New to me boat & surveys

bikerbill

bikerbill

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Going up today to view the Jeanneau I posted about recently. My question is, are surveys really necessary? I have never had a professional survey carried out any boat I have owned, though I have walked away from a few heaps of shyte that have been described as being in excellent condition, after I gave the seller an ear bashing of course :D. However, I will be giving this boat a thorough going over before I wave cash at the seller.
 
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How much are you paying for it? If it more than a few thousand, I'd be happy to shell out a few hundred to get a professional to give it a through going over. There are two advantages to having the survey. First, the surveyor may identify things you've missed which would enable you to renegotiate the deal using his impartial report as a bargaining tool. Second, if he discovers a real deal breaker which the current owner will not negotiate on, it enables you to back away from the sale and reclaim your deposit without any further discussion.

As a final thought, if you later find a significant fault on the boat that was missed by both you and the surveyor then you can sue him for negligence to cover the cost of putting the fault right. Not easy up it has been done.
 
You may find that your insurers will ask for a survey by a qualified surveyor with professional indemnity cover, so that they have someone to claim from if things go wrong later.
Obviously best if you give the boat a good check first before spending on a survey, then perhaps agree a sale, "subject to survey"
Some insurers don't insist on a survey for boats below a certain figure but then they expect you to accept responsibility for any faults.
 
I needed a survey to satisfy my insurer and finance company. I used a man I knew vaguely because he was the cheapest around. The survey was rubbish, didn't find some very obvious defects, e.g. a valve whose handle snapped off when I turned it later, obviously never turned during the survey. Rust stains around a small bilge in a galley locker not even commented upon. Complete waste of money but served the purpose as I knew I was buying the boat come what may.

For my first boat, when I was new to cruising, I had a survey that proved extremely useful. It pointed out everything that needed to be improved, all of which I did. I was then able to pass the survey and ticked-off jobs to the next owner as a valuable selling point.

So for me, the surveys have been tailored to my needs.
 
duncan99210 said:
As a final thought, if you later find a significant fault on the boat that was missed by both you and the surveyor then you can sue him for negligence to cover the cost of putting the fault right. Not easy up it has been done.
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My first sea boat had the survey throw up a large number of minor things that needed doing which in total I considered amounted to too much work and money to rectify and I wanted to pull out of the purchase however the seller refused to give me back my deposit as the survey" had not shown any major defects". Faced with a court case and costs of that without any certaintly of winning I gave in and I carried on with the purchase. Although I eventually got the boat right after about a year and a cost of about 12% of the boat initial cost it still rankles and no way would I now give a deposit to anyone to purchase a boat. I also have reservations about the competence and dilligance of the 4/5 survays I have had to date with 3 different surveyors. My current boat rudders were so shot when I bought it that I brought it back from Ireland to N Wales very slowly and careully at about 4 knots max. The surveyor just said theyjust needed painting? I lifted the drop plate on both and twisted and apart they fell-both were rotten. Yes that was a bigger than normal leverage but what about the surveyor. Another did not pick up mast step depression on previous boat when I had the purchase survey but 10 years later when he did a survey for the proposed purchaser of the boat did see it and remarked "these boats always have a depression in the deck", obvously learned a bit along the way. IMNSHO anyone who has had and structurally maintained boats for a while should have picked up enough knowledge along the way to see defects to avoid. Surveys-bah humbug!
 
Camelia said:
Like others have said, your insurance company will want a survey.
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Mine didn't - GJW.
I bought both my current boats without surveys and have had very mixed experience of surveyors in the past which is why I no longer bother. My first boat was surveyed by a very cheap, semi-retired guy in the north east who reported every issue which arose during my six years of ownership. When selling boats, however, I have had surveyors make claims on servicing etc. which I know to be false. They have also missed obvious defects - one failed to report a missing door to a cabin, which I had removed. As SF says, a lot depends on how confident you are around boats.
 
duncan99210 said:
How much are you paying for it?
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He was not sure how much he wants for it, so I offered £5k cash. We laughed, bit of a character with a great line in typical Glasgow upbeat sarcasm, top bloke. Anyway he seemed interested in my motorhome.

DanTribe said:
You may find that your insurers will ask for a survey by a qualified surveyor with professional indemnity cover, so that they have someone to claim from if things go wrong later.
Obviously best if you give the boat a good check first before spending on a survey, then perhaps agree a sale, "subject to survey
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The seller suggested that I should get a survey, as the insurance may demand it. However, we did go through the boat with a fine tooth comb, some minor faults that are easily sorted, but overall in very good condition.

vyv_cox said:
The survey was rubbish, didn't find some very obvious defects, e.g. a valve whose handle snapped off when I turned it later, obviously never turned during the survey. Rust stains around a small bilge in a galley locker not even commented upon. Complete waste of money but served the purpose as I knew I was buying the boat come what may.
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The seller rated surveyors as well, tears were running down our faces listening to him :D Like I said, top bloke.

simonfraser said:
Guess it depends how practical / experienced you are.
Take some one knowledgable with you from the local yachting club ?

I bought all mine without a survey, ok, so far ......
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I am reasonably clued up having owned a variety of boats for the past 30 years, but no expert in yachts. I brought a friend along just in case I missed something though.

Camelia said:
Like others have said, your insurance company will want a survey.
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I'll check with the insurance on Monday thanks.
 
I bought Marine investigation by David H. Pascoe because we do not have marine surveys in Egypt. It has been invaluable !
I guess it helps put things from a more professional perspective and would helps put everything in a forum of checklist.

I would recommend that book or others talking about surveys in general great pointers :)
 
The last 2 boats I have bought, I just had a pre-purchase hull survey. Don't need a surveyor to tell me a winch needs servicing or a nav light bulb is blown or, the engine hasn't been run and the rigging has only been inspected from deck level. Reduced the cost considerably.
 
If you are not knowledeable enough about boat construction and materials to make your own survey or there is not a well subscribed association that carries records of typical class faults and rectification details then I would say have a professional survey.
 
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