The three options
Side-by-side comparison
| Sea (delivery) | Ship | Road | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical cost | £450 – £700 for a short coastal hop; £5,400 – £6,600 UK to Spain, plus expenses | Quote-based: depends on size, route, sailing date, cradle and port charges | Quote-based: depends on size, beam and height, distance, permits, lifts and mast work |
| Speed | About 120nm a day under sail; weather dependent | Fast once aboard, but tied to sailing dates | Usually 1 – 2 days in the UK once booked |
| Best for | Seaworthy sailing yachts, motor yachts with range, catamarans | Ocean routes, motor yachts, valuable or new yachts | Trailer boats, small keelboats, inland moves, non-seaworthy boats |
| Pros | No lifts or mast work; door to door, berth to berth | No sea miles or engine hours; avoids difficult passages | Not weather dependent; reaches inland; fixed dates |
| Cons | Weather delays; wear and engine hours; fuel on motor yachts | Usually most expensive; limited routes and dates; port transfers extra | Lifts, mast work and wide-load permits add cost; size limits |
How to choose
Choose sea delivery if…
Your boat is seaworthy, in the water, and going somewhere reachable by sea in a sensible passage. For a typical 30 to 50ft sailing yacht moving around the UK or to Europe, this is usually the best value. Real UK deliveries in 2025–26 ranged from £450 for a short hop to around £2,800 from the south coast to the Clyde. See yacht delivery cost.
Choose shipping if…
The route is long or crosses an ocean, your motor yacht would burn thousands of pounds of fuel getting there, or you want to avoid sea miles on a new or valuable boat. See yacht shipping cost and sail or ship?
Choose road if…
Your boat lives on a trailer, is going inland, isn't fit for a sea passage, or has to arrive on a fixed date. Check the width first: loads over 2.9m need police notification and much wider boats need permits and escorts. See boat transport cost.
Popular moves
- UK to the Mediterranean: sail, ship or truck it south.
- Around the UK: south coast to Scotland, along the Channel, across to Ireland.
Why use BoatMove?
- Vetted partners only. Every partner is approved by a person, service by service, and insurance is checked before approval.
- Free for boat owners. Requesting and comparing quotes costs nothing and there is no obligation to book.
- Compare properly. See quotes side by side with price, timing and what's included, and message partners before you decide.
- All three modes in one place. Sea, ship and road partners on one platform, so you can compare options as well as prices.