When should you use a Marine Surveyor

One reason for having a boat surveyed is prior to purchase.Another reason could be for valuation for insurance purposes.

By having a pre purchase marine survey you will be able to obtain an independent report on exactly what you are purchasing.

The report will list any defects that are found on the vessel and where appropriate contain recommendations for suggested remedial work.

A pre purchase report can sometimes save the buyer considerable sums of money by requiring the current owner to address the defects or make a reduction in the price accordingly.

Sometimes a survey report may actually make one walk away from what might have turned out to be a very large financial error. I looked at a boat that had been made by a major British manufacturer and my surveyor found that the boat had been damaged and not properly repaired. Indeed the hull was wet through but with out a moisture meter I could not tell that.

The diesel engines, on the other hand, were a dream.

The Boat had a value of say £24,200 but needed at least £8,000 to be spent on repairs. Naturally I walked away from the deal and had my deposit returned.

Another important reason for having a marine survey is when a boat has unfortunately been damaged. A damage survey report is usually commissioned by the Insurance Company with reference to the actual claim or loss.

A damage survey report will help to reveal the amount of the loss or damage and provide a useful guide of the cost of the proposed repairs.

Where a vessel is damaged usually the marine surveyor will liaise with the owner (the insured party), the repairers and any other interested parties as appropriate.

Some times very difficult decisions have to be made as to whether it is actually more economic to repair the vessel.

Some years ago a motor cruiser "Ocean Spirit" had an incident when a propeller hit something in the water. This resulted in displacing the propeller some what which then started chipping away at the glassfibre bottom of the vessel. It was rebuilt in Brighton marina but the total costs were probably more than a replacement vessel.

All survey reports will usually contain a disclaimer clause which restricts the use of the report to the client who commissioned the report. This does make sense as if I had bought a boat last year with a survey and then sold the boat a year later my buyer cannot rely on my surveyors report for one thing its now out of date and for another something could have happened in the year (for example the boat could have been dropped from a crane) that may or may not effect the original report.

If you are thinking of buying a boat give serious thought to having a marine survey as the modest outlay may prove to be a very valuable investment.