Survey or NOT?!

[Davidasailor26]

When we purchased I couldn't find a surveyor within 6 hours of any of the boats we looked at - the upper Midwest seems to be slim on surveyors. Anyway, I educated myself as best as I could and packed what tools I thought I needed to every boat. There was always something that kept me from purchasing based on what I had learned. When I found the one we currently own I was so impressed with the visual condition that after I had purchased it and was on my way home it occurred to me that I barely walked the deck and peeked into a few areas of the boat. I had hardly performed an inspection at all! Wasn't very funny at the time but gives me a chuckle now that I know we were fortunate with a good purchase. Classic case of emotions getting involved in a purchase. Doesn't help the thread, just sharing a funny numbskull moment.

Actually I think you bring up a good point. I was looking at a boat a couple years ago that seemed to be in very good shape (crisp sails, well equipped, clean appearance, etc). In hindsight, I got too caught up in the possibility of buying it and making it my own, and overlooked some pretty obviously leaking chain plates and rotten bulkheads. Luckily I had a surveyor to point out the problems and I ended up walking away. Even though I had the technical knowledge to recognize the problem myself the survey was still valuable as an impartial perspective.

 

[Kper]

Thanks KPer I think there is a good lesson in your story..... you CAN do your own survey if you keep your head. Maybe a check list and a score system.

I have learned that once emotions get involved we can make exceptions for things that maybe we shouldn't.

 

[Sandy Stone]

When we bought our current boat, we went ahead and hired a surveyor for the first time, because this was starting to get into the big bucks. My wife and I both feel it was a complete waste of money, the guy didn't go over the boat any better than I did, and he was supposed to be one of the best in the area. He produced a very nice printed report, but it looked like a fill-in-the-blanks exercise. If we were buying a similarly priced boat today, I would probably still hire a surveyor, just to eliminate the emotional factors mentioned above, but I wouldn't expect a whole lot. Also as mentioned, you may need a survey to get insurance or a loan, so there would be no option anyway.

 

[uncledom]

As far as I'm concerned the surveyor is there to assure the banks and insurance companies that the vessel is worth the money being borrowed or the agreed amount of insurance and that the vessel is safe to use as intended. All my surveyors miss something. It's built in. They technically are not allowed to "unscrew" panels to inspect. And a boat is a very large item with many hidden areas. It's absurd to think one person can cover it all in a 5 or 6 hour day. I usually separate from the inspector and look on my own and make my own list. I have always found something he didn't and vice versa. Then after it's yours you find 10 more things that need attention. Welcome to owning a boat.

 

[Benny17441]

Contract a marine Surveyor that carries Professional Liability Insurance (Errors and & Omissions) and if he overlooks something that causes you a significant loss then you can recover damages from the insurer.