lisilou
Well-Known Member
Your opinions please on which surveyors would be a good choice. Need to draw on all your experience please. Thanks
Lisa
Lisa
Reputable surveyors
- Thread starter lisilou
- Start date
maby
Well-Known Member
My experience of surveyors is that they are frustratingly difficult to pin down with hard advice and opinions. When one, who we know quite well, identified some concerns on a fairly expensive boat we were thinking of buying some months ago, he gave us a report that in effect said "There's a problem here, but I don't think it's serious..."
This left us in an impossible situation - he had said enough to make us worry, but been sufficiently vague about the severity that it would have been very difficult to claim against his professional indemnity insurance if it all went pear shaped later. Equally, when we went back to the sellers with the survey asking them to rectify the issues identified, they refused bacause the surveyor didn't think they were serious. We ended up pulling out of the sale, but even that was difficult because the seller questioned if the survey gave us sufficient grounds to break the agreement. We still came out close to £1000 worse off between the survey fees and the cost of hauling out for the survey...
I pointed out to the surveyor that what I really needed was an honest opinion "off the record" and a very critical report on paper.
This left us in an impossible situation - he had said enough to make us worry, but been sufficiently vague about the severity that it would have been very difficult to claim against his professional indemnity insurance if it all went pear shaped later. Equally, when we went back to the sellers with the survey asking them to rectify the issues identified, they refused bacause the surveyor didn't think they were serious. We ended up pulling out of the sale, but even that was difficult because the seller questioned if the survey gave us sufficient grounds to break the agreement. We still came out close to £1000 worse off between the survey fees and the cost of hauling out for the survey...
I pointed out to the surveyor that what I really needed was an honest opinion "off the record" and a very critical report on paper.
Csail
N/A
Your opinions please on which surveyors would be a good choice. Need to draw on all your experience please. Thanks
Lisa
There is no such thing.
jhr
Well-Known Member
Hugo Morgan-Harris, of Saunders Morgan-Harris did an extremely thorough and professional job for me when we bought our boat. I was there when he did the survey, and he put up with me asking him lots of stupid questions, whilst also explaining clearly what he was doing and why.
I have no experience of his business partner, Duncan Saunders, but other Forumites have written extremely positively about him on here, as well.
No surveyor, marine or otherwise, is going to give you an unqualified report on everything - they are giving you their informed opinion and there are bound to be grey areas. All I can say about Hugo's survey (conducted several years ago, now) is that nothing untoward has emerged, beyond the things he pointed out. That's good enough for me.
I have no experience of his business partner, Duncan Saunders, but other Forumites have written extremely positively about him on here, as well.
No surveyor, marine or otherwise, is going to give you an unqualified report on everything - they are giving you their informed opinion and there are bound to be grey areas. All I can say about Hugo's survey (conducted several years ago, now) is that nothing untoward has emerged, beyond the things he pointed out. That's good enough for me.
maby
Well-Known Member
Oh, I think that's a bit harsh - I know at least two surveyors that I would trust to find the faults in the boat - as I said above, my problem with them is their unwillingness to make strong commitments based on what they find. The survey report is my leverage to either get the price reduced or the defects fixed and, if it is couched in very unspecific terms, it is useless to me - just gets me worried, but doesn't give me leverage.
volvopaul
Well-Known Member
There is a thread drift on the ancasta post, my advise on surveyors is to ask to see there indemnity insurance and the amount it covers, should they miss anything thats going to cost you after you have taken posession of the boat you need to know you can make a counter claim to cover the cost of the repairs.
Its no good employing a fancy surveyor with letters after his name if there is no reasurity after purchase.
Id also get quotes as some can be eyewatering compared to others.
Its no good employing a fancy surveyor with letters after his name if there is no reasurity after purchase.
Id also get quotes as some can be eyewatering compared to others.
imac8
Well-Known Member
I used Ian Lumley of Ian Lumley Marine and I thought he was excellent. I know he's well respected amongst the sealine forum.
lisilou
Well-Known Member
Thanx Jhr, Paul and Imac. Have made a note, ta again.
Lisa
Lisa
aquatom
Well-Known Member
I can't say much about the rest of the boat but would strongly recommend getting an engineer who knows which ever engine/s are in the boat as well as a surveyor.
There are many "common" faults on different engines which a surveyor may not pick up but a engineer should!
There are many "common" faults on different engines which a surveyor may not pick up but a engineer should!
Ripster
Well-Known Member
I used a Rob Perry marine in Weymouth for my last 2 surveys as he is powerboat focussed. Also got VolvoPaul on here to check out the engines too and come on the Sea Trial. Can't be too careful IMO.
lisilou
Well-Known Member
Agreed, so we will have both surveyor and engineer to check all points thoroughly. Thanks both.
imac8
Well-Known Member
Ian Lumley checked out my engine as well. The chap is thorough.
AllanG
Well-Known Member
Hi,
Good luck with your new boat purchase, she certainly looks fantastic!
I've recently used Simon May to survey my new (to me) boat, and this is the second time I've used him, and both times have found him to be very professional and reasonably priced.
He is also very willing to discuss all the areas he's surveying, and why, as well as answering my MANY questions.
Cheers, Allan
Good luck with your new boat purchase, she certainly looks fantastic!
I've recently used Simon May to survey my new (to me) boat, and this is the second time I've used him, and both times have found him to be very professional and reasonably priced.
He is also very willing to discuss all the areas he's surveying, and why, as well as answering my MANY questions.
Cheers, Allan
lisilou
Well-Known Member
Thanks all. Survey all booked so will update on the outcome.
Thanks again
Lisa
Thanks again
Lisa
Elessar
Well-Known Member
meridianyachts
New Member
As you know I cannot promote a business on here, but I understand your concerns and I feel it is possibly a case of poor comms before the survey was carried out. Whoever you instruct, make sure the surveyor understands exactly what you expect from him. I always try to provide a report which includes all the detail and information the potential buyer should expect from a survey and provide a written report only after discussing my findings. Surveyors usually avoid opinion and try to remain factual but their experience is invaluable so a motor boat specialist is likely to have seen many similar and even some identical boats enabling the drawing of comparisons. I usually also carry out a sea trial which, especially if carried out with the purchaser, to be a valuable aid to ensuring the vessel is sound and suitable for intended use.
dpb
Well-Known Member
Matt at Marinesurveysuk.com provided me with a good service recently.
mainshiptom
Well-Known Member
I used Nick from Ward and Mckenzie
He was very good and through
I find taht any Guy that is happy for me to stay with hime and get a F2F feedback is going to be good, also I can see what he is looking into,
Using an engine guy like Paul would also be a good idea.
Tom
ps a good look first a nd lots of pictures always good..
He was very good and through
I find taht any Guy that is happy for me to stay with hime and get a F2F feedback is going to be good, also I can see what he is looking into,
Using an engine guy like Paul would also be a good idea.
Tom
ps a good look first a nd lots of pictures always good..
Spi D
...
Just had an outer hull survey done by http://marine-surveying.co.uk/ on a 32' with twin shafts.
I travelled to view and test the boat but couldn't wait to get it lifted. Engaged the above and got a nice report, including photos and explanatory texts. Got it as a draft at first, with an option to comment or ask further.
They did a thorough job, among others including shafts, props, rudders, brackets, anodes, bearings and antifoul removal from 50 (!) points to check gelcoat under and moisture content in the grp.
Price was exactly as quoted - and fair: £200 plus travel.
I travelled to view and test the boat but couldn't wait to get it lifted. Engaged the above and got a nice report, including photos and explanatory texts. Got it as a draft at first, with an option to comment or ask further.
They did a thorough job, among others including shafts, props, rudders, brackets, anodes, bearings and antifoul removal from 50 (!) points to check gelcoat under and moisture content in the grp.
Price was exactly as quoted - and fair: £200 plus travel.
lisilou
Well-Known Member
Thanks for all your advice and recommendations. We have survey booked for Tuesday with a locally based surveyor. Will let you know the outcome. Thanks again.
Lisa
Lisa
