You bought a boat in Annapolis and need it at your slip in Ocean City. Or the yard in Deltaville finished your engine work and you can't take Friday off to go get it. Maybe you found the right boat on a listing in Norfolk, and now you need someone to put it through a sea trial and bring it up the Chesapeake if it checks out.
A boat delivery captain handles exactly these situations. But finding one on Delmarva, getting a straight answer on price, and knowing what to actually expect from the process? That part can be frustrating. Quotes vary wildly. Some captains show up with no insurance. Others disappear halfway through the job.
This post breaks down the real costs, the process from start to finish, and what separates a trustworthy delivery captain from one who's going to give you problems. I hold a 100 Ton USCG Near Coastal license, I've run crewboats from 48 to 78 feet, and I'm based on the Eastern Shore. The numbers and details here reflect what this work actually looks like in the mid-Atlantic.
When do you need to hire a boat delivery captain?
The most common reasons to hire a delivery captain are purchasing a boat in another location, seasonal relocation between summer and winter marinas, post-service shakedown runs after major mechanical work, and schedule conflicts when the boat needs to move but you cannot be there. Under U.S. maritime law, anyone operating a vessel for hire must hold a USCG license.
Not every boat move requires hiring a captain. If you're shifting your boat one dock over at the same marina, you probably don't need a professional. But there are several situations where hiring a licensed captain is either required, strongly recommended, or just the smart call.
You bought a boat that's not local
This is the most common reason. You found a center console in Cape May, a sportfish in Virginia Beach, or a cruiser up in the Chesapeake City area. The boat needs to get to your home marina, and you either don't have the time to make the run yourself or you're not comfortable doing it in unfamiliar waters.
For boats purchased out of state, a delivery captain also gives you an extra set of eyes on the vessel during the trip. If something is off with the engines, the electronics, or the hull, it's better to find out with a professional at the helm than during your first family outing.
Seasonal relocation
Some owners keep their boats in Ocean City for the summer fishing season and move them to the Chesapeake or points south for the fall and winter. Running a boat from OC through the inlet, down the coast to Cape Charles, and into the bay is a full-day commitment that requires decent weather. Plenty of owners prefer to hand that off.
Post-service shakedown
Your mechanic just finished a repower, or the yard completed significant work on your drives. Before you load up the family and head offshore, someone should run the boat hard and check that everything performs the way it should. A sea trial by a licensed captain gives you confidence that the work was done right.
You can't make the trip yourself
Sometimes the timing just doesn't work. Your marina slip is available now, the boat is ready now, and you have a work trip next week. A captain bridges that gap. Your boat gets where it needs to be without you rearranging your schedule.
Federal requirement: Under U.S. maritime law, anyone who operates a vessel for hire must hold a USCG license. If you're paying someone to move your boat, they are legally required to be licensed. This isn't optional and it's not a gray area. An unlicensed person moving your boat for money puts you at risk for insurance denial and liability exposure.
How much does it cost to hire a boat delivery captain?
Most delivery captains on the mid-Atlantic coast charge a day rate of $400-800 or a per-nautical-mile rate of $1.50-$3.00+. The boat owner typically covers fuel, which is the biggest variable. A dock-to-dock move within Ocean City runs $300-500, while a coastal delivery from Annapolis to Ocean City costs $1,200-2,000 plus fuel and overnight dockage.
Delivery pricing varies by distance, boat size, route complexity, and market demand. But here are the general structures most captains on the mid-Atlantic coast use.
Day rate vs. per-mile pricing
Most delivery captains charge one of two ways:
- Day rate: Common for shorter moves, dock-to-dock runs, and sea trials. Typical range in the mid-Atlantic is $400 to $800 per day depending on the captain's credentials, the vessel size, and the complexity of the trip.
- Per-mile or per-nautical-mile rate: More common for longer coastal deliveries. Rates run $1.50 to $3.00+ per nautical mile, again depending on the vessel and route.
Some captains quote a flat fee for the job, which is often the clearest arrangement for the owner. You know the total before anyone unties a dock line.
What else goes into the cost
The captain's fee is only part of the total. Other costs that get added to a delivery include:
- Fuel: The boat owner typically covers fuel. This is the single biggest variable in delivery cost. A twin-engine sportfish burning 40 gallons an hour costs a lot more to move than a single-engine center console sipping 8.
- Captain's travel to/from the boat: If the pickup location is a long drive from the captain's home port, there may be a travel charge or mileage fee.
- Overnight dockage: For multi-day runs, the boat may need to stop overnight. Transient slip fees along the ICW or Chesapeake Bay typically run $2 to $4 per foot per night.
- Crew: Larger vessels may require a mate or additional crew, which adds to the cost.
Rough cost examples for Delmarva runs
To give you a sense of real numbers for common routes in this area:
- Dock-to-dock move within Ocean City (marina to marina, same harbor): Half-day rate, roughly $300 to $500 depending on vessel size.
- Ocean City to Chesapeake Bay marina (OC inlet, south to Cape Charles, up the bay): Full day or day-and-a-half. $800 to $1,500 plus fuel.
- Annapolis to Ocean City (down the bay, around Cape Charles, up the coast): Two-day trip in most conditions. $1,200 to $2,000 plus fuel and one night of dockage.
- Norfolk to Ocean City (coastal run or bay/ICW combination): One to two days. $1,000 to $2,500 plus fuel depending on route and weather delays.
Pro tip: Get the cost structure in writing before the trip. A good captain will outline the day rate or flat fee, who pays for fuel, and what happens if weather causes delays. If a captain can't give you a clear breakdown, that's a red flag.
What should you look for when hiring a boat delivery captain?
Four things matter most: a valid USCG captain's license (non-negotiable and legally required), professional marine liability insurance, familiarity with your specific area and boat type, and clear communication about costs, route, and weather contingencies. Ask to see the license, verify insurance coverage, and get the full cost structure in writing before the trip.
Not all captains are equal. The barrier to entry for moving boats is low enough that unqualified people sometimes offer the service. Here's how to sort out the serious professionals from the guys who might create more problems than they solve.
USCG license (non-negotiable)
A valid United States Coast Guard captain's license is the minimum. There are different levels of USCG licenses, but for most recreational vessel deliveries in the mid-Atlantic, you're looking for an OUPV (Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels) or a Master license. Both require passing Coast Guard exams on navigation rules, safety procedures, and vessel handling.
Ask to see the license. Any legitimate captain will show you without hesitation. If someone gets defensive about this question, walk away.
Insurance coverage
This is where things get messy and where most boat owners get caught off guard. There are two separate insurance questions:
- Does the captain carry professional liability/marine operator insurance? This covers the captain's actions during the delivery. Not all captains carry it, and it matters.
- Does your own boat insurance cover delivery by a hired captain? Many hull policies have exclusions or requirements around commercial use or hired operators. Call your insurance company before the trip and ask specifically about coverage during a paid delivery.
Getting both of these sorted out before the boat leaves the dock is critical. A delivery gone wrong without proper coverage can turn into a financial disaster.
Familiarity with the area and your boat type
The Chesapeake Bay and the mid-Atlantic coast have specific challenges. Shoaling in the bay. The OC inlet in a running tide. Bridge schedules on the ICW. Crab pot fields that stretch for miles. A captain who works this area knows these things. A captain flying in from Florida might not.
Similarly, handling a 35-foot sportfish with twin diesels is different from running a 22-foot bay boat with an outboard. Ask what types of vessels the captain typically handles. You want someone who's comfortable with your boat's size, power setup, and handling characteristics.
Communication and professionalism
How a captain handles the initial conversation tells you a lot. Someone who asks detailed questions about your boat, the route, your timeline, and your concerns is taking the job seriously. Someone who just quotes a number and says "I'll be there Tuesday" probably isn't.
Expect a professional captain to want to know:
- Boat make, model, year, and length
- Engine type and hours
- Current location and destination
- Any known mechanical issues
- Your preferred timeline and flexibility with weather
What happens during a boat delivery from start to finish?
A professional boat delivery follows five steps: initial conversation and quote, pre-departure vessel inspection (fuel, engines, safety equipment, electronics), route planning based on weather and vessel type, transit with regular position updates to the owner, and arrival with proper docking, securing, and a debrief on how the boat performed during the trip.
If you haven't hired a delivery captain before, here's how a typical job flows from first contact to your boat arriving at the destination.
1. Initial conversation and quote
You reach out with the basics: where the boat is, where it needs to go, when you need it done. The captain should ask follow-up questions about the vessel and give you a clear cost breakdown. For longer deliveries, a good captain will also discuss route options and potential weather windows.
2. Pre-departure vessel check
Before leaving the dock, the captain inspects the boat. Fuel level. Engine oil. Bilge pump operation. Navigation electronics. Safety equipment (fire extinguishers, flares, PFDs, VHF radio). Running lights. Through-hulls. This isn't just a quick walkthrough. It's a systematic check to make sure the vessel is ready for the trip.
If the captain finds something wrong during this check, they should call you immediately. A professional won't take a boat out if there's a safety concern, and they won't just ignore a problem hoping it doesn't matter.
3. Route planning and weather
The captain plans the route based on the vessel type, the distance, and the conditions. For a run from Ocean City to the Chesapeake, that might mean going south offshore to Cape Charles and up the bay, or it might mean running inside through coastal bays if conditions allow and draft permits it.
Weather is the biggest variable in any delivery. A professional captain waits for the right window. That might mean a one-day delay or a three-day delay depending on what's happening in the forecast. This is a feature, not a bug. A captain who pushes out into bad weather to meet a schedule is not someone you want running your boat.
Weather delays are normal. Build flexibility into your timeline. If a captain says "I'll have it there by Friday no matter what," be skeptical. The responsible answer is "I'll have it there as soon as conditions allow safe transit."
4. Transit and communication
During the run, you should get updates. Departure confirmation, position checks along the way, and arrival notification at minimum. Most captains will also note anything unusual about the boat's performance during the trip.
5. Arrival and handoff
At the destination, the captain docks the boat, secures lines and fenders, connects shore power if applicable, and does a final walkthrough. A good captain will then contact you with a summary: how the boat ran, fuel consumption, any observations about the engines, electronics, or hull.
If you can be at the destination when the boat arrives, even better. The captain can walk you through anything they noticed during the trip.
What are the most common problems with boat delivery services?
The four most common problems are hidden costs and surprise invoices, damage during transit from careless handling, no-shows or repeated schedule changes, and unlicensed operators who leave you without insurance coverage. All four are avoidable by getting costs in writing, documenting the boat's condition before departure, requiring a deposit, and verifying the captain's USCG license.
The boat delivery market is fragmented. There's no central registry, no Yelp for captains, and no standardized pricing. That means boat owners run into the same problems repeatedly.
Hidden costs and surprise invoices
The quoted price doesn't match the final bill. Fuel was more than expected. There was a "standby fee" for weather delays. The captain charged for meals and hotels on top of the day rate.
How to avoid it: Get the full cost structure in writing before the trip starts. A clear agreement should cover the captain's fee, who pays for fuel, what happens during weather delays, and any additional expenses. If it's not in the agreement, it shouldn't be on the invoice.
Damage during transit
Gel coat scratches from careless docking. A hard grounding because the captain didn't check the chart. Hitting a crab pot and wrapping a prop. These things can happen even with the best captain, but they happen more often with careless ones.
How to avoid it: Hire a licensed captain with proper insurance. Document the boat's condition before departure with photos and video. Make sure your own hull insurance covers the delivery scenario. And ask for references from previous jobs.
No-shows and schedule changes
The captain confirms the date, then doesn't show up. Or pushes back repeatedly without clear communication about why.
How to avoid it: A deposit or partial payment upon booking creates accountability on both sides. Set clear expectations about communication during any weather delays. And trust your instincts during the initial conversation. If someone seems disorganized or vague before the job, it won't get better once they have your boat.
Unlicensed operators
This one is more common than it should be. Someone offers to move your boat for cheap, but they don't hold a USCG license. Your insurance may not cover the trip. If something goes wrong, you have very little recourse.
How to avoid it: Ask to see the license. Verify it's current. This takes about thirty seconds and can save you from a very expensive mistake.
What makes boat delivery on the Chesapeake Bay and Delmarva different?
The mid-Atlantic has unique delivery challenges: the Ocean City inlet requires careful tide timing, the Chesapeake Bay has extensive shoaling and thousands of crab pots from April through November, ICW and inside routes involve bridge schedules and tight channels, and seasonal demand peaks in spring and fall when boats relocate between summer and winter slips.
The mid-Atlantic is its own animal for boat delivery. The geography here creates specific routing considerations that affect timing, cost, and planning.
The OC inlet
Running through the Ocean City inlet requires timing with the tide. An outgoing tide against incoming swells creates conditions that can be genuinely dangerous for smaller boats. A captain who knows OC will time the transit for favorable conditions, typically on an incoming tide or slack water.
Chesapeake Bay crossings
The bay is wide, shallow in many areas, and choppy when the wind picks up against the current. Crab pot season (roughly April through November) adds thousands of floating obstacles. A delivery captain running the bay needs to be comfortable with all of this, especially the shoal areas around Tangier Sound, the shallows near Smith Island, and the channel transitions around the bay bridges.
ICW and inside routes
The Intracoastal Waterway and the inside bays (Assawoman, Isle of Wight, Chincoteague) offer protected water for some deliveries, but they come with their own challenges. Bridge openings run on schedules. Shoaling is constant. And some of these waterways have very tight channels that require slow-speed operation, which adds time to the trip.
Seasonal factors
Spring and fall are the busiest seasons for boat delivery on Delmarva. Spring because boats need to move from winter storage to summer slips. Fall because of the reverse migration south. Summer is the easiest window weather-wise but also when most owners are using their boats themselves. Winter deliveries are doable but weather windows are shorter and less predictable.
Pro tip: If you're buying a boat and need it delivered to the Eastern Shore, try to close the deal during a window when weather is cooperative. Late spring and early fall typically offer the best combination of decent weather and available captains. Mid-summer works too, but delivery captains are often booked with other work.
What is a sea trial and do you need one before buying a boat?
A sea trial is a structured on-water evaluation where a captain tests the boat's performance: cold start behavior, RPMs at various speeds, shift and throttle response, handling characteristics, engine readings under load, and electronics function. A sea trial is not a marine survey -- surveys cover structural condition, while sea trials cover how the boat actually runs. Ideally, do both before purchasing.
A sea trial is a test drive for boats, and it's one of the most valuable things a captain can do for a buyer or seller.
During a pre-purchase sea trial, a captain puts the boat through a structured evaluation. That typically includes:
- Cold start and warm-up behavior
- RPMs at idle, cruise, and wide-open throttle
- Shift and throttle response
- Handling at speed, in turns, and in reverse
- Engine temperature and oil pressure readings under load
- Electronics function check
- Noise, vibration, and any abnormal behavior
A sea trial is not a marine survey. Surveys cover structural and mechanical condition. Sea trials cover how the boat actually performs on the water. Ideally, you do both before buying.
For sellers, offering a captain-run sea trial to prospective buyers demonstrates confidence in the boat and professionalism in the transaction. It removes the awkwardness of a buyer trying to evaluate a boat while the seller is watching nervously from the dock.
What does a boat delivery from Ocean City look like with a local captain?
A delivery with a local captain includes flat-fee quoting with no surprise charges, a full pre-departure inspection with a written checklist, route planning based on your vessel and current conditions, real-time updates during transit, proper docking and securing at the destination, and a post-delivery debrief covering how the boat performed.
I hold a 100 Ton USCG Near Coastal license. I've run crewboats in the 48 to 78 foot range, moving up to 30 people plus cargo. I also ran Sea Quenched Private Charters out of Ocean City for three seasons with five-star reviews. And I detail boats professionally (Starke Yacht Care certified), so I understand these vessels from the hull up, not just from behind the helm.
I've done coastal runs from New York down to North Carolina, and I'll travel wherever the boat needs to go. Here's what a delivery looks like with me:
- Flat-fee quoting so you know the total before we start
- Full pre-departure inspection with a written checklist
- Route planning based on your vessel and current conditions
- Real-time updates during transit (text, call, or both)
- Proper docking and securing at the destination
- Post-delivery debrief on how the boat performed
I won't push out in weather that puts your boat at risk. I won't surprise you with charges that weren't discussed. And I'll treat your boat the way I'd want someone treating mine.
My service area covers Ocean City, the Delmarva Peninsula, the full Chesapeake Bay, and coastal runs up and down the mid-Atlantic. Longer trips are possible with advance planning.
Need a captain to move your boat?
Delivery, relocation, sea trials, and dock-to-dock moves on the Eastern Shore. 100 Ton USCG Near Coastal licensed.
What questions should you ask before hiring a boat delivery captain?
Nine essential questions to vet a delivery captain: ask to see the USCG license, verify marine liability insurance, clarify what the quoted rate includes and who pays for fuel, ask about weather delay policies, confirm route familiarity, discuss experience with your boat type, set update expectations during transit, ask about pre-departure inspection procedures, and request references from recent jobs.
Use this list when you're vetting captains. These questions will separate the professionals from the ones who aren't worth the risk.
- Can I see your USCG license?
- Do you carry professional marine liability insurance?
- What's included in your quoted rate? Who pays for fuel, dockage, and your travel?
- What happens if weather delays the trip?
- Have you run this route before?
- What types of boats do you typically handle?
- Will I get updates during transit?
- What do you check before departure?
- Can you provide references from recent deliveries?
A captain who answers all of these clearly and without hesitation is someone worth hiring. Someone who gets evasive or annoyed by the questions is telling you something.