Getting a boat, RIB or jet ski from A to B is one of those jobs where the quote can vary wildly between operators. This guide sets out what actually drives the cost of boat transport in the UK, with honest ranges rather than a made-up price list, so you know what you are paying for.
What actually moves the price
Every boat transport job is a combination of the same variables. Once you understand them, most quotes start to make sense.
Distance and route
Mileage is the biggest single factor. Most operators price per loaded mile once you are past a certain radius, with a minimum charge for anything local. As a rough guide, a short local move might start from around £150, while a longer cross-country run is usually quoted per mile, commonly somewhere in the £1.50–£3 per loaded mile range depending on the size of the boat, the trailer needed and how much fuel and time the job takes. The exact figure always comes from a proper quote against your specific collection and delivery points.
Size and weight
A small dinghy or jet ski on its own trailer is a very different job from a 24ft cruiser. Bigger, heavier boats need a stronger tow vehicle, a bunked trailer rated for the load, and sometimes wider or overlength load considerations. Weight and length both feed into which trailer is used and how the load is secured, which in turn affects price.
Your trailer or ours
If you already own a suitable, roadworthy trailer, transport can sometimes be cheaper because the operator is simply towing your trailer rather than loading the boat onto their own. If you do not have a trailer, or yours is not up to the job, the operator supplies a bunked boat trailer with a winch, which needs to be factored into the quote. Either way, the trailer and winch need to actually suit the hull shape — a flat-bottomed RIB and a deep-V cruiser do not sit the same way.
Access and launch or recovery conditions
Slipway access, tide times, marina hoist bookings and ground conditions at collection all matter. A boat that needs to come off a hoist at a specific tidal window, or up a narrow slipway with a tight turning circle, takes longer to plan and load than one already sitting on its own trailer on a driveway. Awkward access or a boatyard with a short loading window can add time and therefore cost.
Ferries and crossings
Trips to and from the Isle of Wight or other islands involve a ferry crossing, and that fare is a real, separate cost that should be shown at cost in the quote rather than buried in a day rate. If your move touches Isle of Wight boat transport, ask specifically whether the ferry fare is included or added on.
Timing and flexibility
A job tied to one fixed date, often coordinated around a marina slot or race start, generally costs more than a flexible pick-up window, because the operator cannot slot it in around other work.
Worked examples
- Local move, own trailer: a RIB or small day boat moving 20 miles between two driveways, customer’s own trailer, flat hardstanding at both ends — close to the simplest job there is, near the local minimum.
- Cross-country cruiser, operator’s trailer: a 22ft cruiser travelling 200 miles, needing a bunked trailer and winch loading off a boatyard cradle — more planning and time on site pushes the total up.
- Island collection with ferry: a boat coming off the Isle of Wight, timed around a hoist slot, with a ferry crossing each way — the fare is added at cost, and fixed timing removes any flexibility discount.
These are illustrative only — every quote is worked out against your actual boat, trailer situation, dates and locations.
What an all-in quote should cover
- Fuel and mileage for the full route
- Tolls and any ferry fares, at cost
- Loading and unloading, including winching where needed
- Use of a suitable bunked trailer if you do not have your own
- Goods-in-transit insurance for the boat while it is on the road
- Photos at collection and delivery, so there is a clear record of condition at both ends
A genuinely all-in quote should mean no surprise extras on the day — the only thing that should change the price after the fact is a change to the job itself, such as different access than described.
What to prepare before collection
- Make sure the boat is drained of loose water and any bungs are noted
- Remove or secure loose gear, cushions and electronics that could move in transit
- Check the trailer (if it is yours) has legal tyres, working lights and a sound coupling
- Confirm access — width of gates, overhead clearance, slipway or hoist booking times
- Have someone available at both ends, or clear instructions if you cannot be there
When you need something bigger than a standard tow
Very large motor yachts, sailing boats with fixed keels needing a cradle, or anything that pushes well beyond what a 3.5 tonne braked tow setup can handle will need a specialist low-loader or crane-assisted move rather than a standard trailer job. If in doubt, describe the boat’s length, beam, weight and hull type when you ask for a quote, and a straightforward answer on whether it is within scope.
Mistakes that add cost
- Not mentioning restricted access (narrow lanes, low bridges, tidal slipways) until the driver arrives
- Assuming a trailer is roadworthy without checking tyres, bearings and lights
- Booking a fixed date without confirming a hoist or crane slot is actually available
- Leaving loose kit aboard that then needs securing on site, eating into loading time
Frequently asked questions
Do I need my own trailer, or can one be provided?
Either works. If you already have a suitable, roadworthy bunked trailer it can sometimes keep the cost down, since the operator is simply towing it rather than loading the boat onto their own. If you do not have one, a bunked trailer with a winch, matched to your boat’s hull shape, is provided as part of the job.
Is the ferry fare included in the quote?
Ferry fares for crossings such as those to the Isle of Wight should be shown at cost as a separate line in the quote, not folded invisibly into a day rate. Ask specifically if you are unsure how a particular quote has handled it.
What if my boat needs a specific tide or hoist time?
Tell the operator about any tidal window or marina hoist booking as early as possible. Fixed timing around tides or hoists reduces scheduling flexibility, so it is best factored into the quote from the start rather than discovered on the day.
Boat transport is covered as part of a wider one-man, door-to-door service across the UK — see the main boat transport page for how collections and deliveries are handled, or the areas covered page for regional detail, including Devon and Cornwall. For an accurate figure against your own boat and route, get in touch via contact and quote or call 07541 559204.