Boat Transportation
And Delivery

We have helped our clients transport and ship their vessels all over the Pacific. Between our team members we have over 100 sailboat deliveries just between the mainland US and Hawaii alone, but have experience moving boats around the Pacific Rim from Australia to Alaska. Allow us to do the heavy lifting and make things easy for you. We have forged the relationships with truckers and cross-continental shipping companies and streamlined the process and logistics. There can be a lot of variables from oil prices to shipping routes, insurance and packing requirements, and customs fees. Take the guessing game out of shipping and let us provide you with firm custom quotes from door to door. 

Boat Transportation to and from Hawaii‍

• Delivery under sail

• Shipping by cargo ship

• Road towing

The choice of transport method will primarily depend on the route specifics and size of the boat. For deliveries of boats under their own keel, weather and time of year of sailing is particularly important. For example, A 35’ sailboat is capable of transiting between Hawaii and California on her own bottom, while a 35’ powerboat will need to be placed on a cargo ship to make the same voyage. That same 35’ sailboat will be able to transit on her own bottom from California to Hawaii almost any time of year, while the reverse route from Hawaii to California can be considered rough and risky in the winter from November to April.

We have sailed a large number of our client’s vessels to Hawaii from the West Coast and South Pacific. Most commonly our clients are purchasing boats in other locations in need of being delivered or sailed to Hawaii. But we have also had clients move off island that wish to relocate their vessel to their new home.

Boat delivery to and from Hawaii under sail

Sailing a yacht under its own keel is often the most common method for transport. This transportation arrangement is usually the most cost-effective as the price of cargo shipping and port fees can be particularly high. However, predicting timeframes and exact cost can be challenging with under sail. Cost will vary based on a skipper's experience, type of boat, route and can be quoted as a flat rate, day-rate, or per mile rate. The number of total crew will depend on the size of vessel and features on board such as autopilot or electric winches. While 3 is typical, some boats may require 4 or more crew running watches 24/7 while sailing to a destination. Some owners who may have never done an offshore passage may want to build their skills and knowledge and join the voyage. 

When deciding to have your yacht delivered by a professional crew, it’s important that you feel confident and comfortable with the team you hire. Before setting off, we will do all the planning and preparations necessary. Our delivery captains ensure the seaworthiness of the boat through detailed inspections and mechanical tests of the hull, rigging, machinery, and safety equipment. Our experienced skippers aim to minimize wear and anticipate potential issues before they become expensive problems. And we will provide detailed expense reports upon delivery and live tracking of your boat while underway.

Boat shipping by cargo ship to Hawaii

In the shipping industry, Ro-Ro (or Roll-on/Roll-off) is the cheapest way to transport a vessel. This may include anything from a 12’ Boston Whaler to a 35’ luxury powerboat. These boats may be placed on trailers or a chassis that will allow the dock workers to move or roll your boat off the ship and around the port. After your vessel arrives on island, it will need to be trailered to a boat ramp or ship yard depending on the size and requirements of the owner.

The other method for cargo ship transport is known as Lo-Lo (or Lift-on/Lift-off). This is a method for boats with high vertical clearance, such as a fly bridge or an extremely long length overall that are unable to be transported on the roadway. In this case, the vessel is strapped up to a crane and lifted from the water to the deck of the cargo ship onto a cradle. When the cargo ship reaches its destination, it will then crane the boat back into the water to be boarded by its captain and driven out of the slings to its new home.

The logistics of both methods can be overwhelming for most boaters who have no prior shipping experience. There are strict deadlines and rules and regulations about drop off and pick up as well as port rules and security clearances that may be needed. When purchasing a boat overseas, there are duties and tariffs and customs clearances needed for the reflagging or importation.

The two primary shipping companies to Hawaii are Matson and Pasha. Matson typically ships out of Long Beach, California and Pasha typically out of San Diego, California. There are height restrictions for Ro-Ro on both shipping companies as well as legal roadway height restrictions for while trailering out of the port to a ship yard for water launch. Due to the Jones Act of 1920, most of the Lo-Lo (Lift-on/Lift-off) cargo ships bound for Honolulu depart from Ensenada, Mexico. Boats typically over 45’ will need to transit to Ensenada to be lifted onto the deck of the ship for transport to Hawaii. 

Just trying to wrap one’s head around the process and requirements for cargo shipping can prove difficult, so leave all of that to us! We have forged the relationships with the ship yards, stevedores, and trucking companies to fast track your boat delivery and launch.

Boat Transport by Road

Transporting yachts by road is a cost-effective way to move smaller vessels from the East to West Coast before booking a cargo ship to get to Hawaii. These sorts of trips may be necessary to obtain a specific type of boat but most of our road transport is limited to the local trucking of Roll-on/ Roll-off powerboats that have shipped to Oahu. Once the bo0at arrives on its trailer of flat bed, it will need to be trucked from the shipping port to the shipyard where it can be prepped and launched into the water.

Depending on the size of the boat, we may subcontract out the trailering or trucking to a semi-truck freight company that handles oversized boats. For smaller and lighter vessels, towing the boat yourself or by a friend with a large truck across the country may be a feasible option. Typically the maximum width allowed on Honolulu roadways is 9’ and a maximum height of 14’. While larger vessels may be transported on the roadway, there may be additional trucking permits or police escorts needed to move boats through the streets of Honolulu.