When it comes to buying a boat from abroad the easiest part of the process is actually choosing, evaluating and paying for the boat, since all of these can be done online thanks to the convenience of the Internet. However, when the moment comes for the future owner to actually ship the boat and have it delivered safely at his/her home port, things can get really complicated and cumbersome.
This is why international shipping companies come into play in order to help those wanting to import a boat to get their dream vessels promptly and safely. However, there are many of these companies out there, and their services and fees can be quite varied, which makes it very important for everyone interested in importing a boat to know how to compare them.
Considering this, here are the most important aspects to look for when comparing overseas boat transport companies.
Licenses: It can be surprising how many licenses and overall paperwork is involved when planning to ship a boat from abroad. This is why before choosing any one international shipping company, future boat owners should carefully learn about all the licenses required, since some services will not include them in order to provide a lower quote, but will definitely require them later, which might take some customers by surprise.
Past Experience: It is extremely important to hire an overseas boat transport company that possesses proven experience in transporting boats. There are also “General” international shipping companies that ship just about anything from abroad, but one that specializes in boats is preferable. Also, when looking for a company’s past experience always look for specific clients and scenarios, do not just take their word for it.
Reviews: This one is also very important, since the reviews a company gets will give you a better sense of how they work. Most companies list some customer reviews on their websites, so feel free to take a look around and most importantly, if you see a customer that provides an email address or a phone number, do not hesitate to call him/her in order to find out more about the company’s service.
Price: Of course, the most important aspect people will look for is definitely price. But anyone considering the lowest price the best should be very careful since, as mentioned above, many companies avoid some important (and not necessarily mandatory) expenses in order to cut costs, like insurance for example. Other services that some companies might omit are shrink wrapping of the boat (very important so as to preserve it all along its trip overseas) or fumigation, which is considered necessary by many as well. So customers should be wary that the overseas boat transport company they hire gives them a full list of everything involved and to verify it with what other companies offer and with past customers that can be found online. Only once this is properly factored, one will have an accurate idea of which is truly the most economic and efficient overseas transport company out there.