Cheapest Boat You would get a survey on prior to Purchase.

[knuterikt]

Here (in Norway) the cost of disposing of a GRP boat like that will probably exceed 2000£.
So for an inexperienced buyer it would make sense.
This summer 3 boats have moved from one spot to another alternating between running away from dock fees and illegal stays (illegal to establish a permanent mooring without permit)
Introducing "wreck deposit" on new boats is discussed here now..
The wreck deposit is payed out to owner delivering old boat to certified recycling plant.
We have had this for many years on cars - easier to implement as there is an official register for cars.

 

[thesaintlyone]

That's a bit mad paying for a survey on a boat of that value. What does he expect for £2000? I paid £3000 for mine and didn't bother about a survey. If you are paying £2000 for a reasonable size old yacht then you have to be in the DIY category anyways so you should be able to see if anything bad is going on and be able to fix it to some extent.

I think the question of a feathering prop sums it up. In reality I dont think he has looked at many boats around that price mine stacks up well and the price reflects the need for a quick sale.

 

[rwoofer]

I bought a £30k boat without survey. Probably wouldn't have a survey on any boat less than 10 years old.

 

[Muddy Boat]

I bought a £2.5k catamaran that was little used and appeared in great condition without a survey and more importantly (in my case) without hauling it out for a hull inspection. I have just completed £5k (plus weeks of my time and a Summer of no sailing) of Osmosis treatment and my rebuilding the engine. It is a boat that I had wanted for years (only 5 built) and so was prepared to go through the pain. I would however never buy another boat (at whatever price) without inspecting, or having inspected by knowledgeable person, at least the hull, rig (including sails) and engine. The cost of boat work is not confined to the job, it is the hauling, storage charges etc. that mount up.

Also learnt that it is a good idea to have your inspections, and ultimately the work carried out, by people on your wavelength and with similar expectation levels. From this current experience i have been astonished by the diversity of opinion as to what constitutes the right way, or even a professional way to complete quite basic tasks!

 

[dombuckley]

IWould be interesting to hear what an actual surveyor thinks.

As one, I have to say this has actually been the busiest year for quite a while. But the most encouraging thing has been the quite dramatic increase of enquiries from people looking at boats in the sub-£10K, sub-25ft range. They almost always say "This is the first time I've bought a boat," which suggests that there is some fresh blood in the boat-owning market.

 

[langstonelayabout]

If you're the buyer, surely the answer is "how much money can you afford to write off?"

Like the £4K that is spent on a Pegasus 700. The hull split open catastrophically on my drying mooring with the obvious consequences. Repair quotes for the hull alone were £2.5k.

My insurance wasn't interested saying that the hull was defective when I bought the boat months previously and unless I could show them a survey stating otherwise they were unable to assist at this time.

The boats I've bought since have all been surveyed.

 

[Capt. Clueless]

Having never had to have a boat surveyed (not at the money We spend anyway), I really wonder what a boat surveyor can discover that anyone with some boat knowledge and a keen eye cannot? Do these people carry some kind of expensive equipment with them? Have they done a 3yr degree course on boat surveying? Surely, what they can see, you can see, what they can't see, you can't see, so I'm quite intrigued as to what they do specially to earn their money? Any surveyors here?
I know a hell of a lot about house construction, and would happily survey a prospective house purchase if allowed, is it all money for old rope?

 

[Poignard]

I have had a Twister for 19 years. If I ever bought another I wouldn't bother with a survey because I've learnt from my own experience, and the experience of other owners of Twisters, what defects to look for.