What surveys are needed to buy a boat?

kldzx9r · #1 (**permalink**) 10-02-2007

I haven't had a survey done yet but if I understand how it works there is a general survey and maybe that costs approximately ten bucks a foot. I don't think for a general survey the engine is looked at and that is an additional survey. Also, the boat is stationary I think for a general survey so all the sailing related equipment is not looked at. I don't think for a general survey the surveyor swims under the boat to check the hull underwater or the propellor either. So, if I understand this correctly, how many types of surveys are needed to inspect the quality and condition of the boat? and do you know how much that would cost?

bestfriend · #2 (**permalink**) 10-02-2007

10 bucks a foot is about right, YMMV. Engine survey, in the water first. You can also do a rigging survey, in the water. Sometimes you can get the surveyor aboard for the test sail. Then the haul out and the big survey, out of the water.

CapnHand · #3 (**permalink**) 10-02-2007

It depends on the value of the boat and what you mean by 'needed'. Strictly speaking, an inspection isn't required to buy a boat but it's usually advised. As the value of the vessel increases, it makes sense to check out that investment more carefully. We needed an inspection to get our boat insured. You may require it as well if you require a loan.

sailingdog · #4 (**permalink**) 10-02-2007

Actually, no surveys are needed to buy a boat. However, having a survey is highly recommended, unless you know the boat really well. Depending on how large the boat is, and how complicated the systems are, and how old the boat is, a separate rigging survey and engine survey may also be wise.

Most surveyors don't dive... in fact, I've never heard of one doing so.

The will generally do the survey in two-parts. The first part is with the boat out of the water, and includes an inspection of the hull's exterior, prop, prop shaft, cutless bearing, the interior systems and parts of the boat and possibly a visual inspection of the rigging at deck level and sails. Then the boat is usually launched and the sea trial portion of the survey commences. This includes putting the engine and transmission through their paces. The is especially the case if the boat has been on the hard, as it is easier and more accurate to take moisture readings from the hull if the hull isn't wet.

Of course, some antifouling paints interfere with the moisture meter's ability to read properly.

A separate rigging survey, done by a rigger, might include dye penetration testing of the swages, going aloft to inspect the masthead fittings and sheaves, the spreaders and spreader bases, checking the tension on the rigging, etc.

A separate engine survey, done by a diesel or engine mechanic, should include visual inspection of the cooling and exhaust systems, a compression test of the engine cylinders, etc..

teshannon · #5 (**permalink**) 10-02-2007

You may need to have a survey done for insurance purposes and if you intend to finance the boat. Check with your lender and insurer to see if they require one.

TrueBlue · #6 (**permalink**) 10-02-2007

teshannon is correct, however - I would say that MOST insurers and lenders absolutely require a professional survey prior to issuing a binder and loan. Ten bucks/foot for a survey is cheap. The four estimates I received for a 33 foot hull (36 LOA) ranged from 450. to 1,100 (that one included travel expenses).

I went with the $850.00 guy, spent two days crawling all over the boat, sea trial, 18 page report and documents/photos on a CD - $25/ft.

sailingdog · #7 (**permalink**) 10-02-2007

Financing a boat is a different story from just buying it... If you have to finance the boat, then you will definitely need at least the basic survey, and possibly the rigging survey, depending on the insurance and bank requirements. Insurance is also then a requirement, since the bank will generally require that it is on the insurance policy as a lien holder.

I agree that $10 a foot is a bit on the low side, and if you hire someone at that rate, you're likely to end up with a less thourough survey than you really would want. As a good example, look at what happened in the case of the boat that was bought earlier this year on the West Coast, and then sailed to New Zealand. I don't remember the exact size of the boat—about 42' or so, but he paid about $700 for a survey, engine survey and rigging survey... and the surveys missed some fairly significant problems.

teshannon · #8 (**permalink**) 10-02-2007

I paid $20/ft. for the 1st survey. Sad to say I went through 3 surveys on different boats before I bought mine. Got a discount on the 2nd two since I used the same person for all three! I don't want to know what my total survey costs were!

sailingdog · #9 (**permalink**) 10-02-2007

TES-

I'm pretty sure you're glad you had a good surveyor though... can you imagine how much more costly it would have been to have bought the first boat you looked at...

I'm willing to bet he saved you at least what the survey cost on the boat you finally bought too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by teshannon

I paid $20/ft. for the 1st survey. Sad to say I went through 3 surveys on different boats before I bought mine. Got a discount on the 2nd two since I used the same person for all three! I don't want to know what my total survey costs were!

teshannon · #10 (**permalink**) 10-02-2007

Sd,
Absolutely! I'm sure I saved my total survey costs many times over. In fact on my second survey the surveyor recommended I not go ahead with the in-water portion of the survey because the engine was shot( he had managed to ferret out some previous maintenance records that recommended an engine replacement and also had knowledge of a previous survey on the boat where they couldn't get it to start because of low compression). In following up with the owner I discovered the surveyor was right. Saved an engine replacement right there. Don't regret a dime of it.