PRE-PURCHASE
& FULL CONDITION YACHT SURVEYS
This type of yacht survey is recommended for anyone considering buying a boat.
It gives the greatest detail and enables you to be confident in your decision on the boat - be it to decline the purchase, proceed or negotiate a fairer price. Very often my clients save far more than the cost of the survey. A full condition yacht survey is also a great way to start a project, such as restoration, refit or repair, as the recommendations in the report make an excellent schedule of work.
All accessible parts of the yacht are inspected. This is the most comprehensive type of survey and encompasses all aspects of the yacht, subject to standard limitations of the survey. I will carry out a detailed inspection of the boat, consider the findings and present you with a survey report which explains the condition of the yacht, highlighting any faults, how they can be resolved and a timescale on which they should be addressed. If you are considering buying a boat the results of the survey may alter her perceived value and therefore the survey report will be an important part of the purchase negotiations.
The survey report will include the following headings as appropriate to the type of vessel and its level of equipment.
Areas of inspection
- Hull, Deck and Superstructure
- Steering arrangements, Rudder(s)
- Stern Gear
- Ballast Keel and Fastenings
- Ground Tackle
- Cathodic Protection
- Windows and Portlights
- Hatches and Companionway(s)
- Handrails, Stanchions and Guardwires
- Ventilation
- Seacocks and Plumbing
- Lifesaving Equipment and Appliances
- Mast and Spars
- Sails and Canvas Work
- Engine(s), Generator and Machinery
- Electrics and Instrumentation
- Gas Installation and Stove
- Fuel Installations
- Freshwater Installations
- Toilet Arrangements, Hoses, Tanks
- Standing and Running Rigging
- Bilge Pump Installations
ADDITIONAL marine
SURVEY SERVICES
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1
Anodes & Corrosion
Our services include a basic underwater corrosion survey, testing the yacht's bonding system and the adequacy of the anodes. The survey will determine if the anodes are the correct size, if the bonding system is in good order and identify stray currents from the yacht's systems..
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2
Shorepower Analysis
Using specialist electronic testing equipment we carry out various tests to determine if the 240v A.C. system is in good order. We can identify loose conductors, connections, inadequate cable sizing, corrosion and test breaker functions.
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3
Battery Testing
Battery voltage, starting power and battery condition can be assessed during the battery test. I can also check the condition of the engine alternator by measuring the regulator voltage and the ripple of the alternator voltage.
INSURANCE SURVEYS
Eventually, your marine insurer will ask you to undertake a yacht survey to validate the policy and satisfy them that the boat is a good risk. There are no hard rules as to when this will be but generally, it is every five years for wooden yachts and a slightly longer interval for GRP and steel yachts.
As a yacht surveyor, for the past twelve years, I have undertaken many of these and understand that for most owners it is an additional expense which is initially treated with some hesitance. Some boat owners change insurers to avoid having the survey, only to find their new insurer requests one a year later. They all work to similar schedules and with similar statistics on risk.
The good news is my clients have found value in the reports, not just to appease the insurers but to plan maintenance work, instruct boatyards and prepare the yacht for the coming season. That is why it is best to get the yacht survey inspection done sooner, rather than leave it to the last minute. It gives you time to tackle the work yourself or book it in with a boatyard.
If you are selling your boat, being able to show a potential buyer a recent insurance survey is a great selling point. It gives them confidence in the yacht and shows you have invested in her upkeep.
The survey concentrates on the structural integrity of the yacht, ensuring she is seaworthy and safe to operate; a valuation is also included. Any defects or maintenance points are given a priority code '1' and will need to be addressed before the insurer will renew the policy. I do not have to return to inspect the boat after the work has been done but often clients like me to return whereupon I can amend the report, giving the yacht a 'clean bill of health'.