Its been a week of boat moves.....

I had to make the hard decision to leave Meg at home for a couple of days at the start of this week. It wasn't because I didn't want to take her, but as I was entering a port, they might not have let her in. So, one sulky dog stayed at home with Lou, who took her to work.

The Journey Begins

An early start on Monday morning had me planning to stop and see some friends on the way up to Aberdeen. Unfortunately, the M6 was closed following a serious crash overnight. This meant a big detour for me. While it was a minor inconvenience, I sincerely hope that those injured make a full recovery. That's far more important than me being held up for a few hours.

Arriving in Aberdeen late in the afternoon, I discovered a poor weather forecast for the night. So, no van stopover tonight! I opted for a hotel, and I’m glad I did. I woke up to a growing amount of snow.

Snow on the ground in Aberdeen

Chilly Conditions Ahead

It was a chilly start to the day, with a forecast of further wintry showers across the country. I had to head down to Padstow in Cornwall. This journey is long at any time, but doing it in snow, ice, heavy rain, and winds? Not ideal! However, with some timescales to meet this week, there was no option to delay.

Arriving at Northlink Ferries ferry terminal, the staff were fantastic. A big shout out to the stevedores who helped me get the first boat loaded and ready to go.

Fishing boat loaded and ready to go

Weather Luck

Luck was on our side with the weather. Despite the cold, the sun shone through, and the snow soon melted away. This left us with a clear run back to Manchester for an onward journey on Wednesday.

The journey to Cornwall was largely easy, apart from heavy squalls as I got closer to Padstow. The first boat was successfully delivered to its new owner at the boatyard.

On to the Next Delivery

Now it was time for the second boat, this time across the country to Lowestoft. It may sound a bit strange, but the quickest route is back to Birmingham and across on the M6, A14, and A11. It’s not the most obvious route, but it works! She was safely delivered the following day to the workshops, where she will get an overhaul before its new owner puts it into service.

Preparing the boat for transport after its crane lift onto the trailer.

Some Top Tips for Moving Your Boat

If you're considering having us move your boat, here are some top tips to keep in mind:

• Roadworthy Trailer: Your boat should be on a roadworthy trailer. This means it should be serviced, and the bearings, tires, and brakes must all be in good order.

• Trailer Limitations: If you can't provide a trailer, we have limitations on the type of boat we can take. For example, no fin keels.

• No Trailer Range: We don't have a range of boat trailers to move boats on.

• Weight Limits: If we have to put your boat and trailer onto a trailer, there are weight limits. We cannot exceed a combined weight of 3500kgs.

• Provider for Heavy Loads: We don’t move loads in excess of 3500kgs. You will need a different provider for that.

• Trailer Length: The overall length of the trailer cannot exceed 7m (excluding the A-frame with the ball joint). We also cannot exceed 2m at the rear of the trailer. It's the law, and we won’t break it for you!

• Need Advice?: If you're not sure about anything, call us! We’re happy to take your call and provide advice when we can. You can reach us at 07469176707.

  
  
  
  

So, whether you're moving a boat, a car, or even a caravan, remember that planning is key. We’re here to help make your transport experience as smooth as possible. Let’s get your goods where they need to go, safely and securely!