Northern Mass. Surveyor Recommendations?

msmith132 · #1 05-28-2008

Hey folks, looking to join the realms of the floating. Found a boat in Northern Mass, made an offer, now need to find a surveyor TOMORROW (Thur May 29). I have an extremely compressed schedule, and would greatly appreciate any timely guidance or feedback on surveyors supporting Newburyport Mass area. I'm buying the boat (Hunter 290) sight unseen from Canada, so I need to be confident in my surveyor choice.

Sailingdog, if you're reading this, I saw your posting offering to view boats in your area for remote purchasers, but I don't have sufficient posts yet to email you. Are you available to assist me over the next week?

Thanks to all for any assitance.

sailingfool · #2 05-28-2008

Absolutely use Jon Klopman from Marblehead Jonathan K Klopman Marine Surveyor.

Some background on marine surveyors. The good ones are ALWAYS busy, booking 2-3 weeks or more out, and cost more than average, typically also charging for travel time. Expect to pay a full day rate say $800.

Or you can get any shmoe out of the book, and you can pay a lot more later.

PS - why are you buying a boat you haven't seen, just too good a deal to pass up?

DrB · #3 05-29-2008

Peter Hunt. Marine and Yacht Surveyors Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine , CT, SAMS AMS surveyor. He is out of Norton, MA and does boats up to Maine. I used him and liked him a lot.

If you need help looking at a boat for or with you in the Newburyport area, I'll be up in that next of the woods on Saturday. If you want a pair of second eyes, I may be able to help. Is it on the hard? If so where? I stored my boat in Newburyport over the winter and may know of it.

DrB

sailingfool · #4 05-29-2008

Yanno I understand everyone has their own tastes, and diff'nt strokes for diff'nt folks, but for this type of money you could buy the best CS 30 available in your province, end up with twice the boat, and pocket the shipping cost.

msmith132 · #5 05-29-2008

Hey fool, thanks for the contact. I spoke with Jonathan, and although he said that he is now concentrating on business OTHER THAN pre-purchase surveys, he gave me a couple of great references. On your question of why no personal viewing, I have two responses. Firstly, my schedule is very busy, and I couldn't figure out how to make it fit. Secondly, that being said, I've wiped my slate clean for tomorrow and am flying down for the day, surveying, then flying home again tomorrow nite. Some folks back home may not be happy about it, but I think I have my priorities straight. After all, what's more important than sailing?

DrB, thanks for the offer, greatly appreciated. If you're available thru the day Friday, a second set of eyes is always welcome. We're surveying Water Music on the hard at the Newburyport Yacht Club from approx 10:00 - 2:30.

msmith132 · #6 05-29-2008

Fool, FYI, boats in Canada average 20-40% more in Canada than in the US. They are still priced as if the CDN $ was worth 70 cents to level the playing field. Prices haven't could up with the economic monetary/foreign exchange changes. I could spen over $10K shipping the boat, and still sell it at a profit. Even the boa brokers here are now buying numerous US boats and bringing them back because the margins are higher than selling brand new boats.