Being present when the boat is surveyed.

beancounter

beancounter

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Is it considered acceptable/useful to be down at the prospective new boat when the survey is carried out? I'm not thinking of leaning over the guy's shoulder, just being able to see the boat out of the water, ask the occasional question etc.
 
Yes, definitely. A surveyor worth his salt will talk you through any problems and will not be the least ofended by your presence. I wouldn't have a survey done without being there myself.

Good luck!
 
I don't give a hoot for acceptability, but its certainly useful.
The last surveyer I used was only too happy to talk me through what he was up to, which made what he eventually wrote down much more undertstandable. Mind you, I made it clear I was on a learning curve and wasn't there to check on him.
 
If the surveyor prefered you not to be there, you should get another surveyor.
They are being paid by you, the prospective purchaser, and it's you that will receive the report. So it's your call.
It's like doctors and solicitors. There seems to be a feeling that they are "professional" and that we should not question their competance.
In most cases there is no cause for concern, but if you are there then you know the score.
Maybe I'm just a control freak.
 
Yes very useful. To the extent that I wouldn't want to use a surveyor who didn't want me around. On an insurance survey they will often tell you about minor things that aren't going into the report, or advise on how to go about rectifying things.
 
I believe there is a balance to be struck. Agree wholeheartedly with others views that as the customer you shouldn't feel you are interfering, however it is very important to ensure that the surveyor has plenty of peace and opportunity to undertake a thorough survey.

Part of my job entails auditing and I believe there are parellels between the two, so I base my view partly from professional experience, partly from the view of a boat owner who has over the years purchased several boats. So, for best results be patient and allow the surveyor ample opportunity to do their job and then by all means ask questions, raise any concerns you may have say mid way through the survey, then by all means speak again at the end of survey prior to the report being compiled. Anything you are uncertain about, well make sure you discuss fully before that report is written.
 
I agree, should be very useful. Wish I could say it was worth while. I arranged the to meet the surveyor at the correct time. Got there and no sign of him. Bloke on boat next door said "oh yeah there was a guy here about half an hour ago"
Not sure how much confidence that gave me in the report when it arrived. No mames but a well known South of England surveyor.
 
I took my daughter to hospital because she had a painfull swelling behind her ear. The doctors could not decide what it was and prescribed no treatment.

They then presented their bill.

I told them if, as a consultant, I told my client that I didn't know what their problem was and did not know how to solve it, did they (the doctors) think that the client would pay my bill? Therefore it would be the same for them.

John
 
Not all surveyors are as professional as they claim. There is no requirement to have any paticular qualification. Some are excellent, some are v. average. He who pays the piper, etc. Your money, it's about to be your boat, get in there and be there. Also I would suggest spending at least an hour there befoe he turns up so you can have a well informed view of the boat because in that time you will have come across some problems to discuss with him. Talk this through with him before you appoint him, if he has a problem go elsewhere. The survey should be the first step to your knowing the complete ins and out of your new 'lady'.
 
I agree - i have always found the surveyor happy for me to be there (and I have met and used a few) But Its also fair to leave them alone for a while to poke and prod and tap their hammer etc. I usually arraneg to meet them part way through the day so that they can discuss their findinign with me and point out exactly what it is that they ar worried about.
 
Thanks guys...

..I've called the surveyor and he's quite happy for me to be there & ask the occasional dumb question.

Getting more excited now...
 
What about the other way round. If you are selling the boat, should you be available to answer questions as they arise from the surveyor?
 
Re: Being present when the boat is surveyed - selling.

No, absolutely not; it would seriously inhibit the surveyor from doing his job. If he has any questions that he cannot resolve, which is a fairly unlikely event unless they relate to where something has been stored off the boat, he will call you.
 
Yes - be there.
I missed out on a boat acouple of years ago just because Iwasn't there ! The owner was and saw the bad news the surveyor unearthed as a result he assumed I wouldn't be interested anymore and when he didn't hear from me for a week (I was waiting for the report and also a business trip etc), sold it to someone else at price which more than reflected the cost of rectification ( I was quoted max £2k for work to be done and he reduced price by £6k) The owner just wanted to get rid as soon as possible, money was no object and he had already bought the replacement boat for 4 times what he was getting for the old one !
 
Re: Being present when the boat is surveyed - selling.

Sorry to disagree but I was present during the survey of the last boat I sold and a damn good job I was. The surveyor could not start the engine and the "buyer" was about to walk away - "hold on" says I, hops on board and the engine started first plonk of the motor - "what is wrong with that?" says I.

Suspect the surveyor was pressing the stop button instead of turning the key the other way (from preheat to start (preheat - off - run - start)) "buyer" relaxes and is very impressed at the little engine. Next the surveyor starts talking of moisture readings of 25~30 ALL over the hull including the rudder (note new rudder previous year made of foam core sheathed with epoxy and glass, finished with epoxy / kevlar and 3 coats epoxy) "Hold on" says I "you do know the hull has been epoxy coated and a metallic primer was used under the antifouling as per AF manufacturer's instructions?" Blank look from surveyor, "buyer" ready to walk away - moisture reading of 30? - takes surveyor by the hand and checks an area on the rudder, scrapes off a patch of AF to show the metallic primer and checks again - same reading - scrapes off the primer right back to the epoxy and rechecks the moisture reading and lo and behold 0~1.5 reading. Tells the surveyor to go and check the hull himself - red face and mumbles from surveyor, "buyer" happy again. Eventually the buyer got rid of the surveyor and started asking me questions and asked me to show him round - done deal.

I would expect the owner to be available at time of survey but not necessarily on the boat.

Far from inhibiting the surveyor it could help him
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"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
 
As a Surveyor .... I welcome the client to be there ...

Gives opportunity to show and explain various bits and pieces ...

In the case of an owner insurance survey etc. - often the owner can explain or show where things are and save the search / hunting around etc.

There are many things on a boat often that do not need to written into reports - causing restrictions / reqt's from insurance company at times - these can be explained, pointed out to owner and various remiedies / answers discussed ...

The survey is often an exercise in discussing matters as well as what is observed .... so enjoy it and remember the golden rules :

a) Be exact and concise in exactly what type of survey you want ... i. Insurnance cover Survey ii. Pre-purchase survey etc. AND what you want covered etc.

b) YOU are paying and HE is providing a service - YOU have RIGHT to demand / enquire / ask .... so go ahead - be a pain it you have to - YOU need to know and understand.

c) Make sure HE knows what you need in report and what it is for ....

Good luck .... and no I cannot do yours !! I'm tied up till late next year !!!! unless you want to bring it to Baltic !!
 
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