This is how you do a pre-purchase boat survey. original article appeared on https://www.boat-alert.com/blog/this-is-how-you-do-a-pre-purchase-boat-survey/

1. CARRY OUT A PRE-PURCHASE BOAT
SURVEY

2. Choosing a Marine Surveyor,
 Understand the surveyors
choices
 Match the surveyor to the
precise boat
 Understand Surveys from both
buyer & seller’s perspective
Buying or Selling a
Boat Requires a
Survey

3. Like an inspection for the
car but for your boat
If you have:
 found the right boat
 already looked up the
HIN Report at boat-
alert.com
Or you are:
 selling your boat and
found a buyer at the right
price
What is a Boat
Survey?

4.  Tough for the surveyor
 Surveyor works for the
buyer
 Broker and owner want to
get paid for the used boat
sale
 Broker might refer clients
to surveyor – potential
Conflict of Interest
 SAMS and NAMS have
clear Codes of Ethics for
members
Marine
Surveyor’s
Perspective

5.  Surveyors are not
supposed to:
• Tell you to buy
• Overemphasize minor
problems
• Downplay boat issues
 Boat owners are rarely
surprised by surveys.
 Remember that a
survey report goes to
the Insurance company
too. So it must be
accurate.
Process of
Marine Survey

6.  Code of Federal
Regulation (CFRs) or
“Coast Guard
regulations.”
 requirements for safety
equipment, navigation
lights, sanitation, engine,
fuel, electrical systems on
gasoline-powered boats
 Recommendations of
American Boat and Yacht
Council (ABYC) Standards
 Additional standards by
National Fire Protection
Agency (NFPA)
 The standards can’t help
evaluate the importance
of certain things when a
surveyor is faced with a
system on an older
Marine Survey
Guidelines for
Boats

7. A “normal” pre-purchase:
 inspection of the boat to
ascertain its condition
 check its systems for
basic operation and
adherence to applicable
regulations and
standards
 look for any warning
signs which can
recommend a follow-on
inspection by a specialist
 determine its overall
value.
Note: Some areas won’t be
inspected and no guarantee that
an electrical component would
Scope of a Pre-
Purchase Boat
Survey

8.  Inspection on its hull
and bottom cleaning
within mid day
 A hull inspection once
the boat dries
 Re-launching and a
quick sea trial, followed
by any more
inspections needed
Classic Survey
Routine for a
Ship

9.  Survey on large inboard boats
with expensive engines
 Surveyor may suggest including
an engine surveyor within the
deal
 This is common on larger
powerboats
 On sailboats, some surveyors
travel up masts for rigging
inspections, but it adds time and
expenses
Diesel Engine
Boat Survey

10. Report given by surveyor
will contain:
 Descriptions of the
boat and each system
onboard.
 Findings and proposals,
divided into levels of
importance.
 A statement of the
boat’s overall condition.
 Fair market and
replacement values for
the boat, supported by
comparable sales or
industry data.
The Report

11.  Some surveyors use a
flat rate depending on
the length of the vessel.
Others use an hourly
rate.
 A pre-purchase survey
will cost about $22 per
foot, it’ll be higher on
larger and complicated
boats.
Cost of a
Marine Survey

12.  Let the surveyor assess
any red flags for you
 If there’s a deal breaker
for you, let the surveyor
know first.
 It’s common for the
surveyor and client to
agree on partial
payment in case of an
apparent defect.
 Be there physically
 Write down your
questions
Getting the
most out of a
Survey

13.  Keep a log with all
invoices for
maintenance and repair
work performed on the
boat throughout its life.
 As a surveyor, once you
hear “the owner is
extremely handy, and
he’s done plenty of
labor on the boat
himself,” it’s a red flag.
 Prior to the survey,
clean the boat and
remove any clutter.
 Be available to answer
questions and use
common sense
Getting the
most out of a
Survey

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15. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!
Full Article:
https://www.boat-alert.com/blog/this-is-how-you-do-a-
pre-purchase-boat-survey/
Website:
www.Boat-alert.Com
Email:
Boatalert @certifiedreports.Zohodesk.Com
Contact Number:
1-855-HIN-ALERT