[MikeMorrison]

My wife and I are seriously considering a boat that's currently located in Rochester, New York, and are looking for recommendations of a surveyor in the area. We're in Ontario, Canada, so are unfamiliar with surveyors around Rochester. We've found a few online but haven't been able to find much as far as reviews or recommendations. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

[OntarioTheLake]

Shawn Bartnett, Bartnett Marine Services. He does many for RCR clients. And he's very good.

 

[MikeMorrison]

Shawn Bartnett, Bartnett Marine Services. He does many for RCR clients. And he's very good.

Thank you, much appreciated. The boat is with RCR, actually.

 

[OntarioTheLake]

Thank you, much appreciated. The boat is with RCR, actually.

Note that Shawn, and any surveyor in the area, also does a lot of work (i.e., their bread and butter) for RCR, so they generally have to survey / stick with the letter of the law for surveys. They can't/ won't reveal anything not "on the list".

That's why it's great to be there during the survey- and you'll learn a lot.

Also, note that surveyors can't disassemble anything, not even a screw. So anything "hidden" that they can't see can't be surveyed. If the boat is older and/or you suspect that it has hidden issues, one could (ahem) get aboard ahead of the survey and do some personal disassembly, then later re-assembly. Brokers won't like it, so it has to be discreet.

Also, any contract should include an engine survey.

(1) contracts, RCR and others, typically aren't written to give you an out if the engine is really bad; rather they give you a lowball holdback ($1500) that won't cover a bad engine. Not to say that if the engine isn't shot RCR wouldn't let you out anyway.

(2) RCR has a spectacular diesel mechanic in Buffalo. This of course is done in the water, at time of handoff. Have him do a survey / inspection of the engine- not just to know what's wrong, but he is so full of info I wish he could be turned into a book.

 

[MikeMorrison]

Note that Shawn, and any surveyor in the area, also does a lot of work (i.e., their bread and butter) for RCR, so they generally have to survey / stick with the letter of the law for surveys. They can't/ won't reveal anything not "on the list".

That's why it's great to be there during the survey- and you'll learn a lot.

Also, note that surveyors can't disassemble anything, not even a screw. So anything "hidden" that they can't see can't be surveyed. If the boat is older and/or you suspect that it has hidden issues, one could (ahem) get aboard ahead of the survey and do some personal disassembly, then later re-assembly. Brokers won't like it, so it has to be discreet.

Also, any contract should include an engine survey.

(1) contracts, RCR and others, typically aren't written to give you an out if the engine is really bad; rather they give you a lowball holdback ($1500) that won't cover a bad engine. Not to say that if the engine isn't shot RCR wouldn't let you out anyway.

(2) RCR has a spectacular diesel mechanic in Buffalo. This of course is done in the water, at time of handoff. Have him do a survey / inspection of the engine- not just to know what's wrong, but he is so full of info I wish he could be turned into a book.

Thank you, that's very much appreciated. We're looking to have a little more "independent" surveyor, as we've considered that some of the surveyors around there may not be quite as objective as they might otherwise be, as I think RCR is quite a large brokerage. The boat looks overall to be in fantastic condition, with the exception of a few minor, typical things like a leak from one of the chainplates, some of the running rigging is older, but overall it looks really good, and quite well maintained, very clean, and quite well updated.

 

[OntarioTheLake]

Will you link to the boat? Just interested. PM me if you don't want to share online. Often, a lot of info about a particular boat can be gained from locals.

No survey is going to PO a broker, and they all work for or want to work for the broker(s). So "independence" is relative unless you want to fly in a surveyor from Texas.

Shawn is excellent.

 

[MikeMorrison]

Will you link to the boat? Just interested. PM me if you don't want to share online. Often, a lot of info about a particular boat can be gained from locals.

No survey is going to PO a broker, and they all work for or want to work for the broker(s). So "independence" is relative unless you want to fly in a surveyor from Texas.

Shawn is excellent.

I sent you a PM with the link - I'm not wanting to advertise the boat for them, lol... although I'm sure that anyone looking for such a boat has probably already seen it. We missed out on a boat that we loved last year that was attractively priced by trying to get "all our ducks in a row" before making an offer, and don't want to do that again, but at the same time want to do our due diligence.