Send dimensions, condition photographs and the approach from the road through the estimate form. Include any estate, property sale or storage deadline. The review identifies possible methods and information still needed; scope, price, permissions and availability must be agreed before scheduling.
Check the complete loading arrangement
Describe visible hull damage, water inside and failed supports from safe ground. Do not walk on weakened decking, move blocks or test framing to prepare for collection. Condition can limit a feasible method rather than merely change its price.
If a trailer is included, show the coupling, tires, axles and corrosion and ask who assesses roadworthiness. A boat that appears intact may still rest on unsuitable running gear. A flatbed, lift or winch needs a separate equipment and site assessment.
For a sailboat, report mast position, keel configuration and cradle ownership. Any mast work, dismantling or support removal should be included explicitly rather than assumed part of an ordinary road haul.
Plan access around shared property and obstacles
Photograph gates, bends, slopes, overhead obstructions and staging space. Explain parked vehicles, shared entrances, working-hour restrictions and heavy-vehicle limits. Let the contractor assess utility clearance and surface-bearing requirements; do not test them yourself.
A narrow gate may require an agreed access change, but do not remove fencing or alter a structure simply to obtain an estimate. Ask who obtains permission, performs any alteration and restores the site if that work is part of the proposal.
Provide the operator contact for a storage yard or managed property. Operator entry permission differs from authority over the boat. Identify the owner and any lien, estate or other interest before destructive work; a left-behind vessel does not automatically belong to the landowner.
Confirm dockside work and the intended outcome
For a boat at a dock, pond or marina, give its actual operator, berth position and current rules. This page establishes no facility affiliation or commercial recovery permission. Ask which work and staging are permitted rather than assuming any waterfront can accommodate equipment.
A grounded or partly submerged hull may need specialist stabilization, towing or lifting before road transport. Ask whether those stages are available and included. Do not enter the water, board an unstable vessel or pump unknown liquids to prepare it.
State whether you want transport, disposal or a salvage assessment. An inspected motor or component may attract an offer, but storage indoors or in freshwater does not establish a buyer. Record any accepted credit and ownership of recovered parts separately.
Confirm the receiver and completion records
Use the cost guide to compare included work and estimate assumptions. Ask the actual receiver whether it accepts the hull, dimensions and contents and how charges are calculated. A receiving agreement should be established before transport.
Identify fuel, oils, batteries, bilge liquids and suspected hazardous materials separately. Ask who assesses and handles each item and which preparation the receiver requires. Hull foam is not automatically a hazardous-waste category. Do not drain unfamiliar systems yourself. The disposal guide helps organize these questions.
Keep the agreed scope, authority records, collection receipt and any Secretary of State instructions. For Rochester, Auburn Hills or another nearby municipality, provide the actual storage address. The Michigan directory helps route enquiries while availability remains specific to the proposed operation.