Preparing For A Marine Survey

How To Prepare For A Marine Survey

Marine Surveys Services Performed In and Around Florida:

Time and additional expense can be saved by preparing your vessel for inspection and making it easily accessible for our marine surveyor team. A properly prepared boat allows the survey to proceed more efficiently and helps ensure a thorough, accurate evaluation of the vessel’s condition.

HERE IS HOW TO PREPARE FOR A MARINE SURVEY

Once you retain a marine surveyor, he or she works only for you and reports to no one else. The surveyor is there to protect your interests.

Please present a clean, shipshape vessel and have all documentation and miscellaneous gear organized and readily accessible. If applicable, you will need to make arrangements with the marina to haul the vessel for bottom inspection, and retain a captain for sea trials. Lockers and cabin areas should be cleared of all miscellaneous gear.

The surveyor should never be asked to prepare a vessel for inspection. In some cases, the surveyor may request minor dismantling of interior ceilings, headliners, flooring, or other components to gain access to suspected areas.

Random removal and examination of below-the-waterline fasteners on wooden vessels may also be required. Any dismantling and reinstallation of parts must be performed by qualified personnel and remains the responsibility of the person ordering the survey. Written authorization from the vessel owner may be required to board and/or to remove parts of the vessel.

CAN I BE PRESENT AT THE BOAT DURING THE SURVEY?

Absolutely! In fact, we welcome our clients aboard when we’re inspecting the boat so that we can explain the process as we go along – as well as what we’re finding that is good and not so good. A few minutes of conversation and explanation about a situation can make the issues clear. If there is a problem, we can discuss the severity of the situation, the best course of action to take, and how much repair costs might be.

HOW MUCH TIME DOES A MARINE SURVEY TAKE?

Normally, a marine survey takes between 3-8 hours. It really depends on the size of the boat and condition. If the boat is extremely simple, open and clean, it’ll take less time. A boat that is the same size but, is in poor condition, dirty, or full of clutter, or has complicated systems will take longer.

But no matter your boat’s condition, we will take our time and get the job done thoroughly. Keep in mind that as we are inspecting the boat we are making notes, photographing, testing, and recording that information so we can get the report back to you quickly.

WHEN DO I GET MY MARINE SURVEY REPORT?

We try our best to get your report back to you as quickly as possible. Normally, we can supply the written report to you within a very timely manner depending on the size of the vessel and the scope of the survey.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR WHEN YOU SURVEY MY BOAT?

This is a common question, and the answer is that we look at everything from bow to stern in great detail. But really, our standard answer is that we look for the things that could sink the boat, cause fire, or endanger lives. So, we look at everything. And just as important – we are looking for what is not there or missing – safety devices, fuses, breakers, lack of handholds, placards, guards etc. It’s astounding how many boat owners we’ve saved thousands of dollars….. and not to mention safety issues.