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02-01-2025, 13:04
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 19
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Shipping a boat
I'm considering using DYT to ship my boat (42 foot) from Pepeete to Ensanada in 2026. Has anyone recently shipped their boat with DYT or other? If so, how much in advance does one need to reserve space for the boat. DYT is more than willing to take my money a year in advance. I'm not particularly interested in tieing that much money in advance. (yes, it is expensive)
Thanks for reading this.
Paula -Estrella
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02-01-2025, 15:41
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: home town Wellington, NZ and Savusavu Fiji
Boat: Reinke S10 & Raven 26
Posts: 1,491
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Re: Shipping a boat
I'd normally not recommend a YT channel, but the topic of this is on point with your question.
Although not specifically using a DYT, the issues they describe and the process followed will be relevant to your plans.
Here is the link to the initial episode where they discuss the general pros, cons and ponderings.
__________________
Grant Mc
The cure for everything is salt water: sweat, tears or the sea. Yeah right, I wish.
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02-01-2025, 17:37
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 19
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Re: Shipping a boat
Great video however they did not say how far in advance they needed to schedule shipment.
Regards.
Quote:
Originally Posted by grantmc
I'd normally not recommend a YT channel, but the topic of this is on point with your question.
Although not specifically using a DYT, the issues they describe and the process followed will be relevant to your plans.
Here is the link to the initial episode where they discuss the general pros, cons and ponderings.
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02-01-2025, 17:48
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: home town Wellington, NZ and Savusavu Fiji
Boat: Reinke S10 & Raven 26
Posts: 1,491
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Re: Shipping a boat
Quote:
Originally Posted by paula_k
Great video however they did not say how far in advance they needed to schedule shipment.
Regards.
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I'd suggest dropping them a line.
__________________
Grant Mc
The cure for everything is salt water: sweat, tears or the sea. Yeah right, I wish.
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02-01-2025, 18:23
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2023
Posts: 2,148
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Re: Shipping a boat
Quote:
Originally Posted by paula_k
I'm considering using DYT to ship my boat (42 foot) from Pepeete to Ensanada in 2026. Has anyone recently shipped their boat with DYT or other? If so, how much in advance does one need to reserve space for the boat. DYT is more than willing to take my money a year in advance. I'm not particularly interested in tieing that much money in advance. (yes, it is expensive)
Thanks for reading this.
Paula -Estrella
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I have had a number of clients who have done this. They were uniformly happy with the service from a variety of companies.
The lead time can not be answered by anyone here. It varies enormously depending on the sailing schedule, and load factors. These vary seasonally, and with sometimes with special events. You NEED to call the shipping companies to find out what their lead time is. If the ship has empty slots you can fit in in a week or two. Or it might be booked out for 6 months. Or it might be booked full in June and but empty in April. Nobody can answer that except the boat managers.
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02-01-2025, 21:12
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Annapolis, MD
Boat: Southerly 480
Posts: 586
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Re: Shipping a boat
We shipped our boat from the UK with Sevenstar during the later part of COVID.
I booked our spot at the end of April for May 15th. Unfortunately, we were bumped as the ship ended up being fully loaded. We were pushed to June 6th and I had about two weeks of notice.
The original ports list for our ship was Southampton direct to Baltimore. It didn't work out that way. From Southampton, our ship went to Rotterdam and waited forever to load one yacht. Then she stopped in Philadelphia, and then finally Baltimore about 10 days after the original arrival projection.
We didn't shrink-wrap, but a number of boats on the ship were shrink-wrapped when we loaded. Our boat was pretty dirty upon arrival, but fortunately there was no grinding dust like Ruby Rose II. I'm not exactly sure how you'd shrink-wrap and get the boat to the ship for loading without a tow. You must also remove your back stays prior to being lifted. They give you time to put them back into place after being loaded.
Sevenstar was professional throughout, and kept me advised on the schedule. Be prepared for changes and delays though.
One bit of advice is to read and understand the contract carefully (warning- it's totally one sided in favor of the shipper) and make sure you have appropriate in-transit insurance. Sevenstar provided insurance for us as part of our package.
Good luck!
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03-01-2025, 06:08
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Back in the PNW (2025)
Boat: Hallberg-Rassy 36
Posts: 206
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Re: Shipping a boat
Whichever company you use, as shimari said, read the contract, carefully. Because of the contract it’s better to book closer to your ship date.
Get the name of the ship and track it on AIS. Some shippers seem to make up ships. To this point. You’re more likely to be able to get a name closer to ship date.
Be prepared for absolutely everything to be in flux. Making lists and using them will be crucial, especially if you’re actively cruising on your boat.
Assert your right to be on the ship during loading and unloading. The shipping company will not be offering you anything, it’s up to you to assert all your rights.
Be mentally prepared that something will break, that’s ok. If you sailed from Papeete to Ensenada things would break too. I found it helpful to put it in those terns.
Your insurance won’t cover shipping (probably). Read the contact of your shipper carefully , in one case the shipper only gave us 72 hours to find problems. The shipper we used gave us a month or more. Especially if you aren’t allowed in the ship during offloading how will you find damage.
The overall logistics are very complicated. But if you’re an active cruiser you’re used to logistics anyway.
Good luck!
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03-01-2025, 06:35
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 645
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Re: Shipping a boat
DYT uses semi-submersible carriers with fixed schedules. Not loaded onto cargo ships like Ruby Rose. They have an FAQ etc describing the float on/off process.
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10-01-2025, 06:44
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#9
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Senior Cruiser

Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario - 48-29N x 89-20W
Boat: (Cruiser Living On Dirt)
Posts: 51,770
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Re: Shipping a boat
Quote:
Originally Posted by leecea
DYT uses semi-submersible carriers with fixed schedules. Not loaded onto cargo ships like Ruby Rose. They have an FAQ etc describing the float on/off process.
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DYT Yacht Transport (formerly Dockside Yacht Transport) has two semi-submersible float on - float off carriers [Yacht Express & Yacht Servant].
Tel (Toll free):+1 888 744 7398
Email: dyt.usa@yacht-transport.com
Routes & Schedules ➥ https://www.yacht-transport.com/schedules/
__________________
Gord May
"If you didn't have the time or money to do it right in the first place, when will you get the time/$ to fix it?"
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13-01-2025, 08:06
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 3
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Re: Shipping a boat
I shipped my boat on DYT . In 2019. Shipping the boat on DYT was best advice I was ever given was from a previous customer of DYT. I researched every shipping option and well as the option of hiring a delivery crew. The cost benefit always came back to shipping on DYT. I placed 2 ice trays standing on end in my galley. Wanting to know how rough the trip would have been. Upon arrival the boat was perfect and the trays were still standing. The boat was as if it had not left port. I would do the same again and ship with DYT.
Jeff Wahl
s/v Just Passing Wind
Sundeer 60
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13-01-2025, 08:58
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 12
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Re: Shipping a boat

Quote:
Originally Posted by paula_k
I'm considering using DYT to ship my boat (42 foot) from Pepeete to Ensanada in 2026. Has anyone recently shipped their boat with DYT or other? If so, how much in advance does one need to reserve space for the boat. DYT is more than willing to take my money a year in advance. I'm not particularly interested in tieing that much money in advance. (yes, it is expensive)
Thanks for reading this.
Paula -Estrella
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13-01-2025, 09:08
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 12
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Re: Shipping a boat
Hi Paula,
Whichever way you go it’s not cheap. DYT are a great company and they start off filling their load at the going rate, but then fill in the gaps with more economical offers, but there’s a danger they can’t load you, so it depends on how flexible your schedule can be. Sevenstar also go there and Swire which I dont know. Is it a 42ft motor or sail? When in 2026 are you looking to ship your vessel ?
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13-01-2025, 09:36
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#13
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: San Francisco
Boat: Power, Sail, Multihull
Posts: 10
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Re: Shipping a boat
Quote:
Originally Posted by paula_k
I'm considering using DYT to ship my boat (42 foot) from Pepeete to Ensanada in 2026. Has anyone recently shipped their boat with DYT or other? If so, how much in advance does one need to reserve space for the boat. DYT is more than willing to take my money a year in advance. I'm not particularly interested in tieing that much money in advance. (yes, it is expensive)
Thanks for reading this.
Paula -Estrella
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Ahoy! I'm not sure why you're not considering a delivery. Shipping via DYT is not all that easy and not without risk of damage. And you'll be held hostage to their scheduling and short notices. If you're already there and can afford to wait on the boat, then that would make it much easier.
I have (Mustad Marine Yacht Delivery) delivered several boats from Tahiti with minimal wear and tear. In fact, the boats were in better shape upon turnover to the owner. And these deliveries were about 1/2 the cost compared to shipping. (But yes, a bad delivery or 'bad luck' could change that outcome.)
Good luck!
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13-01-2025, 10:06
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 14
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Re: Shipping a boat
Several years ago I shipped my sailboat from southern Costa Rica to Victoria and I was happy with the process. The ship was about 6 weeks late but that was manageable.
Our decision to ship was rather last minute so my shipping fee was reduced, just over half that if arranged early.
My boat was deck loaded and strapped into the “fabricated to fit” cradle quite firmly. I removed all canvas and the boat arrived fairly dirty but a small crew boarded the boat after splash and did a stellar job of cleanup.
The only issue was the teak beneath a heavy duty chock on the bow was crushed due to tensioning of the tie down straps (chock not damaged). Minor issue.
Very satisfied with the delivery (15 years ago and the shipper is no longer offering this service)
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13-01-2025, 11:27
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 19
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Re: Shipping a boat
Many good responses, Thank-you. My target date range is December 2025 to end of January 2025. I'm flexible and intend on enjoying FP for the year. Clearly I'm to early to book which was my main question. A DYT rep will let me know if December is filling up.
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