Shipping and Delivery Programs for Crescent Kayaks, Mocean Kayaks, Prijon Kayaks, Honu Boards, E-Bikes, and More.

Kayak, Hard Boards (certain SUPs), Canoe, Bike Pickup Delivery and Shipping Options

Note: Folded or Inflatable Paddleboards, kayaks and other watercraft, like almost all other items, ship via standard UPS or FedEx, not via Freight or Courier method, because of their compact size.

Store Pickup

In-store pickup is a convenient stop between route 1 and I-95 in York, Maine for travelers heading north into Maine or south into other points in New England. Nearly every item listed on northernexplorershop.com is available in our York, Maine shop for pick-up, shipment, or delivery.

Here is how to place your Pickup request:

  • Simply select Store Pickup during checkout, enter your contact information, and any notes you feel pertinent (like desired pick-up date, etc.). Please ensure your contact information is complete and accurate. 
  • Within 4 business hours from the time your order is placed, you will receive a call or email from NES to confirm your information and schedule the pick-up. 
  • Note: we are generally at the shop 6 days a week 9-5PM (closed most Tuesdays) however, we often spend a lot of time offsite conducting demos, instruction, deliveries, or events. It is best to call in advance of your visit.

When you visit our shop to pick up prepaid items and/or add more items to your order, we will offer ample assistance to you to walk-through any products, accessories, user techniques, maintenance best practices, places to recreate, and other information you are curious about. We take great pride in our hands-on outfitting experience.

Delivery and Shipping Overview

Note: Orders that ship to states outside of Maine will not include sales tax. We are not required to collect sales tax on your behalf.

Northern Explorer Supply ships nearly all products advertised on its websites via reputable third-party carriers and its own in-house or subcontracted courier delivery service. Products that can be shipped include kayaks, canoes, inflatable paddleboards, paddles, coolers, furniture, accessories, artwork, and everything else except for certain items such as knives or flammable products.

NES ships most products domestically to addresses located within the contiguous 48 states. An overview of these shipping options is below. Please see product and checkout page prompts for the most up to date rates and  disclaimers.

NES Courier Delivery Options

Using a company vehicle designed to safely transport large items, NES will quickly (usually 1-3 business days) and reliably deliver a kayak(s), canoe(s), hard boards, bikes, or other bulk items of similar value to a customer's home address or to a public waypoint (e.g., shopping plaza) within 200 miles of York, Maine for a low cost flat fee. Customers who live beyond our 200 mile courier cut- off distance have the option of driving to a "halfway point" (aka waypoint) to meet NES for a hand-off of their item(s).

Unlike common carrier shipping, this service includes hands-on assistance at the point of delivery including vehicle transfer, placement of items in the customer's storage location, advice about the product(s), and more. 

Customers who live beyond our 200 mile courier cut-off distance like the option of driving to a "halfway point" (aka waypoint), at a public location to meet NES for a hand-off of their item(s).

NES Courier Mileage and Rates:

  • Deliveries under 50 miles are $79.00 for up to 4 kayaks, canoes, boards, or bikes.
  • Deliveries up to 100 miles are $149.00 for up to 4 kayaks, canoes, boards, or bikes. 
  • Deliveries between 100 and 150 miles are $199.00 for up to 4 kayaks, canoes, boards or bikes. 
  • Deliveries between 151 and 200 miles are $249.00 for up to 2 kayaks, canoes, boards, or bikes.

**Because we can deliver multiple high value items for one flat fee, you may wish to split the cost between friends or family that are interested in making a bulk purchase with you!**

For waypoint deliveries involving transfer of items to a customer's vehicle for transportation to the customer's end-destination, please talk with us. We can help the customer prepare for the hand-off by explaining the various techniques, supplies, and equipment that can make the effort effective and safe.

This is a popular service with customers who:

  • Live a notable distance away from NES and wish to eliminate or shorten their driving distance/time/costs.
  • Do not have an adequate means to transport their ordered items.
  • Are concerned with the damage, high cost, delay, loss, and hassle often associated with 3rd party freight companies--thee most common method of shipping oversized items.
  • Want to receive their items undamaged, within a few days after ordering, for a low cost, and with personalized service to walk-through any product questions at the point of delivery.

How to setup NES Courier Delivery:

  • Add your kayaks and/or other items you wish to have delivered by NES Courier to your shopping cart.
  • Choose the Shipping option that matches your Shipping Address distance from York, ME.
  • If your address is outside of the 200 mile maximum, please call us to discuss other options such a Freight Shipping.

NES Courier Delivery Disclaimer: 

  • Deliveries can be made as quickly as 1-3 business days after purchase for in-stock items, depending on existing schedules.
  • The flat fee covers up to 4 kayaks per load and all accessories.
  • A public meetup point between a customer's end destination point and our shop location may be an option for those with a delivery address beyond the max radius we deliver within.
  • The customer is responsible for the accuracy of the shipping address and must be physically present at the scheduled delivery time to accept and sign-for the drop-off and/or pick-up of their order.
  • Both parties agree to meeting within 15 minutes of the slated delivery time.
  • If the customer is not available to accept and sign for the delivery upon arrival, the delivery will be forfeited and another attempt will need to be scheduled, subject to another delivery charge of the same amount plus a $100 penalty fee.
  • Deliveries are scheduled after the order is placed in complete collaboration with the customer regarding all delivery details--NES will contact the customer within 1 business day to coordinate.
  • NES is not liable for any damage or other harms involving a customer's transportation or use of equipment NES recommends, provides, or installs.
  • All orders must be paid in full before delivery will be made.
  • *Please be sure to input a home or waypoint shipping address within 200 miles of 26 Brickyard Ct, York, ME 03909. We can make revisions to it later if necessary. Addresses beyond the 150 mile maximum delivery range cannot be honored and could result in a revised or cancelled order.

Third Party Shipping Options

3rd Party Shipping Options (Ground or Freight)

Continental U.S. Shipping via UPS, FedEx, or USPS.  Northern Explorer Supply will process your order using Ground, 2-Day Select, or Advantage tiers of shipping speed and care. *Please let us know if you'd like expedited shipping and we can quote you for the upgrade* Every order includes tracking information and is processed within 1-2 business days with rare exceptions such as for special orders or made-to-order items. Transit times are generally 1-3 business days.

Kayak and Canoe Freight Shipments (items >10 ft. Long). NES is partnered with the nation’s largest 3rd Party Logistics (3PL) brokerage to select, dispatch, and transport kayaks (and shorter canoes) quickly to most US locations using one of 8-10 carefully vetted LTL freight Carriers we get instant bids from; trucking firms such as Estes, XPO Logistics, Old Dominion, FedEx Freight, and others.

  • LTL FREIGHT (Class 500). We ship kayaks under the highest tier of freight service and protection to mitigate damage and to expedite transit times. Click to learn more about the Class 500 standard.  Please Call or Email us to get a final quote before placing your order. The rate listed during checkout is a baseline rate by region for our most commonly freight-shipped kayak models.
  • Quoting your shipping cost before you place your order will avoid the possibility that your order will need to be canceled, should the freight charge or timeline be outside your expectations. Please review our Cancelation Policy prior to order placement.
  • We do not mark-up our shipping rates. You will never more than we pay to the Carrier. Plus, we cover the entire cost of substantial packaging materials and labor.
  • When calling, please provide us your address and the desired product(s) you would like shipped. Note: business addresses that are easy for a regular sized freight truck to access are less expensive to ship to. A Carrier-imposed surcharge may apply for residential deliveries that are particularly difficult for a freight truck to access such as gated communities or similar restrictions.
  • We do not charge a wrapping fee despite the substantial time and materials it takes for us to thoroughly wrap and label watercraft. Our packaging exceeds typical instustry standard by at least double.
  • In rare circumstances, we may need to charge a crating fee for kayaks that are particularly fragile or require a forklift for movement due to their size.
  • NES ships using the 500 freight classification, unless we are advised by our industry-leading broker to ship safely at a lower class. Class 500 is reserved for items exceeding 96 inches of length that require handling by hand (e.g., no damage causing forklifts) and cannot be stacked upon. This flags the Carrier to be especially careful when handling the shipment and imposes greater accountability on the Carrier to make matters right in the rare event of damage or loss (as of 3/1/2026, 100% of all deliveries have not been damaged or lost).
  • NES wraps each kayak in 4 layers of plastic and cardboard along with other materials to protect the contents. Still, minor damage (e.g., rub(s) or scratch(es)) can occur at no fault of NES due to the nature of freight movements between terminals and trucks amongst countless other items in transit.
  • NES marks each package extensively with Fragile and No Forklift labels.
  • Most kayak orders have transit times of 1-3 business days.
  • NES typically freight-ships kayaks in less than 72 hours unless the Customer wishes to schedule a specific delivery timeframe; we will do everything in our power to accommodate your preferred schedule.

As a word of caution, please consider the long (3-8 weeks) and uncertain timelines and damage risks associated with 3rd party "white glove" shipping service providers. Online research will reveal customer reviews that will help you better understand what can be expected, depending on the provider. We have opted to avoid these outside services in favor of our hard-earned partnership with the nation's largest 3PL freight brokerage instead, despite a 10-20% higher cost than the rates white glove networks charge; in favor of much faster speed and significantly greater reliability, recourse, and quality.

You can read more details on our Shipping Policy page.

 

In short, we work really hard to be as accommodating, reasonable, and devoted to your ongoing satisfaction as we can. Thanks for considering Northern Explorer Supply!

 

We ship Crescent Kayaks nationwide, including the CK1 Venture, UltraLite, Crew, and Smallie