Gift Icon
Get a 20% discount from our partners! Discount code will get added automatically when you submit the form.
Auto Transport Truck on Highway
4.7 Star Rating4.7 (67,926 reviews)
96.3% positive
No Surprises, Just Savings: Verified Carriers, Instant Quotes, and Best Price Guarantee!
You save 20% compared to other companies
Get quotes from trusted carriers, thoroughly vetted and fully insured. Enjoy trackable deliveries, fair pricing, and hassle-free transport from start to finish. Transport any type of vehicle and drive away worry-free.
Customer Images
7790 people shipped using A-1 Auto Transport last week
Scratch-Free Guarantee
Vetted Carriers
Transparent Costs
Customer Ratings By Feature
Value for Money ★★★★★ 4.9
Vehicle Care ★★★★★ 4.9
Fast Delivery ★★★★★ 4.9
Friendly Staff ★★★★★ 4.9
Globe
190+
Countries
Served
Car
2M+
Delivered
Services
Car
97%
Customer
Recommended
Dave loved the fast deliveryDave C.
★★★★★
Dave loved the fast delivery
My relocation to Chicago was fast, smooth and without any delay thanks to A1 Auto.
Courtney enjoyed the honest guidanceCourtney J.
★★★★★
Courtney enjoyed the honest guidance
Just what you need when trusting someone with your wheels! Kudos to this company!
Jeff enjoyed the fair priceJeff D.
★★★★★
Jeff enjoyed the fair price
Moved my ride hassle-free with these folks.Fair pricing, no surprises. Definitely recommend them!
Maria enjoyed the special care and safetyMaria L.
★★★★★
Maria enjoyed the special care and safety
Huge thanks to the movers – they were meticulous with my car. Love these guys.
Recently featured on USA Today

“A1 Auto Transport became synonymous with top-notch service delivery, unfailing punctuality and constantly preoccupied with customer satisfaction.

See Article— USA Today

All You Need To Know About Shipping A Personal Watercraft

Published by Joe Webster.

What's in this article?
  1. Things That All About Shipping A Personal Watercraft You Need To Know
  2. Boat shipping methods
  3. Shrink wrapping
  4. Roll-on / Roll-off boat shipping
  5. Lo-Lo (Lift-on / Lift-off) shipping
  6. Flat Racks boat shipping
  7. You must prepare the PWC for transit to avoid damaging it
  8. When to use crating
  9. When to use a shipping container
Process Of Shipping A Personal Watercraft

Things That All About Shipping A Personal Watercraft You Need To Know

There are many jet-propelled watercrafts, but the most common recreational boat is the personal watercraft. A PWC is a small boat that is designed to accommodate one person. It uses an inboard jet drive as its primary source of propulsion. Generally, personal water crafts have smaller, more delicate parts that need more caution when shipping. A little mishandling when shipping a personal watercraft and you lose your boats proper functionality.

Boat shipping methods

Shrink wrapping

If you decide to have your PWC boat wrapped for trucking, you need to know that shrink wrap failure is very likely to occur when going over the road. For this reason, ensure that your transporter wraps every cleat, sharp corner, windshield, etc. to minimize excessive chafing and rubbing of the boats wrap. As the truck goes down the highway, chances are that the wind velocity will tear the shrink wrap as a result of the rubbing that happens on the sharp edges. If the shrink wrap tears, the transporter should remove it. Otherwise it will end up damaging the boat by beating itself against the boat. If well padded, shrink wrap can remain intact.

Roll-on / Roll-off boat shipping

This transport method is used if the trailer is secure for towing under strenuous conditions. The boats are rolled in their trailers and off the ship. In case the boat lacks a trailer, a custom build cradle is made. You can consider this method if the trailer is secure for towing under strenuous conditions.

Lo-Lo (Lift-on / Lift-off) shipping

This method is used for larger PWCs that are too large for the trailer to fit in the RoRo feeder door opening or in the container. Shipping apersonal watercraft requires the transporter to first shrink wrap the boat to prevent damage from the seas turbulence. The fees for this method are a little higher since there will be extra equipment used such as cranes, fork lifts, manpower and cradle costs.

Flat Racks boat shipping

This method entails loading the personal watercraft for shipping, then wrapping it to secure it to the ship. This method protects the boat from dirt, debris and possible damage. If you’re in the process of shipping a personal watercraft for the first time, you need some guidance. Here are some tips to keep in mind

A-1 Auto Transport Ships Worldwide.
Get a Free, No Obligation to Buy, Auto Shipping Quote.
Get my free quote now
or call us to do it for you:
Prepare The PWC For Transit To Avoid Damaging

You must prepare the PWC for transit to avoid damaging it

Like with all other boats, you need to prepare your ski-jet accordingly. To avoid fire hazards when the jet ski is in transit, drain any gas. Also drain any water that may be hiding in the jets components, especially if the PWC was in water a few days before the shipping day. You will also need to disconnect the battery and pack it securely with the cargo.

Also, secure any cushions, lines, gear and fenders in a compartment. Just because the PWC will be shrinked wrapped doesn’t mean you should leave any items handly loosely in the boat. In a scenario where the wrap is exposed, everything will go flying off and this won’t be the transporters mistake. Further, take photographs of your PWC before dispatching it. This is one of the ways to have a prove of your PWC in good condition, just in case it gets damaged while in transit.

When to use crating

For the jet skis without trailers or for those lacking extra protection, crating is certainly a great option. Particularly if the jet ski is new, a sturdy wooden encasing is a solid, more secure option. It’s important to note here that a special crating comes at an extra charge. This option is more practical when shipping a single jet ski. If you need to ship more than one, the following option will be more practical.

When to use a shipping container

If you are shipping multiple PWCs all at once then using a shipping container is the practical option here. This method requires a professional industrial level packing. When loading thousands of dollars boats into a container, they need to be in perfect working condition upon arrival. If you ship your jets ski using this method, ensure the transporter follows the necessary procedure so that your boats arrive their destination undamaged.

When collecting your PWC, you have no time for inconveniencies. All you want to do is connect the batteries, gas it up and have it in the sea without hiccups. As you shop for a suitable transporter to ship your boat, do your homework and pick only the highly reputable one. Look at their past records and measure how many successful deliveries they have made in the past.

If you have more questions about shipping a personal watercraft, contact us, we will be happy to assist.

Share this content on social media for a chance to get up to 20% off your next shipment.
Copy link

Joe Webster always knew the auto transport industry would be a great career option. And with decades of experience, Joe is now an established consultant for A1 Auto Transport.

Joe was born in Santa Cruz, California. During high school, Joe worked as a mechanic; a job continued to work part-time during his bachelor's degree.

Email Me


Testimonial
Mylene Rutllant
It’s my number one pick in auto shipping to this day.
★★★★★

...my choice in terms of auto transport has to be A1 Auto Transport. It’s in the name, but also in the quality with which they do their jobs. I’ve never had a problem with this company.

Testimonial
Luis Rodriguez
You have my full support and recommendation!
★★★★★

A1 Auto Transport... From the get go, they were very different from my past options. Their website was very professional and up to date, full of useful information. I requested a quote using their online form, and I got an email response within an hour. Surprisingly fast!

Testimonial by Cristine Benoit
Cristine Benoit
I can safely say this is a legit company that will get the job done.
★★★★★

There are a lot of options for auto transport these days, which surprisingly makes it harder to find a good company. I received more than 10 offers to ship my car, but I couldn’t decide on any of them... Fortunately, I made the right choice with A1 Auto Transport.

Testimonial
David Osallo
We give A1 Auto Transport a big 10 out of 10!
★★★★★

We give A1 Auto Transport a big 10 out of 10! We chose them to move our car from California to Vermont, since we needed professionals.

Visit our social, and see what our clients are saying about us:

Ship Your Vehicle With A-1 Auto Today
Get an instant free Quote Now

Or Call Us Today and Speak Directly to Our Sales Team:

Call Us 1-888-230-9116

Our Partners:

Better Business Bureau Accredited
FMCSA Member
INC. 500 Member
VeriSign Secured
AMSA Member

A-1 Auto Transport is a disclosed agent for the following shipping companies:

CSI Logistics
435 Division Street
Elizabeth, NJ 07201
FMC 22206
Intl Cargo
45 Campus Drive
Edison, NJ 08837
NO. 17858N
Trans Global Auto Logistics, Inc.
3401 E Randol Mill Rd,
Arlington, TX 76011
NO. 018191NF
CFR Rinkens
15501 Texaco Avenue
Paramount, CA 90723
NO. 013055NF
ABC Worldwide LLC
2840 NW 2nd Ave #105
Boca Raton, FL 33431
NO. 025472F
ShipYourCarNow LLC
1160 South Rogers Circle Suite 1
Boca Raton, FL 33487
NO. 025646
Merco Air & Ocean Cargo, Inc.
6 Fir Way
Cooper City, FL 33026
NO. 021869F
Copyright © 1988-2024, A-1 Auto Transport - All Rights Reserved.