advice needed re: sea trail

Sounds to me as if the Surveyor is not a professional surveyor and either a mate or just a well intentioned amateur boater.
If he is a professional and "known" surveyor he knows how the business works and will not be asking to do such a strange thing as an unaccompanied survey.

Normal practice is for the vendor to take the boat to sea with the buyer and the surveyor on board.
Your insurance covers this as it is the boat ghat is insured normally, not the owner.

Whatever you decide to do, do NOT let him out on his own as, at worst, you may never see the boat again and there really is no reason to do so.

Also try to get a deposit from the buyer before the survey, on a fully refundable basis if they do not proceed of course.
 
I would say that there is no question of allowing the Surveyor to conduct the sea trial without you. Of course it will be at your risk, it is your boat and you are the only one with an insurable interest in it. It is fair and usual to conduct a sea trial; but I would get some parameters sorted out first. A sea trial is conducted so that a purchaser and/or surveyor can satisfy himself/themselves that the machinery and equipment is in a satisfactory condition or is as described. Therefore if it is declared that the radar does not work, then it is not a problem if it doesn't. I have had surveyors wanting to do bizarre engine checks, trying to run the engines at full throttle for prolonged periods (more than 30 minutes), decelerating and putting the engines astern whilst the props are still spinning forwards. A sea trial should prove that the boat will achieve its declared top speed, within limits allowing for load, age and the cleanliness of the hull. It is not a destruction test, and I would not let a surveyor out on his/her own. I would explain that to the purchasers, they should not have a problem with it.
 
cloud7 said:
The point is the surveyor wants to do the sea trail on his own , and at my risk.
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Sorry. ,is reread your rather sticato original post! You should advise your insurance company that the boat is to be sea trialed. Then get copy of his (the surveyor) professional indemnity insurance as well as any boating qualifications. Quite normal for buyer's surveyor to do it without owner present.

You can also insist that a professional skipper is aboard - paid for by the prospective buyer. This is also normal procedure - we do it all the time for brokers around here.
 
cloud7 said:
The point is the surveyor wants to do the sea trail on his own , and at my risk.
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There is no way I would be standing on the jetty watching a stranger take my boat out - I would be on it with him and, as others have said, the potential new owners......
 
PRH said:
There is no way I would be standing on the jetty watching a stranger take my boat out - I would be on it with him and, as others have said, the potential new owners......
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The surveyor has now agreed to a sea trail with myself at the helm , so wants again thanks for the time you guys took to - day, i wonder if he is a member.
 
member of what?
The forum?
The BMF?
PM me and I will tell you what we in the trade know of him if it helps you but it sounds as if you have it sorted now.
 
sea trails update 23rd

cloud7 said:
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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thks
 
cloud7 said:
thks
Click to expand...

I'd play him at his own game and bend over backwards to accommodate him. He's obvioulsy not finding anything, and therefore if you are receptive to a sea trial (with you present of course) you will demonstrate confidence in your boat.

I do believe that some surveyors need to justify their existance and find something that helps the buyer get the price down, however if you let him go over it with a fine toothcomb and he still finds very little, your buyer should be very confident.
 
I find that very odd that the surveyor wants to conduct a sea trail on his own without you present to the point where I'd tell him where to go. I think he either wants to steal your boat or fancies a jolly for the day with some mates.

When I'm test driving a Porsche I insist that the owner comes with me. The last thing I want is for the damn thing to blow up and they blame me saying it's something I did.

How does the surveyor prove it wasn't his negligence if an engine or gearbox fails whilst he's on the boat on his own. After all you've enjoyed years of trouble free boating up to that point. It seems more than a coincidence.

No, I would imagine a good surveyor would welcome your presence on board to solve any of your boat's little foibles and confirm his correct handling of the craft. By all means have the prospective buyers on board and allow them private time with the surveyor so they might discuss his findings but that's it.

Good luck.

Henry :)
 
We occasionally (ok, once in a blue moon) do a survey on a private yacht (power or sail) here in Barbados (most of our survey work tends to involve ships rather than small craft).
Sometimes an insurance company might insist on a sea trial as part of a survey for insurance purposes - if this is the case, I would never go out on the boat unless either the Owner or his / her representative was in attendance.
I think that the surveyor mentioned in this thread is behaving in a very peculiar manner.

The only experience (of sorts) that I have where a surveyor took a boat on a sea trial without the Owner present was where some pals of mine commissioned a survey (2 years ago) on a boat they were keen on buying in the BVIs (Tortola) - this was a former charter yacht, and in this instance the crew on the sea trial included a representative from the charter company, the broker, and the surveyor.
 
I agree with the comments about not wanting someone else's surveyor to trial the boat alone.

But I think the OP has got past that obstacle now and, so far as the issue of the surveyor spending ages making lists etc, my experience has been that this will not necessarily lead to a price chip.

On my current boat the surveyor was very thorough indeed and produced a very detailed list graded into "must do/ought to do/nice to do" items. But the reality of it was that there was so little wrong with the boat that my attempt to haggle was inevitably half-hearted because I knew I had something of a peach on my hands.
 
benjenbav said:
I agree with the comments about not wanting someone else's surveyor to trial the boat alone.

But I think the OP has got past that obstacle now and, so far as the issue of the surveyor spending ages making lists etc, my experience has been that this will not necessarily lead to a price chip.

On my current boat the surveyor was very thorough indeed and produced a very detailed list graded into "must do/ought to do/nice to do" items. But the reality of it was that there was so little wrong with the boat that my attempt to haggle was inevitably half-hearted because I knew I had something of a peach on my hands.
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latest on this saga, the purchaser has advised that the boat was stated as in mint condition with full service history and the surveyor's 7 hour inspection has highlighted a number of defects:
chip on gas locker
rain drip through joint on canopy
dirty air filters
chip on props both legs
carpet wet on sports bridge

the actual purchaser is a nice guy who has limited experience on a boat , however
i think because i would not let him take the boat to sea on his own the surveyor has made
a meal of a few bits and pieces which i would describe as to be expected on a seven year old boat.

so loo.ks like deal has fallen through , if anyone wants details of this surveyor in scotland
pm me
 
cloud7 said:
latest on this saga, the purchaser has advised that the boat was stated as in mint condition with full service history and the surveyor's 7 hour inspection has highlighted a number of defects:
chip on gas locker
rain drip through joint on canopy
dirty air filters
chip on props both legs
carpet wet on sports bridge

the actual purchaser is a nice guy who has limited experience on a boat , however
i think because i would not let him take the boat to sea on his own the surveyor has made
a meal of a few bits and pieces which i would describe as to be expected on a seven year old boat.

so loo.ks like deal has fallen through , if anyone wants details of this surveyor in scotland
pm me
Click to expand...

Some buyers are unrealistic anyway. But, with the exception of the chip on the gas locker, all the other "faults" are easily fixable by yourself. Tell the buyer you'll be happy to fix the leak, replace or clean the air filters, have the props refurbed and sort the carpet. If he's anything remotely resembling a serious buyer, he'll still be interested.
 
PaulGooch said:
Some buyers are unrealistic anyway. But, with the exception of the chip on the gas locker, all the other "faults" are easily fixable by yourself. Tell the buyer you'll be happy to fix the leak, replace or clean the air filters, have the props refurbed and sort the carpet. If he's anything remotely resembling a serious buyer, he'll still be interested.
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think the problem is because i refused to let the surveyor take the boat out on his own he is making a mealover minor problems for example , told purchaser we would need spend several
thousand pounds to bring boat to MINT condition, real pity what a poor surveyor can do to a deal, the boaters berthed both sides of me are just shocked as they would measure
the condition of other boats against mine , the purchaser does not the experience to make his own judgement , but if anyone is selling a boat in scotland i would like to pm
the details of the surveyor.
 
my impression, from this thread, was that the surveyor raised these points (with you) before the issue of the sea trial came up - have I missed something?

with the exception of the wet carpet on the sportsbridge the other observations would appear to be more a reaction to a 7 year old boat being advertised as mint than anything else - although any damage to props would, and should, be noted in any event.

without seeing it all it's obviously impossible to comment fairly on the 'several thousand pounds' but I would presume the underlying basis/justification is set out somewhere as resolution through remedial action should be an option etc
 
cloud7 said:
latest on this saga, the purchaser has advised that the boat was stated as in mint condition with full service history and the surveyor's 7 hour inspection has highlighted a number of defects:
chip on gas locker
rain drip through joint on canopy
dirty air filters
chip on props both legs
carpet wet on sports bridge

the actual purchaser is a nice guy who has limited experience on a boat , however
i think because i would not let him take the boat to sea on his own the surveyor has made
a meal of a few bits and pieces which i would describe as to be expected on a seven year old boat.

so loo.ks like deal has fallen through , if anyone wants details of this surveyor in scotland
pm me
Click to expand...

If your purchaser signed a standard purchase contract, the deal can only fall through if the survey picks up material defects. Are these material defects, really?

Cheers
Jimmy
 
I think the surveyor trialling the boat solo was a BIG no no, but with regards to what he has found...

Well actually he has done exactly what the purchaser asked him to do and that is give a thorough appraisal of the boat to the point of finding any little niggle. This is what they have paid him for.

ALL boats will have little niggles, brand new ones too.
None of the faults are remotely serious and no buyer in their right mind would pull out of a deal due to them. This is where a broker would manage the buyers expectations for you and hold the sale together.

If anything at all needed any attention from you then possibly the props would benefit from being refurbished due to a minor fracar you may have once had with a sand bar. No biggy, but perhaps offer this to hold the sale together.
The other points are absolutely nothing to worry about whatsoever and the fact that not a single serious item regarding material defects or safety have shown up means that the buyer really should not be backing out.
 
duncan said:
my impression, from this thread, was that the surveyor raised these points (with you) before the issue of the sea trial came up - have I missed something?

with the exception of the wet carpet on the sportsbridge the other observations would appear to be more a reaction to a 7 year old boat being advertised as mint than anything else - although any damage to props would, and should, be noted in any event.

without seeing it all it's obviously impossible to comment fairly on the 'several thousand pounds' but I would presume the underlying basis/justification is set out somewhere as resolution through remedial action should be an option etc
Click to expand...

the purchaser viewed the boat with his wife and remarked 'an very nice boat' , made offer
subject to survey , offer accepted , its the surveyor who has raised these issues and
unsettled the purchaser, the surveyor phoned me at the end of the survey to say the bow thruster and remote spotlight did not work , and the sink in the heads does not drain into the waste pump out, i explained how to work the thruster ( standard fitting ) and he had not got the switch turned on to operate the spotlight, the sink waste in my sealine is emptied via a skin fitting above the water line , its the way sealine made it , the surveyor had problems accepting this, all this is being reported to the purchaser who not having experience of boats is getting nervious.

,
 
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