Surveyor recommendations in BVI..?

[palomar]

Looking for a solid recommendation for a surveyor in Road Town, Tortola, BVI.
Thanks.

[Zanshin]

For what sort of a boat? If for a GRP sailboat I'd recommend Robert Hirst.

[Minnewaska]

I don't know Mr. Hirst and this comment is probably going to generate some push back. I have used surveyors in the virgin islands and, like most things there, find them very laid back, hard to schedule and hard to determine if they have the same sense of urgency or seriousness. The only full purchase survey I had done, took twice as long as it should have. Very disorganized, two hour lunch breaks, etc. I will say that I had that entire survey done, emailed to me and never asked for a penny until after I had it. I did pay, of course. But that is probably the up side of the laid back approach. I didn't buy that boat, btw.

Anyway, if I were to do it again, I would seriously consider flying my own surveyor in from the States. You should also be there, regardless of who does it.

[Zanshin]

My experience (3 surveys/3 surveyors) in the BVI don't match up with that of Minnewaska, apart from the long lunch breaks - but since the survey price is based on boat size and not time that didn't worry me.

If your intent is to buy an ex-charter boat then my recommendation would be to use a BVI surveyor as that is the type of vessel that they mainly deal with and they will know, for each model and charter company, exactly what to look for.

Since a survey is a matter of trust you should only choose a surveyor whose opinion you are willing to accept and if that means flying one in then by all means do so.

I concur that going along with the survey is important as you learn a lot about boats in general and that particular boat from a good surveyor.

[SuenosAzules]

If you need a surveyor in the BVI, please let me know. I travel the Caribbean for yacht surveys. I am home based in West Palm Beach, Florida. I have been to the BVI on surveys and captain work in the past. I am a former boarding officer with the U.S. Coast Guard, am ABYC Standards Accredited, and a member of SAMS. You can reach me at suenos.azules at yahoo dot com. My website is also available to check out at suenosazules dot com.