Recommendations for scrupulous surveyor in Southern California?

Simanza · #1 (**permalink**) 07-04-2010

I am getting close to ending my 6-month boat-shopping marathon in which I have visited every major sailing port between Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and Vancouver, Canada; and have had boats inspected on the east coast and in Europe.

I may have found a very good blue water boat in Southern California...I hope!

But if any of you have strong recommendations about a quality surveyor here, I would greatly appreciate hearing from you.

Simon Anza

dhays · #2 (**permalink**) 07-12-2010

I'd like to bump this thread. I may be looking for the same thing here very soon. Anyone have any recommendations for the LA area?

Dave

sailingdog · #3 (**permalink**) 07-12-2010

Just curious, would you really want an unscrupulous surveyor??

dhays · #4 (**permalink**) 07-12-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailingdog

Just curious, would you really want an unscrupulous surveyor??

Well, I wouldn't under any circumstances, but I can image a number of scenarios where someone might. Not that they would actually ask for them in in open forum however.

I'd rather not have the seller or seller's broker make the recommendations on a surveyor local to the boats area. Do you have any suggestions on other ways of getting a recommendation for a surveyor?

Dave

sailingdog · #5 (**permalink**) 07-12-2010

Starting a thread that specifically mentions LOOKING FOR A GOOD SURVEYOR IN LOS ANGELES METRO AREA would be a good start. Southern California is a bit vague and covers a lot of area.

dhays · #6 (**permalink**) 07-12-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailingdog

Starting a thread that specifically mentions LOOKING FOR A GOOD SURVEYOR IN LOS ANGELES METRO AREA would be a good start. Southern California is a bit vague and covers a lot of area.

Good suggestion, thanks.

capttb · #7 (**permalink**) 07-21-2010

My boat was surveyed for the buyer last week by Michael Dickinson of So Cal Surveys, he seemed thorough and "scrupulous". I haven't seen his written report but he was very candid with his customer. Surveyors, like everyone else, can have some "opinions" that are more personal than objective. I heard one advise the installation of "Mast exit gates" on a 27' Catalina, this would have required widening the slots in the mast by 1/8 inch. A very difficult job, of the 350 sailboats surrounding him NONE had mast gates. I did not hear this one say anything that made me question his reasoning.
Southern California Marine Surveys Providing Yacht and Boat Surveys

dhays · #8 (**permalink**) 07-21-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by capttb

My boat was surveyed for the buyer last week by Michael Dickinson of So Cal Surveys, he seemed thorough and "scrupulous". I haven't seen his written report but he was very candid with his customer.

Thanks for the suggestion.

It looks like I'll end up using Clark Barthol out of Marina Del Rey. He was recommended by a member of my own Yacht Club and is on BoatUS's list of approved surveyors. Speaking with his office, he is a sailor, not a power boater (not that there is anything wrong with that), with lots of experience surveying Catalina boats.

Dave

capttb · #9 (**permalink**) 07-22-2010

Good luck, sale of my boat is closing tomorrow so now I've got to try to find the "next" boat.
Any truth to the rumor that sailors from Cascadia are buying boats in So. Calif. to take home and sell at a profit to Canadians confused by the shifting exchange rate ? There have been a lot of boats going to buyers from Oregon & Washington lately.