FAQs

What should I do before getting a boat surveyed?

It may seem obvious but you are considering buying a boat the first thing you should do is make sure that the vessel really suits you and your requirements. I've surveyed boats only to be told later that the boat doesn't have enough headroom or the the interior layout doesn't suit them. You don't need a surveyor to tell you this! `It may not always be possible to visit the boat in person but lots can be found out before paying for a survey.

Ideally you should spend some time aboard (without the vendor or broker if possible!) and have a good look around. Check in lockers and hidden corners. Look for signs of previous neglect or recent repairs. Have a look at the mechanical installation and the wiring. If possible have a sea trial with the vendor/broker. Have a look at how the sails set and/or see how the motor operates under load.

If it’s a ‘production boat’ or a known design do some research (on the net or reading magazine reviews) or talk with the owners of similar boats. If you’re not experienced talk with more knowledgeable/experienced friends or ask advice from a surveyor or other suitable consultant.

Talk with a number of brokers about what you are looking for and try to engage with them. A good broker works for both the purchaser and the vendor and should be aiming to have satisfied clients on both sides of the deal. You are, after all, a potential long term customer. You may want to sell the boat you are purchasing in a few years and buy a new one.

Ask for a complete inventory and a comprehensive description of the current condition. Get details of any relevant damage/repairs/equipment upgrades/replacement and so on. Check the asking price of comparable boats and, if you can, find out what they actually sold for. If you can see the boat out of the water even better. When you are confident that the boat is right and appears to represent good value you are ready to make an offer. If it's accepted, the broker or vendor will usually require a deposit before accepting to slip the boat for survey. Your offer should be always be made ‘subject to a satisfactory survey report’.

Now is the time to engage a surveyor to inspect the boat and prepare a “Pre-Purchase Vessel Condition Report”. Even if you are experienced and feel that you could inspect the boat yourself you may need a report from a reputable surveyor in order to obtain insurance if you do purchase the boat.

Any serious deficiencies in the vessel that come to light during the inspection and that were not been disclosed beforehand may be taken into consideration when negotiating a final price. The vendor may ‘make good’ any problem or discount the final price.

Often the surveyor’s fee is more than covered.

How much does it cost?

This is sometimes the first question! I am still working to develop a comphrehensive internet quoting system, but in the meantime, please don't hesitate to contact me and I'll provide a quote.

How do I choose a surveyor?

Ask for recommendations from friends or acquaintances who have employed a surveyor and whose opinion you respect.

Surveyors usually offer a variety of services so check out what they do by talking with them directly and/or by visiting their websites.

Ask how much they charge and how they calculate their fees.

Ask about their experience with the type of boat you are considering and how they conduct their survey.

Brokers should be able to provide a list of surveyors to choose from and may offer suggestions or comments.

When you contact a surveyor they should want some details of your requirements and the anticipated use of the vessel.

The surveyor should be able to refer you to a 'Code of Conduct' that they adhere to or send you full details.

Do your Vessel Condition Reports include the motor?

The surveyor should be able to tell you exactly what is and isn't included in the report.

I run the motor if possible: listen to it, check for leaks, smoke, engine mount integrity, controls etc. I check the oil condition and coolant.

If engaged for ‘sea trials’ I bring it up to temperature, then run it at high speed under load for sufficient time to check for any signs of overheating, leaks, poor alignment or other problems.

I always thoroughly inspect the installation and that of all ancillary equipment but do not do engine oil analysis or compression testing.

I always suggest that if the motor is old, suspect for some reason, or represents a considerable proportion of the value of the vessel, a suitably experienced specialist be engaged to report on its mechanical condition. I can arrange for this.

Do you examine the rigging?

Yes.

I examine all the elements of the standing rig that can be assessed from deck level. I take many high resolution photos with a good quality telephoto lens and examine these photos enlarged on the computer. This is useful to assess mast terminal alignments, broken strands, corrosion at fittings etc but will not show up hairline cracks and the like.

I do not climb masts and with older rigging it can be wise to engage a professional rigger to go up the mast and check for hairline cracks, conduct dye tests and so on. Better still – replace it!

Do you examine the sails?

Yes. If engaged for ‘Sea Trials’ I hoist the sails, assess their condition, see how they set and check their shape.

If not conducting sea trials I do what is practicable – unfurl the head sail if the weather allows, check the main on the boom, pull sails out of their bags etc. This usually gives a very good idea of their condition but doesn’t allow me to see how they set.

What about the electronics?

Again I do what is practicable.

I certainly check on the installation of all electrical and electronic equipment and whenever possible test to check that everything is functioning.

I also check for any physical damage, signs of water damage, damaged LCD displays or the like.

How should the boat be prepared for inspection?

Ideally the boat is emptied of all gear that is not on the inventory and is cleaned throughly.

This is not usually the case and sometimes considerable time is spent simply emptying lockers and re-stowing gear.

If the bilges are full of oily water it makes it difficult for the surveyor and certainly doesn't create a good impression.

Any areas that are particularly difficult of access should be opened up or clear instruction should be provided.

Do I need to have the boat inspected out of the water?

Quite often a client asks for an 'in water inspection' in the first instance. This can be very useful and may provide enough information to decide not to proceed with a full survey but a full inspection is always recommended before purchase. This may also be a requirement of an insurer or finance company.

A two stage process will be slightly more expensive overall as there is more traveling involved.

Who pays for slipping the boat?

Usually the person who requests the survey pays for the slipping unless otherwise arranged. If the vendor is planning to slip the boat anyway they may agree to pay for it. Sometimes the cost of slipping is deducted from the purchase price if the sale goes through to conclusion

What about photos?

I take lots of photos when inspecting boats both for my records and as part of my 'note taking' to facilitate writing up my reports. These are primarily for my use.

I can supply 'Photo Surveys' which can be a very useful and relatively inexpensive option for interstate or overseas clients who may not want to personally visit the boat.

They say that a 'picture is worth a thousand words' and in some ways this is true but they can be very misleading if not viewed in context. Sometimes when I inspect boats having seen the broker's photos online I'm amazed at the difference! It's important to retain balance since a collection of photos that solely highlights the defects is equally unhelpful. I aim to supply a clear, balanced and objective view of the vessel and its overall condition.

Conducted in conjunction with a full inspection a Photo Survey is inexpensive since there is relatively little extra work but it's important to know beforehand as I take extra photos with this in mind since the ones I normally take are for my specific use and may not all be coherent or relevant.

Photo Surveys can be sent by email in the first instance and I am happy to discuss them by phone while being viewed but I also transfer them to CD so they can be viewed in high definition. An average photo survey would consist of over 50 high definition photos.

What responsibility does the surveyor take?

I make every effort to do my work conscientiously and to provide thorough, detailed and comprehensive reports and work to a clearly defined 'Code of Conduct'.

If you require a more thorough inspection than is 'standard' then please discuss this with me beforehand. This may involve engaging a shipwright to remove (and replace) fastenings or interior paneling and this will normally require obtaining written permission from the vessel's owner. I can arrange for ultrasonic testing, x-rays, engine oil analysis, compression testing, keel bolt withdrawal and inspection, testing of electronic equipment and so on but these services are not part of a 'standard' inspection and would obviously involve extra expense.

For a more comprehensive explanation I refer you to the 'Legal Information' page of this website and ask you to read it carefully before engaging my services.

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