Services
The one-size-fits-all approach doesn't work for marine surveying. You're here because you are an individual with specific needs when it comes to buying, insuring or assessing damage to a vessel. Or, maybe you're in the early stages of the search for the perfect boat, but that boat happens to be in Florida and you're 1,000 miles from it. You really just need a set of eyes to verify it's worth the travel hassle with photos beyond the listing glamour shots.
Below is a summary of the services I offer. Any of them can be tailored to fit your specific expectation or application. Let's talk to come up with a plan to best fit your needs.
Pre-Purchase
This is the most comprehensive type of vessel inspection. Period. This is a day or days (depending vessel size and complexity) in examining the hull, primary and/or auxiliary propulsion system(s), electrical systems, fuel system (s), navigational equipment and hotel systems. It includes an out-of-water inspection (short haul) and a limited trial run, commonly known as a sea trial. This is the type of condition and valuation survey if you are purchasing a used or even new vessel.
Standing Rigging
The purpose of the rigging-only survey is to provide the customer an evaluation of the physical condition of the vessel’s standing rigging only. A written standing rigging-only survey report contains what was seen and not seen by a marine/rigging surveyor during a physical inspection of the vessel’s standing rigging aloft and deck level.
The Look-See
Limited visual physical inspection of the vessel components: deck, accessible hull structure, standing rigging and/or mechanical propulsion. A bullet-point list of impressions with verbal follow-up consultation.
Insurance
This inspection is performed so that the insurance company can determine whether or not the vessel is an acceptable risk. Typically, the provider is interested in structural integrity and safety for its intended use. Before you schedule an insurance survey, contact your insurance provider to verify if an inspection of the vessel's wetted surfaces (out of water) is required. For sailing vessel's confirm if an inspection of the vessel's standing rigging aloft is required.
Damage
The surveyor can be retained by an insurance company to determine the cause of a loss and determine the extent of loss related damage and may be asked to recommend repairs, review estimates, and determine the pre-loss value of a vessel. A vessel owner can retain a surveyor for the same purposes, but for the owner’s behalf.
Appraisal
This inspection is performed to gather enough information to justify or determine the fair market value of the vessel. This is normally needed for financing, estate settlements, donations and legal cases.
What to expect...
Pre-Purchase Condition & Valuation Survey
Full eight-hour day or more depending on the boat. We start at 0800. Bring a lunch/snacks and plenty of water. Boat comes out of the water and then we give it a limited trial run a.k.a. sea trial. Following our day on the boat you'll likely be a deer in the headlights. We'll do happy-hour to de-brief.