Hamilton & Hamilton Marine Surveyors
Fort Pierce, FLCertified Marine Surveyor – Fort Pierce FL
Yacht & Boat Inspection Services
Hamilton & Hamilton Marine Surveyors is a father-and-son team providing independent, unbiased marine surveys in Fort Pierce and the surrounding Treasure Coast. We are proud members of the Association of Certified Marine Surveyors (ACMS®) and American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC®) Certified Marine Technicians.
We provide professional boat and yacht inspections for power and sail vessels, including trawlers, sportfish, sailboats, catamarans, center consoles, and express cruisers. Our experience spans outboard, inboard, and diesel engines, as well as fiberglass and composite hull construction.
Why You Need A Marine Inspection Survey in Fort Pierce
If you are buying, selling, or insuring a boat or yacht in Fort Pierce, a certified marine survey is essential. A marine survey is a thorough, detailed inspection of a vessel’s condition and overall fitness on the day of inspection.
Your marine surveyor evaluates structural integrity, mechanical systems, safety issues, and potential risks that could cause damage, fire, sinking, or personal injury. Marine surveys are commonly required for insurance coverage, financing, and accurate valuation, and they play a critical role in protecting your investment.
Pre-Purchase Marine Surveys That Protect Your Investment
Hamilton & Hamilton provides comprehensive pre-purchase yacht and boat surveys designed to give buyers confidence before closing. A proper marine survey should evaluate:
- Hull and structural condition
- Mechanical and electrical systems
- Safety equipment and compliance
- Cosmetic condition and overall maintenance
- Fair market value and recommendations
Whether you’re purchasing locally in Fort Pierce or taking delivery from another port, don’t buy a new or pre-owned vessel without a professional marine survey.
Marine Surveys Save You Money Before You Buy
A marine survey is often the least expensive and most valuable tool a buyer can use when investing in a boat or yacht. Certain vessel types and manufacturers have known recurring issues, and an experienced marine surveyor can identify them before they become costly surprises.
We regularly help clients in Fort Pierce and throughout the Treasure Coast avoid expensive repairs, renegotiate purchase prices, or walk away from problematic vessels — saving thousands of dollars in the process.
What Our Clients Are Saying
Trusted by boat owners across the Florida Treasure Coast
Yacht & Boat Surveys and Inspection Services
Fort Pierce, Florida
If you don’t see the boat or yacht service you need in Fort Pierce, FL – 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 Fort Pierce
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 Happens During a 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 Fort Pierce Florida
Downtown Fort Pierce
Downtown Fort Pierce is an historical landmark. It’s right on the water and on the weekends you’ll find live bands playing to entertain visitors. There are restaurants and shops galore and museums within walking distance. Don’t forget to visit the fabulous Farmer’s Market too.
Manatee Center
Superb nature center devoted to coastal awareness featuring a manatee waterfront viewing platform & exhibits. This is truly fun for the whole family. There are aquariums, a terrarium with a resident snake, children’s activities and books, a butterfly garden, a gift shop, and observation deck with an excellent view of the docks and waterway.
Fort Pierce Inlet State Park
Fantastic half-mile beach offering swimming, fishing, surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving & more, plus bird-watching. There are also swings for the kiddos and barbeque grills and picnic tables for the rest of the family.
We promise everyone will have a great time.