advice needed re: sea trail

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cloud7

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advice needed re: sea trail UPDATE

Update on previous post:

The surveyor arrived to day and spend 7 hours on my boat as follows:

(A) ran up engines for one hour on berth .
(B) lifted her out full hull survey etc
(C) lift guys put boat back in water where surveyor continued
to check and test every item on board.
Results : deck seats need cleaned
bulb gone on steaming light
lid over sink looose
chip on gas locker door
piece of engine belt found under port engine

he now wants to go to sea for one for sea trails on saturday , i think this guy
is just winding me up to get money off , opinions appreciated
 
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THEIR surveyor wants you to conduct a sea trial ?

Unusual.

Is he trying to get you to sign off the deal "as seen, inspected and trialled" ?

And at your risk - does this mean you have full liability if the engine blows up, or he sinks it ?
 
Don't understand the "totally at my risk bit"

I assume you would be on the boat (in command) therefore I cannot see any probs rergards insurance.

I assume that the new owners want to be present on the seatrial and not just the surveyor?

If it was just the surveyor wanting the sea trial, personally I'd go back to the buyers and suggest that they come out to get a feel for the boat - if they fall in love with it, it will help negate any niggles the surveyor might find.
 
sarabande said:
THEIR surveyor wants you to conduct a sea trial ?

Unusual.

Is he trying to get you to sign off the deal "as seen, inspected and trialled" ?

And at your risk - does this mean you have full liability if the engine blows up, or he sinks it ?
Click to expand...

sorrry guys , the surveyor wants to conduct the sea trail on his own , and i must agree

to all risks , ie if he hits something , damages another boat , or even sinks her!
 
oops, confusion. I thought you were buying not selling. Hence 'unusual' :)

I wouldn't let a surveyor take my boat out for sea trials unless he could provide proof of insurance, or you were satisfied that your insurance covered him skippering the boat. Perhaps check with your ins co ?
 
A surveyor or professional skipper should have their own insurance surely? So if he sinks it (like the pro skipper did with the Sealine 360 on a delivery trip a couple of years ago) you are liable?
 
Totally normal, assuming you go with them then the trial will simply be on your insurance as it would be if you took any "friends" out. This is what he meant by at your risk, ie: not on his own insurance.

Of course, if you let them take the boat without you onboard then it would / should be on the surveyors insurance.
 
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Nautibusiness said:
Totally normal, assuming you go with them then the trial will simply be on your insurance as it would be if you took any "friends" out. This is what he meant by at your risk, ie: not on his own insurance.
Click to expand...

The point is the surveyor wants to do the sea trail on his own , and at my risk.
 
cloud7 said:
sorrry guys , the surveyor wants to conduct the sea trail on his own , and i must agree

to all risks , ie if he hits something , damages another boat , or even sinks her!
Click to expand...

Those bits will be covered by his insurance if he's half reputable, and I would suggest that you are perfectly within your rights to ask for proof of insurance.

I think where he's trying to cover his arse is if there's a mechanical failure during the sea trial and you try to pin it on him.

In any case I would be very reluctant to let him out on his own. What is his reasoning for this? what objections has he got?

Surely it would be beneficial to have you there as you know the boat, and can answer any queries quickly
 
As others have said, if he's reputable he'll have his own insurance, but I still wouldn't let him go out on his own.

I'd try for you, the purchasers and the surveyor...... but settle for you and the surveyor if that was the only option.
 
cloud7 said:
The point is the surveyor wants to do the sea trail on his own , and at my risk.
Click to expand...
This sounds like something that could go wrong for no valid reason. Say it is your boat, and if it is your risks, you will be on it and in command. There is no reason for him to take the boat out alone, other than trying to find a mutually convenient time.
I would also like to witness any "observation" he might then make. Tricky if you arent there.
 
The surveyor going on his own is extremely unusual.
Absolutely not unless he can prove his own insurance and at his risk.

And even then, as others have pointed out, why does he not want you there too?
It smells a little fishey to me.
 
cloud7 said:
would appreciate the forum opinion on this one , boat up for private sale , nice chap and wife view , like boat place offer subject to survey offer accepted , their surveyor emails
me to say he wants to also conduct a sea trail , and this would be totally at my risk , &
i must agree to this , what would you do ?
Click to expand...



Have they put down a deposit?
 
cloud7 said:
The point is the surveyor wants to do the sea trail on his own , and at my risk.
Click to expand...

We do a lot of sea trials. The boat should be insured under the current owners policy and the insurance company duly advised that a sea trial is being carried out. The surveyor should carry his own insurance or should have a qualified skipper on-board.

It is not like a car where you can just be covered under your insurance to drive another car. Are you buying this boat via a broker or direct?
 
It's your call, but I wouldn't accept that. I would be happy if I was aboard & buyers were with you too -assuming there's room!

Asking for you to not be there and yet accept all risks, including his possible incompetence, is hard to swallow. What trials is he planning? - Seeing how well the hull stands up to ramming a bouy? Seeing how long the engines run without cooling water? OK they're a bit extreme, but the carte blanche would allow them.

Just insist on going with him, but invite buyers too in case of any nonsense by the surveyor. It's your boat until it's sold & therefore your responsibility - end of story.
 
cloud7 said:
The point is the surveyor wants to do the sea trail on his own , and at my risk.
Click to expand...

I think I'd explain to the potential purchasers the reasons why you cannot agree to this. They are employing the surveyor so they can instruct him as they see fit i.e. tell him you must be on board during the sea trial for insurance reasons etc. If he is not agreeable, surely they would see sense and get a different surveyor who lives in the real world.
 
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