BOAT PREPARATION
 

 

This boat preparation guide was compiled to assist you, the boat owner, in properly preparing and securing the
boat for overland transportation. Please make every effort to prepare the boat according to these guidelines.
Oversee the preparation yourself or have a qualified yard do so. Just Right Boat Hauling (JRBH) is not
responsible for damage due to improper preparation or loading by the owner or his/her agent, for faulty or
defective cradles, trailers, chains, binders, or other equipment provided by the owner or his/her agent to secure
the cargo.

Just Right Boat Hauling believes it is our job to inform you of what is involved in getting your boat ready for
overland transport. We have prepared this list to help guide you. Please take the time to read this information.
Afterwards, please sign and date the last page and fax it back to us.

General Information for Transporting your Boat
Freight charges are due and payable upon delivery in the form of a credit card or cash. If delivery is delayed more than 2 hours, in addition to all other freight charges, there will be a $60 per hour waiting charge, which will be payable before the boat is off loaded.

* An additional $150.00 every hour will be charged for holdup, downtime, or waiting period if longer than 45 minutes.

All of our drivers are fully licensed and insured. They are experienced, dependable boat transporters who will
take the utmost care to deliver your boat in the best condition. However, please keep in mind that the boat has
to be strong enough to withstand overland shipment. JRBH takes no responsibility for damage due to
weakness or inherent dry rot. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve you.

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General Information

1. The driver will perform a survey only of the exterior of the boat. The condition of the boat will be noted on a
condition report.
You, the owner, or your agent will be asked to sign this report at the point of pickup; a copy of this report will be
given to you or your agent at that time. At delivery, the boat will again be inspected; the condition report again
signed and another copy will be given to you or your agent. Any damage noted by you or your agent upon
delivery must be noted on the bill-of-lading that you sign when you or your agent accepts delivery of the boat.
Photos will be taken at loading and unloading.

2. Lifelines, stanchions, and bow/stern pulpits should be removed if they cause the boat to be over legal height.
The legal height limit is 13’6” in most States. This means that the total height of your boat should be no taller
than 12‘. If your boat is taller than 12’, you will need to notify us immediately.

3. We are not responsible for damage due to low hanging tree limbs or branches. Many marinas have this
picturesque driveway that can cause major damage to boats. Please let us know in advance if your marina
has low tree branches. Also, don’t hesitate to ask your marina to cut these branches back.

4. All items 2 inside your boat should be stowed and properly secured. Drawers and cupboards should be taped
shut. We do not assume any responsibility for damages that occur due to items shifting inside the cabin.

1 If boat is not properly prepared for shipment, boat will be shipped "as is" and Certified Marine Transport will not accept
responsibility for any resulting damage.
2 Boat gear only: Certified Marine Transport cannot ship household goods.

5. Equipment such as radios, depth sounders, knot meters and such should be removed from their brackets on
deck and stowed inside the cabin. All electronics, radar, hailers, horns, antennas, propellers, flag masts, lights,
anchor lights, etc., must be removed, packed securely and securely stored below. JRBH will not be responsible
if they are damaged or if they vibrate off.
 

6. If you are shipping a dinghy on board or if you have had to remove any superstructure, these items should
be well padded. DO NOT leave dinghy on davits.
 

7. All cloth and canvas, including but not limited to, side curtains, biminis, compass covers, boat covers, etc.
should be removed in order to prevent wind damage. JRBH will not assume any responsibility for any canvas
left on the topside of boat during shipment.
 

8. All ports, hatches, windows, etc. should be locked tightly shut. Check all fittings for weakness or rotting. If
the hatches leak, seal them. Tie or tape over hatches, windows and locks from the outside. JRBH assumes not
any responsibility for damages caused by hatches that blow open or windows that break due to wind damage.
 

9. For safety and weight concerns, drain all water and fuel from tanks, holding tanks should also be empty to
prevent any spillage during transport. Remove any drain plugs from the hull. During winter months, water
should be drained from water systems, pumps, air conditioners, etc.
 

10. Plastic or Plexiglass windshields or windscreens should be removed and stored inside the cabin. Plastic
cannot withstand the wind pressure. JRBH is not responsible for any windshields or screens that are damaged
during transport due to wind damage.
 

11. JRBH assumes no responsibility for any household items left inside the boat: stereos, televisions, VCR’s
and such should be secured. The cabin should be locked and the key taken with you. Please do not give the
key to the driver, unless you have a duplicate.
 

12. JRBH does not recommend shrink-wrapping your boat. JRBH will ship shrink-wrapped boats; however
shrink-wrap may not stand up to highway speeds or high winds. The drivers do carry extra shrink wrap tape
and every effort will be made to repair the shrink wrap, however, if it starts to rip and come off, the driver may
at his/her discretion, remove the wrapping. JRBH is not responsible for any damage that occurs due to shrink-
wrap.
 

13. Remove anchors, spinnaker poles and any loose items from the deck and secure properly.
 

14. If you are planning to ship your boat on a cradle or a trailer, some extra precautions should be taken.
Inspect the cradle carefully for loose bolts or weakness of any kind. A cradle should fit and support the hull of
your boat securely and also be in good repair. Your boat needs to be well secured to the cradle or trailer. JRBH
does not assume responsibility for damage attributed to these devices. Our driver, at his/her discretion, may
decide to load your boat separately from the cradle or trailer, if he/she feels they will not stand up to the
overland transportation.
 

15. a. For boats with outboard or I/O engines, please make sure that there is power to the battery in order to
raise or lower your engine (s) or drives if needed. If you have a small outboard engine, i.e.: for a dinghy, please
remove it from the boat and/or stow it properly in the cabin to prevent theft.
b. For all other boats, please disconnect batteries and secure, or if there is a disconnect switch, be sure
the switch is in the “Off” position prior to transporting.
 

16. Due to the inherent problems of a wood boat, JRBH WILL NOT accept any responsibility for damage or
loss to a wood boat.

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Additional Instructions for Sailboats

17. On center board sailboats, make sure the board is secured and will stay up in transit. Some sailboats may
develop some separation between the keel and the hull. This is not structural damage but separation of the
mounting bolts or drying out of the paint or filler. Light built or racing sailboats can expect some hull indentation
form the support pads. These indentations generally disappear when the boat is returned to the water.
 

18. Sailboats also require a little more preparation, standing rigging, turnbuckles, masthead lights, antennas,
wind indicators, mast winches, spreaders, and etc. should be removed from the mast. JRBH does not assume
liability for damage attributable to rubbing and/or chaffing by equipment left on the mast. Mast should not be
freshly painted prior to shipment because of chaffing.3 Mast should be wrapped in plastic film since it will be
secured on the trailer beside the boat, as it may get road grime on it. Carpet should be provided for the mast
at the tie down points. Do not secure the mast to the boat, as there is a space on JRBH’s trailer for the mast.
Should the mast be secured to the boat, JRBH will not be responsible for any resulting damage to the mast or
the boat.

Additional Instructions for Power Boats

19. Remove all flag masts, lights, outriggers, antennas, etc.
 

20. If your power boat is low enough to ship with the flying bridge on, remove all lights, wheels, masts and
windshields that protrude over the bridge. All Plexiglas should be removed and packed below with a cargo
blanket. If your power boat is not low enough to ship with the flying bridge on, you will have to have a cradle
built for the bridge to be shipped in on the forward deck or cockpit area. Every point touching the deck or rails
must be sufficiently padded. Remove all electronics and valuable items from the bridge, pack securely, and
store below. If you have any other questions concerning the transportation of your boat, please feel free to call
us. If you have any question about this contract email them to JustRightBoatHauling@gmail.com.