How can I start a boat transportation business?

Question

I want to provide a service to consumers who can not move their boat with their own vehicle. Nationwide travel OK. Must be on their own trailer. Truck and driver provided. What do I need to start this business?

Answer 1

Buy a tractor and trailer with lift capability. Buy alot of insurance.

Answer 2

Here's the stopper.....

Look into insurance first...if you don't choke...ask us again.

Then there's permits...escorts...etc.

Is the customer's Trailer Certified?  What happens when it busts?   This is why guys insist on their own equipment. Get a Bunk Type or Hydraulic Trailer...like Caravan or Conolift. You can't rely on customers to be truthful about their trailers or condition of their bearings, welds, etc.

You're putting yourself in a bad position by hooking on to their stuff buddy.   Think about it.   And do you Americans love suing each other? h**l yeah!

Answer 3

To start this business you will need a paying customer.

Answer 4

Depending on the size of the boats I would think you will need to buy some kind of permit through each state you travel. I know a guy who bought a Canadian boat and wanted it transported to Virginia and not only did he have to get those permits, in some states he had to have a police escort through the whole state, so I would guess it could be an expensive operation not to mention the Insurances you will have to have.

Answer 5

Over 80 services like that have gone belly up in Florida in the last year.  High cost of fuel, insurance, govt reg and boat owners who will pay the lower rate to fly by night operators makes it a tough business.  Most use their own trailers because owner trailers are not dependable enough to avoid breakdowns.

Answer 6

hi you need to be certified in each state, have  total insurance,  you have to be bonded too..  That eans you have to show you have no feloneys or other charges. Basically all you are offering is a tow veh. not a great service.

What you have to look at a buisness plan and proposal also.

Basics.....  like cost of gas, cost of insurance, cost maintaining your vehs...  Yes youneed more than one tow veh.  just incase one breaks down.  Now  you have to look cost of your time,  distance overnight stops.

Also if you deliver cross country ie,  from say  florida to CA.  you charge one  way or both. if you charge both you may be too expensive, if you charge one way you may not make a great deal due to cost of driving back.  Also look at suppy and demand.  How many people want your service.

You need to be more flexible.  you need to look at hauling companies and see what they charge to transport a boat.  

Also your truck needs to look new . or be no more than a few years old. People will look at what you drive and if they see an older truck they will be suspicious.   Their thousands of dollar investment is going to e given in trust to you ... if yo have an old tow truck .. it doesnt matter how reliable it is  people will be very suspicious...    

I wish you luck with your buisness venture. But becareful  and make sure if you do tow someones boat... Makesure you check it over before you tow it . Point out all dinks scratches etc to the owner and make sure the owner signs that you have seen them, and when you get to where ever get them to sign  a release saying its arrived in  the same condition as which you picked it up. If you dont you wll be paying for every ding scratch and missing item on that boat even if you havnt doen anything...

Answer 7

advertise with boat retailer in your area