Hamilton & Hamilton Marine Surveyors
Stuart, FLCertified Marine Surveyor – Stuart Florida
Yacht & Boat Inspection Services
Hamilton & Hamilton Marine Surveyors provides professional marine survey and yacht inspection services in Stuart, Florida, serving boat owners, buyers, insurance companies, and lenders throughout the Treasure Coast. As proud members of the Association of Certified Marine Surveyors (ACMS®) and ABYC® Certified Marine Technicians, we deliver detailed vessel inspections with accurate, unbiased reporting you can trust.
We perform comprehensive marine surveys for a wide range of vessels, including center consoles, sportfishing boats, motor yachts, sailboats, catamarans, trawlers, and express cruisers. Our experience includes evaluating vessels with outboard, inboard, and diesel propulsion systems, along with fiberglass and composite hull construction commonly found throughout Stuart’s active boating community.
Protecting Your Boat Investment with a Marine Inspection Survey
Marine surveys are often required by insurance companies and lenders while also helping boat buyers and owners in Stuart make informed decisions that protect both their investment and safety on the water. Whether you are purchasing, selling, financing, or insuring a vessel in Stuart, Florida, a professional marine inspection survey provides critical information about the condition and value of the boat. Marine surveys help identify existing deficiencies, safety concerns, and maintenance issues that may not be visible during a standard walkthrough or sea trial.
During the inspection process, a certified marine surveyor evaluates the vessel’s structural components, electrical and mechanical systems, onboard safety equipment, and overall seaworthiness. The survey may also uncover conditions that could contribute to future failures, water intrusion, fire hazards, or other costly repairs.
Protect Your Investment with a Pre-Purchase Marine Survey
Hamilton & Hamilton Marine Surveyors provides comprehensive pre-purchase boat and yacht surveys for buyers throughout Stuart and the Treasure Coast. Our inspections are designed to help identify potential issues and provide a clear understanding of the vessel’s overall condition before finalizing your purchase.
A typical pre-purchase marine survey may include evaluation of:
- Hull Integrity and Structural Components
- Electrical and Mechanical Systems
- Safety Equipment and Compliance Concerns
- General Appearance and Maintenance Condition
- Estimated Fair Market Value and Survey Recommendations
Whether you are purchasing a boat locally in Stuart or arranging delivery from another location, a professional marine survey can help protect you from unexpected repairs and costly surprises after the sale.
A Marine Survey Can Save You Money Before You Buy
A professional marine survey can provide significant value for boat buyers by helping uncover issues that may not be visible during a standard walkthrough or sea trial. Certain vessel brands and construction types are known for specific problem areas, and an experienced marine surveyor understands what to look for during the inspection process.
Hamilton & Hamilton Marine Surveyors regularly works with buyers in Stuart to identify hidden deficiencies, support purchase negotiations, and help clients avoid costly mistakes. In many cases, a detailed marine survey can save buyers substantial money in future repairs, maintenance, and unexpected expenses.
What Our Clients Are Saying
Trusted by boat owners across the Florida Treasure Coast
Yacht & Boat Surveys and Inspection Services
Stuart, Florida
If you don’t see the boat or yacht service you need in the Stuart area – just ask!
Pre-Purchase Marine Survey – A pre-purchase vessel survey is one of the most thorough surveys you can have. It provides a prospective boat buyer with detailed documentation to confirm or deny that a vessel is free of operational hazard, sea worthy, appropriately valued, and free of defect or damage.
Boat or Yacht Purchase Consulting – To ensure you are buying the right boat for your needs and that you are correctly interpreting a pre-purchase survey from a seller, John Hamilton can be your boat or yacht consultant. His expertise can be the best investment you’ll ever make.
Insurance Marine Survey – A Condition & Value Survey (insurance survey) is what your insurance carrier or lender may require you to obtain in order for them to bind or renew coverage, or even to close a loan on your vessel.
Boat Appraisal and Inspections – If you are selling, donating, settling a divorce or estate; or other types of legal matters you may need an Appraisal Survey. This type of inspection should be from a certified marine surveyor and determines the fair market value of the vessel. The vessel is inspected to ascertain its correct market value along with market research for comparables.
Video Presentation – Can’t view your boat issues in person? We provide videos for prospective boat buyers and owners who can’t be a part of the inspection process in person. This is especially helpful when considering buying a boat or yacht or for legal matters. The detailed video inspection can be very useful in determining if further interest is desired.
Yacht Repair Inspection Surveys – Sometimes it takes a trained eye to spot inadequacies in repairs. Some repairs may even require a sea trial. After any kind of boat or yacht repair we can inspect the repair and prepare a report for your insurance or prospective buyers.
Damage Inspections – Fire Damage, Towing Damage – When damage occurs it’s impossible to gauge the severity and the extent of the damage by eyesight only. A professional marine damage survey will effectively diagnose which structural components and systems were negatively affected from the damage.
Sea Trials – Before you buy a boat or yacht, after a repair, or even to diagnose a problem a sea trial is a must. There can be various levels of sea trials as well. The goal of a sea trial is to determine if all systems function normally even when run hard and to do so under conditions, time, and place of your choosing; otherwise, issues can take place when you are least prepared.
Accident and Fraud Investigations – We conduct marine investigations as needed by insurance companies or boat owner clients. We often work with boat owners who are having trouble with insurance claim issues, usually assisting the boat owner to obtain a proper claims settlement.
Litigation and Expert Witness Support Services – Our 30+ years of marine survey experience enables us to be reliable fact witnesses or expert witnesses for dispute claims in federal and state courts. We can provide collection of damage claim evidence, photo or video documentation, and samples for laboratory analysis.
Additional Boat Inspection Services – We offer a wide variety of additional marine inspection services such as: Oil samples & Analysis, Moisture meter testing, Corrosion Inspection Analysis, Hull sounding with phenolic hammer, Commissioning services and USCG Safety inspections.
Infrared Thermal Imaging/Scanning – This service can be incorporated into marine surveys by revealing abnormal temperature anomalies or moisture readings using a thermographic infrared camera. This is highly beneficial for revealing hidden or visually obscured mechanical equipment malfunctions such as leaks or overheating.
Our Marine Surveyor Accreditations
Marine Survey Methods Used in Stuart, FL
- Images & Video Documentation – Ideal for out-of-state buyers, remote owners, or legal documentation.
- Infrared Thermal Imaging – Detects hidden moisture, overheating components, and concealed system issues.
- Sea Trials – Essential for pre-purchase evaluations, post-repair inspections, and system diagnostics under real operating conditions.
What is a Comprehensive Marine Survey?
- Hull & structural inspection
- Mechanical & electrical systems review
- Safety & compliance evaluation
- Moisture detection & thermal imaging (when applicable)
- Detailed written report with findings & recommendations
Why We Love Stuart Florida!
Downtown Stuart
There’s always something happening in downtown Stuart, with live music year-round on the waterfront Riverwalk Stage, and in unique venues throughout downtown. Add craft and art festivals and holiday events, and there’s something fun for everyone.
Florida Oceanographic Center
Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center is a marine life nature center located on Hutchinson Island in Stuart, FL, with the mission to inspire environmental stewardship of Florida’s coastal ecosystems through education, research and advocacy.
Stuart Heritage Museum
From Americana to celebrities to the varied and interesting history of local business owners and citizens, the Stuart Heritage Museum has a fascinating collection of artifacts from Stuart’s past. And be sure and stop by the Gift Shop for unique Stuart memorabilia.