Out of water survey

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airmyncat

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Hi, we have bought a boat that is 50 years old. The previous owner has a date on his insurance that says that an out of water survey has been done in 2015, but he’s doesn’t have a certificate as proof.
Should there be one, and is there a data base these Surveys get recorded on?
I have been asked by insurance company for this information
 
No. A survey is a private arrangement between an owner and a surveyor. They are not duty bound to disclose it to anyone, other than the owner's insurance company.
If your insurance company is demanding a survey, it is up to you to organise one.
 
Thankyou .The previous owner only had the boat for a couple of months and the survey was done before they bought it. Do most insurers ask for one of these if you’re insuring fully comp, and how long do the surveys normally last for?
Thanks for your help, Sorry it’s all new to me!!
 
Normally you commission a survey (a multiple page report on the condition of the boat) by a surveyor at your cost when you buy it. Personally I’d be happy to buy a boat with a recent survey disclosed to me (or even on my own inspection) but it doesn’t sound like you’re in either of those positions. You should have had your boat surveyed before purchase or now be willing to organise one for your insurers.
 
It's usual to have the survey before buying the boat .
I guess you would need to ask your proposed insurer about the frequency of surveys required . Perhaps when boats get to a certain age the insurance industry gets a bit twitchy.
 
airmyncat said:
Hi, we have bought a boat that is 50 years old. The previous owner has a date on his insurance that says that an out of water survey has been done in 2015, but he’s doesn’t have a certificate as proof.
Should there be one, and is there a data base these Surveys get recorded on?
I have been asked by insurance company for this information
Click to expand...

Welcome to the forums!

You bought a 50 year old boat without having a survey? That's brave.
 
You could just get third party insurance and you dont need a survey if the boat is low value may not be worth getting fully comp.
 
A survey will cost a few hundred pounds: surveyors usually charge on a per metre basis. You’ll need to assess how much the boat is worth to decide if it’s worth insuring comprehensively, as it may cost an appreciable fraction of the worth of the boat to have a survey and pay the premiums. I have a small 51 year old boat which I only have third party insurance for: trying to arrange comprehensive insurance would not be cost effective.
 
I know where someone bought a oldish motor sailor based on a survey provided by the vendor. It turned out that there were a huge number of problems - basically the wooden deck had to be replaced and the engine was kaput. The boat sat for over 10 years with the new owner working on it. He never got it launched. Someone else has it now. It was not a cheap purchase when he bought it. Why would you not get a survey unless it's very, very cheap? The only saving grace was that he lived on board while it was being worked on, so he had no housing costs.
 
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No survey written by a surveyor for someone else is worth the paper its written on, that goes for last week never mind several years ago.
The times i have had customers come to me with a boat needing serious repair who had just bought it are legion.
The common thread is always, "The owner had a survey for insurance which he has kindly given me", "So i figured i would save myself £400".
And so they swallow it hook line & sinker only to find a few weeks later the keel is falling off & hull is split. Or a westerly that "Was professionally reinforced" wasnt & both keels were falling off.
I have seen these & similar many times. The moral is unless you have paid for the survey yourself it is useless & you have zero comeback if it goes wrong. If you have paid for it you have a claim against the surveyors professional indemnity insurance. If he has it, which any good surveyor should have.
 
As the OP has already bought the boat the question is whether he can access and use the old survey for insurance. He needs to ask the prospective insurer about that.
 
The only survey of any value is one you commission yourself. Not to cast aspersions on the integrity of the surveying profession, but you just don't know how lenient they might have been as a favour to a friend. The limit of influence that an old survey should have is to indicate whether you want to go as far as getting your own survey done PRE-PURCHASE. If it is not, then you should be walking away.
 
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A condition survey only indicates the condition of the boat on the day it was carried out. If you're not knowledgeable about them, it would be worth getting one done.
 
My boat is 50 years old. Survey on purchase for me & insurance.

Then about every 13 years since, plus when I re-engined, for the insurance co. All quite normal & as others have said should be commissioned by you.
 
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