The Four Ways a Yacht Moves

At a high level, a yacht reaches its destination one of four ways. It gets lifted onto a ship and carried, it floats onto a submerged ship and is carried, it’s driven or towed onto a ship, or it travels overland on a trailer. There’s a fifth option too: sailing it there under its own power with a delivery crew. That isn’t transport in the logistics sense, but owners weigh it against shipping, so it’s worth covering.

Lift-On/Lift-Off (LoLo)

How it works: Shore or ship cranes lift your yacht straight out of the water and set it down on a cradle that’s fixed to the deck of a transport ship. The yacht gets blocked, shored, and lashed into place for the crossing, then lifted off the same way once it reaches the destination port.

Best for: A wide range of vessels, from yachts around 40 feet up to superyachts pushing 200 feet, and for owners who want as much control as possible over how their boat is handled and secured.

Why it’s the method we specialize in: LoLo gives the loadmaster precise, controlled handling at every stage. Your yacht never has to float into a tight space or move under its own power to get aboard, and that takes a whole category of risk off the table. Each vessel sits in a cradle built or adjusted to fit its specific hull, so the load sits where it should and the boat barely moves at sea. And because the lift is engineered and supervised, LoLo works even when a yacht isn’t fully running. A boat with engine trouble, or one heading in for repair, can still be lifted cleanly.

The catch is that LoLo needs crane capacity and skilled rigging at both ends, which is why it’s best left to a company with an established global port network rather than arranged on the fly.

Float-On/Float-Off (FloFlo)

How it works: A semi-submersible ship lowers its deck below the waterline by taking on ballast. Your yacht floats into position over the sunken deck, the ship pumps the ballast back out and rises, and the yacht settles onto its supports as the water drains away. At the destination, the whole thing runs in reverse.

Best for: Very large yachts and superyachts, especially when a vessel is too big or too heavy for crane lifting to be practical.

Considerations: FloFlo is impressive engineering, and it’s the right call for the largest vessels. It does ask the yacht to maneuver into position under its own power or under tow, though, and the float-in step needs calm, controlled conditions. For the many yachts that sit comfortably within crane range, LoLo gives tighter, more individual handling.

Roll-On/Roll-Off (RoRo)

How it works: The yacht is driven or towed on its own trailer or a cradle, up a ramp and onto the ship, then secured for the crossing. It’s the same idea as loading cars onto a ferry.

Best for: Smaller boats and vessels already sitting on road-ready trailers, on routes that have the right RoRo infrastructure.

Considerations: RoRo can be efficient for the right boat on the right lane. It’s just less often the best fit for large or high-value yachts, where custom cradling and crane handling protect the hull better.

Overland Transport (Trucking)

How it works: The yacht is loaded onto a hydraulic trailer and hauled over the road by truck.

Best for: Smaller yachts, usually under about 50 feet, on domestic moves where the route, road widths, bridge heights, and permits all line up.

Considerations: Trucking is often the cheapest option for shorter domestic trips. But height, width, and weight limits cap how big a boat can travel by road, and long hauls bring their own wear and permitting headaches. For anything crossing an ocean, or anything large, sea transport is the practical choice.

Sailing Under Own Power (Delivery Crew)

How it works: Instead of shipping the yacht, you hire a professional captain and crew to take it to the destination on the water.

Best for: Owners who actually want the boat exercised, or short repositioning runs in good weather.

Considerations: It looks cheaper on paper. But it piles on engine hours and wear, leaves the yacht exposed to weather and open water for the entire distance, and comes with crew, fuel, and insurance costs. Over a long passage, putting the yacht on a ship is usually faster, lower-risk, and a lot easier on the boat.

Which Method Is Right for Your Yacht?

A few practical signals point you toward the right approach:

Going international or crossing an ocean? Sea transport is really the only realistic option, with LoLo or FloFlo in the lead depending on how big the vessel is.
Boat in the 40-to-200-foot range and you want maximum control over handling? LoLo is usually the best fit.
Yacht not fully running, or going in for repair? LoLo handles it cleanly, because it lifts the boat instead of counting on it to float or drive into place.
Smaller boat staying close to home? Overland trucking might be the most economical way to go.

If you’re not sure, the honest answer is that it depends on your specific boat and route. That’s exactly the conversation our team has with owners every day before recommending an approach.

How Cross Chartering Protects Your Yacht in Transit

Picking LoLo is only half of it. The handling is what decides whether the voyage is uneventful. Across the 2,000-plus yachts we move every year, every shipment runs on the same discipline:

Custom cradles and support systems built to match your hull, so the load sits right and the boat barely moves at sea.
Inspection and documentation before loading, so your vessel’s condition is on record from the start.
Engineered, supervised lifts at both ports, run through our own global network instead of improvised locally.
Regular updates throughout the voyage, so you always know where your yacht is and how it’s doing.

That’s what it comes down to: the right method, carried out with precision. It’s why owners, brokers, and builders can hand us a vessel and stop thinking about it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is lift-on/lift-off (LoLo) yacht transport? LoLo is a sea-transport method where cranes lift your yacht out of the water and onto a cradle secured to a transport ship’s deck, then lift it off again at the destination. It gives the most controlled, individual handling of the common methods, and it works for vessels from around 40 feet up to superyacht size.

Is LoLo or float-on/float-off better for my yacht? Both are sea methods. Float-on/float-off suits the very largest vessels, but it asks the yacht to maneuver into position over a submerged deck. LoLo offers tighter, hull-specific handling and works well across a wide size range, including yachts that aren’t fully operational. The right choice depends on your vessel’s size, condition, and route.

Can you transport a yacht that isn’t running? Yes. Because LoLo lifts the vessel instead of relying on it to float into place or move under its own power, it’s well suited to yachts with mechanical issues or vessels being moved for repair.

How are yachts secured during transport? With LoLo, each yacht sits in a cradle built or adjusted to fit its specific hull, then gets blocked, shored, and lashed to the deck so it barely moves during the voyage. Inspection and documentation before loading record the vessel’s condition first.

How long does yacht transport take? Transit time depends on the route, the sailing schedule, and the method. Scheduled sea voyages run set lanes between major ports, and how far ahead you need to book varies with demand and season. The most accurate answer comes from a quote for your specific origin, destination, and vessel.

Ready to Move Your Yacht?

Tell us about your boat and where it’s headed, and we’ll recommend the right method and put together a transport quote. Whether it’s a single sport boat or a superyacht, every shipment gets the same care.

Yacht Transport Methods: How Your Yacht Actually Gets There