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Sailboat Transport
SAILBOATS
Sailboats, by the unique nature of their design and sailing gear, require a very unique skill set to properly prepare, load, and safely transport. More so than other boat designs, sailboats have a great deal of preparation challenges. Our sailboat transport team at Interstate Haulers has the experience and expertise to manage the many complexities of sailboat transportation.
SAILBOAT TRANSPORT CHECKLIST
LOADING A SAILBOAT FOR TRANSPORT
Loading a sailboat for transport requires an understanding of hull design and how to position the weight. When loading a sailboat, at least 50 percent of the weight needs to be on the keel. When the travel lift drops the boat down on the transport trailer, the keel should come all the way down and then lift back up a bit. Now you’re ready to support and balance the hull with boat stands. When a sailboat is properly loaded, there is very little actual weight on each boat stand. Sailboats should have a minimum of six total stands under the hull. Wood hull sailboats should be loaded differently. Most wood hull sailboats are long-keeled and can take on more weight. There should be even less weight on the stands so as not to crack the ribs and hull. In addition, there should be as many stands as practical to spread the weight during sailboat transport out evenly.
SECURING THE DECK GEAR FOR SAILBOAT TRANSPORTING & HAULING
When sailboats reach about 40 feet in length, they start getting pretty tall on the transport trailer. The legal height for loaded boats in most states is 13 feet-six inches. There are items that can be removed from the deck to keep the height to a minimum. Most often, the helm wheel can be removed and stowed below deck. Deck gear that can be removed should be removed and properly stored. The bow and stern pulpit needs to be removed as do the lifelines and stanchions. Be sure to remove the anchor from the bow roller. A loose anchor during sailboat transport can do a lot of damage.
DECOMMISSIONING A SAILBOAT FOR TRANSPORT
When decommissioning a sailboat for transport, special attention should be given to properly preparing the boom and mast for loading on the truck. The main sail and boom can be removed and secured on or below deck. The halyards and winches do not need to be removed. The spreaders and any other gear such as antennas should be removed. With the mast on saw horses or other apparatus, pull the halyards up tight at the butt of the mast. Secure them to the mast. A very handy way of keeping all the lines tight and dust out of the winches is to wrap the entire mast in shrink wrap. Sailboat transport projects need not be that difficult if appropriate measures are taken by yourself or the boatyard responsible for decommissioning your boat.
About Us
Established in 1997, Interstate Haulers is a family owned company that specializes in transporting boats, RV’s, and heavy equipment nationwide. We pride ourselves on excelling at customer service and this commitment has been instrumental in establishing Interstate Haulers as a preferred hauler within the industry. Read more
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