’ll be. Couple this with the size of your houseboat, and those tend to represent the two largest factors that go into the price you pay. Other factors exist as well, though. For instance, if your houseboat is oversized, it may require an escort. If it does require an escort, that costs extra. Another factor will be additional offloading assistance. Most trailers that handle houseboats can get them pretty much right to the water. But if there are extra services required, it may cost more.

These are only a few of the factors, as others will likely be tailored to your specific shipment. So we recommend speaking to a representative to learn more about shipping a houseboat and what might affect the price you pay.

How to prepare for shipping a houseboat?

Like when you ship a car, preparing for shipping a houseboat is important. There are a few major things you can do, but you should also check with a representative to learn more about what to do to prepare your houseboat for transport.

Secure all loose items and gear. This is important, as things inside the houseboat will get jostled around during transport. Any loose items could cause damage to the interior of the houseboat, and your shipper will not be held responsible for your carelessness.

Drain all water, fuel tanks, pumps, etc. This is also important, as water and fuel are heavy. Weight is part of the dimensions, and the more a houseboat weighs, the more it’ll cost to ship. Removing all the water from pumps and all the fuel from the tanks will help a lot when it comes to cutting the weight down. Not only that, but it is safer for the transporter as well. Seal all doors, hatches, and windows. This is important for all the same reasons as securing your loose items. Any unsecured doors, hatches, or windows could open during transport. If that happens, the transporter will not be responsible for any damages caused by it. So be sure to secure all doors, hatches, windows, etc before you ship.

There is more to do, of course, such as disconnecting the battery or any other electronics. But most of it should be pretty self-explanatory. You want to keep your houseboat in top shape as much as possible and prevent anything from being jostled or opened during transport. We recommend speaking to a representative about it to learn more.

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