Cost of Insurance Survey on Wooden Yacht?

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Kevin_Fuller

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I have had insured wooden boats for at least 25 years, always previously I've been able to obtain a shipwright's survey which has been acceptable to the various insurance companies that I have used. Last week my insurer Noble Marine asked for a new insurance survey, as the previous is 5 years old. None of the shipwright's that I know will do a survey any longer because they cannot justify spending the huge indemnity insurance costs that are required these days (one indicated it was about 2,000 pounds).

Roughly how much am I going to have to pay to get an insurance survey on a 34' 6" wooden (10 metres) yacht. She is in excellent condition.

Has anyone got any suggestions of a good but reasonably priced surveyor on the Essex coast (boat located at Maylandsea)?

Thanks... Kevin
 
I'm in exactly the same boat (sorry), I went to see the Naval Architect that designed the boat, he said he no longer does surveys (in his eighties), but could do a condition report and valuation that has sufficed for other owners so that is wha twe have done.

Other than that, the YBDSA have a forumla for working out the cost of surveys, something 1 pound per foot length times beam and draft times by the shoe size plus 300 quid I think...
 
I was quoted length x breadth in pounds for a 33 footer a few years back now.

I used Terry Davey from Felixstowe, although I know he is not doing so much now. Other wise Ruth Kelly from Aegis Yachts (did my new boat) but she is down in Bournemouth.
 
Thanks for the replies.

Whatever it pays to get someone local as time & money spent on travelling are added to the final bill.

I'm not worried about the boat's condition, I had it best part rebuilt some years ago, it's just a bit of paper to give to satisfy the insurers as cheaply as possible that I'm after. Also preferably not a surveyor who pokes holes into the recently resprayed hull with a spike as some do.
 
I believe insurance surveys usually are asked for every 10 years, but it could be that I claimed last winter that they want an out of water to check the boat is in the condition they paid it to be restored to?

The claim was not even my fault, the rudder stock was wrung & broke when the boat was left in the yard unprotected from vehicles driving about & I believe one backed into the rudder requiring a complete new rudder.
 
Sorry I can't recommend anyone, as the surveyor I used when I bough Evadne and moved her to Maylandsea in 1986 has probably retired properly by now. But it is important to make it clear to the surveyor that it's an "insurance survey", not a "buyer's survey", so he doesn't write down anything that'll put the insurers off. I'm with St Margaret's and they've increased my time between surveys from 5 to 7 years now (presumably for good behaviour). Around or over the £200 mark IIRC.
 
Try E. Hugh Lamb; he's based at Shotley but I know he will travel reasonable distances. He's done two previous surveys for me and does a good job - emphasises the positives while pointing out any sensible issues. He'll charge a bit less than the YBDSA rate as well. PM me if you want a contact number.
 
2nd Dominic at East Anglia Yacht Surveys, did a pre purchase on our GRP motor boat, very thorough, although we are plastic, I think his heart is in wooden boats!
Nice guy, give him a call and say hello from "Bush Baby" he surveyed her at EBY about 10 weeks ago.
No charge for travel and a great report, loads of pictures and technical stuff!
 
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