Hamilton & Hamilton Marine Surveyors deliver precise vessel inspections, pre-purchase surveys, and marine appraisals across Southeast Florida – from Sebastian to Stuart to Palm Beach to Miami, our experience ensures every boat survey meets the highest professional and insurance standards.
Marine Survey Services – Southeast Florida
Hamilton & Hamilton Marine Surveyors is a father-and-son team providing independent, certified boat and yacht surveys throughout Florida’s Treasure Coast. As members of the Association of Certified Marine Surveyors (ACMS®) and the American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC®), we deliver thorough inspections and professional reporting you can trust.
Our service area covers Sebastian, Vero Beach, Fort Pierce, Port St. Lucie, Jensen Beach, Stuart, Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami with a commitment to accuracy, integrity, and client satisfaction on every project.
We’re experienced with both power and sail vessels, including:
- Trawlers
- Sport Fishing Boats
- Sailboats & Catamarans
- Center Consoles
- Express Cruisers
Our expertise includes inboard, outboard, and diesel propulsion systems, as well as extensive knowledge of fiberglass and composite hull construction and modern boatbuilding techniques.
What Is A Marine Survey?
WHAT OUR SURVEYS INCLUDE
- A detailed marine survey typically covers:
- Hull, deck, and structural components
- Mechanical and electrical systems
- Safety equipment and systems
- Cosmetic condition
- Deficiencies, recommendations, and findings
- Fair market value and replacement value
You’ll receive a clear, comprehensive report to help you make an informed decision.
Why A Marine Survey Is Essential
Purchasing or owning a boat is a major investment — and a professional marine survey is one of the best ways to protect it. For just a fraction of your vessel’s cost, a thorough survey can help you avoid expensive surprises and make confident, informed decisions.
A qualified surveyor, such as Hamilton & Hamilton Marine Surveyors, can identify recurring issues common to specific boat types, brands, and construction methods. Our expertise helps determine whether a vessel is suitable for your intended use, environment, and level of maintenance required.
Boat & Yacht Marine Surveys
Sebastian, Vero Beach, Fort Pierce, Port St. Lucie, Jensen Beach, Stuart, Hutchinson Island, Palm City, Hobe Sound, Jupiter, Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami
Pre-Purchase Marine Survey
A pre-purchase marine survey is the most detailed evaluation you can obtain when buying a boat. It provides buyers with a comprehensive report confirming the vessel’s condition, seaworthiness, safety, and fair market value. Our inspection helps identify defects, hidden damage, and operational issues, so you can make a confident and informed purchase.
Insurance Marine Survey
A Condition & Value Survey (insurance survey) is often required by insurance carriers or lenders to issue, renew, or bind coverage. This inspection documents the vessel’s overall condition, safety, and value. A certified marine survey ensures your boat meets insurance requirements and is properly protected.
Boat Appraisal and Inspections
If you are selling, donating, settling an estate or divorce, or involved in other legal matters, you may need a marine appraisal survey. This inspection, completed by a certified marine surveyor, determines the vessel’s fair market value based on its condition and comparable market data. The appraisal report provides accurate valuation documentation for sales, transfers, and legal purposes.
Boat & Yacht Purchase Consulting
Choosing the right boat requires experience and expert guidance. Our boat and yacht purchase consulting service helps you interpret survey findings, evaluate vessel suitability, and avoid costly mistakes. Whether you’re buying your first boat or upgrading to a yacht, our survey expertise ensures you make a smart, informed investment.
Marine Damage, Repair & Investigation Services
(Repair, Damage, Accident/Fraud, Litigation & Expert Witness)
Repair Inspections
A repair inspection documents the condition and quality of repair work completed on a vessel. Our certified marine surveyors verify that repairs were performed correctly, safely, and in accordance with industry standards. This inspection helps protect owners from improper workmanship or hidden issues that may affect the vessel’s reliability and value.
Damage Inspections
A damage inspection evaluates a vessel after an accident, grounding, fire, storm event, or mechanical failure. We thoroughly document all visible and hidden damage, assess structural and mechanical impacts, and provide an accurate report for insurance claims or repair planning. Our unbiased findings help owners, repair yards, and insurers move forward confidently.
Accident and Fraud Investigation
Our marine accident and fraud investigations provide detailed documentation and expert analysis for insurance carriers, attorneys, and boat owners. We examine the vessel, review evidence, and determine the cause and extent of damage. Our unbiased reporting helps identify legitimate claims, detect inconsistencies, and support fair resolution of disputes.
Litigation & Expert Witness
Hamilton & Hamilton Marine Surveyors provide expert witness and litigation support for marine-related legal cases. With experience in vessel construction, damage evaluation, and marine standards, we supply accurate technical opinions, reports, and courtroom testimony. Our certified surveyors help attorneys and clients build clear, defensible cases.
What Our Clients Are Saying
Trusted by boat owners across Southeastern Florida
Our Marine Surveyor Accreditations
Marine Survey Methods
Images & Video
Can’t be present during your boat inspection? We provide detailed images and video so buyers, owners, and legal representatives can review the vessel remotely. This service is especially helpful during pre-purchase evaluations or when documenting a boat for insurance or legal matters. Clear visual records help determine whether further inspection or investment is warranted.
Thermal Imaging
Our thermal imaging service uses infrared technology to detect temperature anomalies and moisture issues that may not be visible during a standard inspection. This advanced scanning method helps identify hidden mechanical failures, electrical hot spots, wet coring, and other problems that could affect a vessel’s performance or safety.
Sea Trials
A sea trial evaluates how a boat performs under real operating conditions. Conducted before purchase, after repairs, or when diagnosing a problem, a sea trial allows us to assess engine performance, handling, system operation, and overall seaworthiness. Testing the vessel underway helps reveal issues that may not appear while docked, ensuring you make a safe and informed decision.
WHY CHOOSE HAMILTON & HAMILTON MARINE SURVEYORS
Certified Expertise and Honest Guidance You Can Trust
When it comes to buying, insuring, or evaluating a vessel, you need more than a simple inspection — you need a surveyor you can trust. As a certified father-and-son team, we maintain the highest ethical and professional standards set by ACMS® and ABYC.
Every report is prepared in a fully insurance- and lender-approved format, ensuring your documentation is accepted without delays or complications. Whether you need a pre-purchase survey, insurance survey, appraisal, or consultation, you’ll receive precise, accurate information that supports smart decisions.
We take pride in conducting thorough yet respectful and non-intrusive surveys, leaving the vessel exactly as we found it. With decades of hands-on experience, we’re committed to delivering unbiased, reliable evaluations for every client.
Let us help you protect your investment.
Service Areas
We proudly provide our marine services and marine surveys in:
Sebastian | Vero Beach | Fort Pierce | Port St. Lucie | Jensen Beach | Stuart | Palm City | Hutchinson Island | Hobe Sound | Tequesta | Jupiter | Palm Beach | Boca Raton | Fort Lauderdale | Miami