Red Foot Haulers provides door-to-door boat shipping Okanagan customers rely on, moving boats to and from the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia across Canada. We run frequently from Ontario, the Prairies and eastern Canada into Kelowna, Vernon and surrounding lake towns. Tow-away runs $1.30 to $1.40 per kilometer, while flatdeck is approximately $2.50 per kilometer for boats under 25 feet. Typical Ontario–Okanagan transit is about 6–11 days.
Whether you are relocating a wakeboat to a Kelowna slip, delivering a sailboat to Vernon, or pulling a cruiser out for winter storage, we handle the highway leg as a licensed, insured Canadian carrier. Operating since 2016 with 700+ reviews, commercial cargo insurance and written condition reports at pickup and delivery, we quote each move on real numbers rather than guesswork. For our full national methods and pricing framework, see our main boat shipping hub.
Marinas, Travel-Lifts and Road Access
The Okanagan's boating world centres on Okanagan Lake, with marinas and haul-out yards clustered around Kelowna and Vernon and smaller facilities dotting the shoreline down toward Penticton. Many of these yards operate travel-lifts and forklifts sized for the recreational fleet that dominates the valley, but capacity is finite and demand spikes hard in the warm months. If your boat needs to come out of or go into the water on a travel-lift, that appointment must be locked in before we set a transport date.
Road access is the other half of the equation. Lakeside cottage and marina roads can be narrow, steep and tightly cornered — not always friendly to a long flatdeck rig or a wide trailered load. Some private lanes have seasonal gates or soft spring shoulders, and a few delivery points are best reached by staging at a nearby paved marina lot rather than backing a trailer down to the water. Mountain approaches from the east add grade and switchbacks, so our drivers plan pickup and delivery windows around daylight, turning room and a confirmed contact who can meet the truck. Give us gate codes, a phone number and any low-clearance or tight-turn warnings in advance and the appointment runs smoothly.
Launch and Haul-Out Season
The Okanagan runs a clear seasonal rhythm, and your shipping date should follow it. Spring launch demand builds through April and May as owners bring boats to the water for the season — this is a busy inbound window for us. Summer is peak recreation season on Okanagan Lake, and it also overlaps wildfire season: heat and wildfire-season road advisories can occasionally shift schedules on mountain corridors, so we build in flexibility. Fall brings the haul-out rush from September into October, when boats leave the water for winter, and winter itself sees storage relocations and off-season purchases moving into or out of the valley.
Because travel-lifts get scarce during the spring and fall crunch, book early. A lead time of two to four weeks is wise in shoulder seasons, and longer during peak summer when both marina slots and carrier space fill up. The single most common cause of a delayed delivery is a boat that arrives before its haul-out or launch appointment is confirmed — align the marina and the transport first, then set the pickup.
Typical Origins and Real Lanes
A large share of the recreational boats we bring into the Okanagan originate in Ontario, where many owners buy or store boats and then move them west seasonally. We also run from the Prairies and other points across Canada. The table below shows real lane evidence for the corridor we run most.
| Origin | Destination | Approx. Distance | Typical Transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| London, ON | Kelowna, BC | ~3,897 km | 6–11 days |
| London, ON | Vernon, BC | ~3,777 km | 6–11 days |
Transit varies with season, pickup flexibility and whether the boat travels tow-away or flatdeck. If you are shipping between other regions, we cover comparable routes on our Toronto to Vancouver boat shipping and Vancouver to Toronto boat shipping pages. Other popular routes include boat shipping Muskoka, boat shipping Vancouver Island and boat shipping Kenora and Lake of the Woods.
Tow-Away vs Flatdeck into This Region
Two methods cover almost every Okanagan move. Tow-away is the choice when your boat sits on a roadworthy, highway-rated trailer with good tires, working lights and a proper hitch — we simply hook up and haul, and it is the more economical option at $1.30 to $1.40 per kilometer. Flatdeck is for boats without a suitable trailer, or when a marina travel-lift is loading and unloading the hull directly; that runs approximately $2.50 per kilometer for boats under 25 feet.
Oversize width and height matter on Okanagan roads. A wide-beam cruiser or a tall superstructure can trigger permit requirements and route restrictions, and it may rule out some narrow lakeside lanes entirely, pushing delivery to a marina staging point. Sailboats generally need the mast unstepped to stay within legal height. For a full breakdown of every method we offer nationally, see our boat transport hub.
What Your Quote Depends On
There is no flat regional price — your Okanagan quote is built from the factors below, applied to our published per-kilometer rates.
| Factor | How It Affects Your Quote |
|---|---|
| Method | Tow-away $1.30 to $1.40 per kilometer; flatdeck approx. $2.50 per kilometer under 25 feet. |
| Distance | Total km of the lane — e.g. London to Kelowna at ~3,897 km. |
| Loaded dimensions | Length, width and height determine permits and whether oversize handling applies. |
| Marina lift fees | Travel-lift or forklift charges at haul-out/launch are billed by the marina, separate from transport. |
| Season | Peak summer and wildfire-season advisories can affect scheduling and availability. |
| Access | Tight cottage roads or seasonal gates may require staging at a nearby marina lot. |
Give us accurate loaded dimensions and both-end details and we return a firm, itemized number rather than a vague estimate.
Preparation Checklist
A little prep keeps your boat safe on the mountain corridors and your delivery on time:
- Drain fresh-water, waste and fuel tanks down to safe transport levels.
- Disconnect and secure batteries; switch off electronics.
- Fit a highway-rated cover — Okanagan summer heat and long-haul wind demand more than a marina tarp.
- Secure or remove loose gear, canvas, electronics and personal items.
- Measure loaded length, width and height (L/W/H) accurately for the quote and permits.
- For sailboats, arrange mast unstepping before pickup.
- Confirm marina haul-out or launch appointments at both ends.
- Provide reliable contacts and any gate codes or access notes for pickup and delivery points.
If you also need a trailer, tow vehicle or motorhome moved alongside your boat, we handle those through our RV shipping service.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does boat shipping to Kelowna or Vernon cost?
Rates generally run $1.30 to $1.40 per kilometer tow-away or approx. $2.50 per kilometer flatdeck under 25 feet. London to Kelowna is about 3,897 km — we quote your loaded dimensions and method rather than a flat regional price.
Do you deliver to Okanagan marinas?
Yes, where marina access and travel-lift capacity allow. Confirm haul-out or launch appointments before transport dates, especially in peak summer.
How long does boat transport from Ontario to the Okanagan take?
Carrier transit on London–Kelowna / London–Vernon lanes is typically about 6–11 days depending on season, pickup flexibility and whether the boat moves tow-away or flatdeck.
Can Red Foot Haulers ship my boat to or from the United States?
No — Red Foot Haulers ships within Canada only. Importing a boat from the US involves CBSA clearance and other federal requirements outside domestic transport.