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Some people are like slinkies: not really good for anything... but you can't help laughing when you push them down the stairs
This thread should be a sticky under the heading "PUT A SURVEYOR OUT OF WORK".
Still, good advice.
Unfortunately most insurance companies require surveys from NAMS or SAMS accredited surveyors. I can obviously do my own, have worked with a close friend for years who is a very good surveyor, but I am not acredited by NAMS or SAMS so I still pay for them.
there is however absolutely NO need to be surprised by what a surveyor finds. You can also work out a cheaper deal to do an "insurance only" safetya and value survey if you are comfortable in what you've seen and inspected.
I would never forgo a surveyor, because I'm not a full-time one either, not to mention that insurers generally want proof of competence in the form of accreditation.
But as you say, if you do the "preface", you put the whole story in context or simply save a lot of time by identifying "deal breakers" early.
I drove 200 miles to see a boat once that it took 30 seconds to see had been T-boned and partially flooded. That was the last time I assumed a broker was anything but a lying whore.
I have since found a couple of truthful whore brokers, mind you...
Man, I love this site! It always amazes me the amount of great info and entertainment on SailNet. Very nice posts SD and MS. Giu and Val....you guys are just sick....TWO times .. in one thread, I've choked on my own spit! That's three times today! Must be some sort of Sailnet record!..for me.... LMAO....Bob
Last edited by fullkeel7 : 10-20-2008 at 02:11 PM.
Reason: Forgotten 'N'
I'd add hire a qualified surveyor at the end of the list, because basically, a buyers opinion doesn't matter and the insurance company will want a survey anyway.
Great post/thread. I'm sure many new buyers will find this very helful. A couple of issues that I think are worth touching on:
Was it used regularly or was it a dock queen? Not indicative of much of anything. A "dock queen" may be in more original condition and lightly used, but a regularly used boat that is well cared for may be better. I'd rather have one that has been used and all problems identified and fixed.
Did the owner have regular maintenance done to the boat? Owner may have done the maintenance themself. Just because someone paid for work to be done doesn't mean it was done right.
How long has it been for sale?
In this market you can't tell anything by this. The boat may have been over priced for a year before it was reduced. May have been listed with a bad broker, etc...
If a cabin door or cabinet door doesn't open or close smoothly, it may mean the hull and deck have changed shape and causing it to bind—this can often happen if a compression post has started to weaken.
Or, it could be that the wood has expanded from 20+ years in a marine environment, etc...
Keep in mind that older boats especially are going to have problems. None are perfect. Some problems are bigger than others and some problems are big to one owner and not important to the next. It is good to identify problems and potential problems, but most all of them are repairable if you're willing to spend a few $$ and a few hours.
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That's three times today! Must be some sort of Sailnet record!..for me.... LMAO....Bob
