Send dimensions, condition, support details and photographs through the estimate form. Include any property sale or storage deadline. The review starts collection planning; a submitted request does not confirm a schedule, method or final price.
Describe what is supporting the hull
Say whether the vessel is on a trailer, cradle, stands or ground. Show any collapsed supports, visible cracking and water inside from a safe position. Do not move blocks or walk on weakened decking for an estimate. Condition can affect whether a proposed method is possible as well as its cost.
For a trailer, photograph the coupling, axles, tires and visible corrosion. A complete frame is not proof of roadworthiness. Ask who checks it and what loading alternatives could be considered if it cannot travel.
Identify the intended outcome: disposal, transport or a salvage assessment. Parts may attract an offer after inspection, but neither a motor nor a metal component establishes a buyer. Record any accepted credit and ownership of removed parts separately from removal charges.
Explain the property route and restrictions
Provide photographs of gates, bends, slopes and loading space, and identify shared entrances or vehicle-weight limits. Let the contractor assess surface-bearing and utility clearance requirements. Do not approach wires or test the ground with a heavy vehicle yourself.
For storage yards, give the operator contact and rules for releasing the vessel and entering the site. Access permission does not establish ownership of the boat. Resolve liens, estate interests or a vessel left by someone else before destructive work.
An urgent deadline should be stated early, but the method, operator permissions, receiving route and availability still require confirmation. No collection timeline or untouched estimate is guaranteed for every site.
Separate waterfront recovery from a land haul
If the boat is actually at a dock, marina or waterway, give its exact facility and municipality. This page establishes no commercial recovery permission or company relationship with a launch site. Ask the operator about access, staging and permitted work.
A grounded or partly submerged boat may need stabilization, towing or lifting before road transport. Ask whether specialist stages are available and included. Do not board an unstable hull, enter the water or pump unknown liquids to prepare it.
For a sailboat, report mast position, keel configuration and cradle ownership. The proposed water and road routes need assessment against actual dimensions and restrictions; no first-visit equipment or facility haul-out window is presumed.
Confirm receiving acceptance and keep records
Ask the actual destination whether it accepts this hull and its contents and how charges are calculated. Identify fuel, oil, batteries, unknown bilge contents and suspected hazardous materials separately. Foam is not automatically a hazardous-waste category. Agree who assesses and handles each item; do not drain unfamiliar systems yourself.
Use the cost guide to compare stages and the disposal guide to organize receiving questions. Ask which preparation, cleanup and completion records are included; no company-owned processing facility is established here.
Keep the agreed scope, authority documents, collection receipt and any record-office instructions. The Illinois directory can help route enquiries, while an address in another municipality or county needs its own availability and jurisdiction check.