Small Boat Transport Options: Shipping Dinghies and Jet Skis

While massive yachts grab all the attention, a huge portion of the logistics industry is dedicated to moving smaller watercraft. If you need to move a Boston Whaler, a pair of jet skis, or a rigid inflatable dinghy, you have several highly efficient small boat transport options.

Because small boats do not require oversize permits and easily fit within standard highway lane widths, the rates per mile are significantly lower than their larger counterparts.

The Top Small Boat Transport Options

1. Tow-Away Service

If your small boat is already sitting on a road-worthy trailer with working lights, good tires, and packed bearings, you can hire a tow-away service. An independent contractor with a heavy-duty pickup truck will simply hitch up to your trailer and tow it to the destination.

• Pros: Very fast, straightforward.
• Cons: Puts wear and tear on your trailer and tires.

2. Flatbed / Hotshot Hauling

If you do not have a trailer, or your trailer is not trusted for a 1,000-mile journey, the boat and trailer can be loaded together onto a "hotshot" flatbed trailer.

• Pros: No wear and tear on your personal trailer; highly secure.
• Cons: Slightly more expensive than tow-away service.

3. LTL (Less-Than-Truckload) Freight for Jet Skis and Dinghies

For very small watercraft like jet skis, kayaks, or collapsible dinghies, LTL freight is one of the best small boat transport options. The watercraft is securely strapped to a specialized shipping pallet and loaded into an enclosed dry van along with other general cargo.

• Pros: By far the cheapest option for cross-country moves.
• Cons: Slower transit times as the truck makes multiple stops to offload other freight.

2026 Pricing for Small Watercraft

Because small boats are easy to combine with other loads, the prices are manageable:

• Tow-Away Service: Expect around $1.25 to $1.75 per mile.
• Hotshot Flatbed: Expect around $1.50 to $2.00 per mile.
• LTL Pallet Freight (Jet Skis): Often quoted as a flat rate between $600 to $1,200 coast-to-coast.

Choosing between these small boat transport options comes down to whether you own a reliable trailer and how quickly you need the boat at the destination.