Surveying as a next (last?) career

[ereiss]

The Admiral and I think about what the next career should look like. Having been trained as a civil engineer and having worked in real estate for the last 30 years I'm thinking about that job that I can work 1/2 time, in a warmer place and be around boats, with the opportunity to earn say $50k/year.

Can I do that by going to surveying school? Does anyone really earn a living at this and can I don it part time (leaving plenty of time to be sailing)?

Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Ed
Being There
Pearson 33-2
out of Marion, MA

[Tartan34C]

Anyone can make a living by surveying. It’s an un-licensed unregulated industry and anyone can claim to be a surveyor. But I think doing a great job surveying is a way of thinking and some people are good at it just like some people are great detectives and others are just cops without the uniform. If you can see what you are looking at and have an understanding of how it all works then you can be a great surveyor. Otherwise you are just another boat owner dreaming about making a living doing something they think will be fun and connected to their sport.

There are school for surveying but I don’t know anything about them. I am sure others will pop up and have some information on them. Knowing a lot about boats will help.
All the best,
Robert Gainer

[Hartley18]

If you're wanting to work 1/2 time around boats, have experience in real-estate and want to earn $$$ without doing anything you could try working as a Sales Consultant for a local yacht broker. Some brokers put on people on a commission-only basis to wander up and down marinas convincing people that they really need to upgrade - even when they don't.

If you did a postgraduate Marine Engineering degree (even by correpondence), I'd think that would give you'd the credibility you need to be a surveyor.

Hope this helps.

--Cameron

[k1vsk]

Don't know much about such schools but I can't understand how any school could substitute for the experience needed to be a responsible surveyor on whom other people should depend. Guess the question should be is whether or not you really believe in your ability to be thorough enough and knowledgeable enough simply by attending some classes? I know there are lots of well-intended people performing surveys but not sure there are that many (surveyors) to whom I'd refer a good friend intending to spend lots on money based almost solely on the surveyor's opinion.

[cardiacpaul]

don't do it...
it'll turn you into a cranky old cuss that no one listens to anyway....

[Bardo]

I'm sorry Paul, were you saying something????

[werebeagle]

Yea, but if he gets a Cuban in the deal . . .

[cardiacpaul]

Did I just see Shekie Green somewhere?
You guys are real Jackie Masons...

[Wayne25]

I understand there are very good schools to teach the trade. I also understand the insurance you need is expensive and therefore a large overhead. So not much profit left over for a one man part time show.

[camaraderie]

CP...Let me try to summaraize what Jackie Mason would say about surveyors from the perspective of a Jewish mother of one:
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So Shirl...whatever became of that son of yours?

Oh he's a very successful professional man.

Professional...like a doctor or a lawyer?

Yes...he's a diagnostician!

Oy, you must be very proud. Does he make a good living?

Oh yes, he is one of the top men in his field. He charges $25 a foot.

Oh, so he's a podiatrist?

Well not exactly....he just recommends what people should get done but doesn't get his hands dirty.

How nice for you...a professional man with an inside job!
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