Boathook
Well-Known Member
Do your insurers require a survey ?
Survey on a new (ish) boat?
- Thread starter Little Ricky
- Start date
Mr Googler
Well-Known Member
You have insurance to consider too. They will want a recent survey. Having never had new….no idea when that kicks in but 3 years possible. Others can no doubt advise who have purchased new
Not sure make and issues will help you. As said above, low volume builds so it’s not like cars with recalls or common issues etc…. Marine engines on the other hand can be similar as they produce so many of them. What engines in the boat you are considering?
I’ve bought boats Unsurveyed (including my current one) but……I was ready and able to fix whatever and I wasn’t dealing with massive sums of money (relatively). It would be useful to know the boat make and model you are looking at. Inboard / outboard, spec etc….
If it’s something with an outboard that’s been living out the water……that’s one thing…..if you’ve got outdrives or IPS…..defo survey. Mechanicals is where the money goes
Not sure make and issues will help you. As said above, low volume builds so it’s not like cars with recalls or common issues etc…. Marine engines on the other hand can be similar as they produce so many of them. What engines in the boat you are considering?
I’ve bought boats Unsurveyed (including my current one) but……I was ready and able to fix whatever and I wasn’t dealing with massive sums of money (relatively). It would be useful to know the boat make and model you are looking at. Inboard / outboard, spec etc….
If it’s something with an outboard that’s been living out the water……that’s one thing…..if you’ve got outdrives or IPS…..defo survey. Mechanicals is where the money goes
Mr Googler
Well-Known Member
Sticky Fingers
Well-Known Member
Both Bavaria, a Vision 42 sailing yacht and an S40 hardtop sportscruiser.
Non exhaustive list of issues on delivery or within a few months of delivery. Most of these fixed under warranty with varying amounts of pain and suffering:
Yacht - faults with forestay rigging; masthead windex; Garmin chart plotter; Garmin autopilot; cockpit hatch rams; damaged GRP to foredeck; jibsheet blocks; in-mast furling; engine ECU (Volvo recall).
Sportscruiser - faults with damaged GRP to foredeck (coincidence ); injectors on one engine; wipers; sunroof; cockpit table surface finish.
No pattern there. The foredeck damage was completely unconnected.
Sticky Fingers
Well-Known Member
Mine didn't, and continue not to, even though I had one.
volvopaul
Well-Known Member
You didn’t mention the engine .
volvopaul
Well-Known Member
If I was lucky enough to buy any new boat I’d have it surveyed because they churn some rubbish out these days , based on most boat builders being run by accountants, the love of building boats stopped many years ago .
It’s sad when people buy new boats with faults some of which never get sorted , owners give up and sell.
Dealers will also fob you off until you just get bored and take on the repairs yourself .
It would help us all more if you told us what you’re looking for and the budget.
There are many owners on here that have a variety of boats , and like me a few in the trade that will gladly give free advice.
rafiki_
Well-Known Member
My insurers did not ask for a survey, on my 20 year old purchase. In the purchase process, I employed a surveyor, principally to give credence to any issues I found, and the consequential impact on the negotiation. It was invaluable
Mr Googler
Well-Known Member
And nothing in the terms and conditions? My insurance says must hold a survey less than 5 years old at all times
dunedin
Well-Known Member
Generally boats are built much better these days - in terms of better quality control and more accurate adherence to the design. Modern production techniques are much improved over that of most series produced boats of last century.
Sticky Fingers
Well-Known Member
Think I did.
Tranona
Well-Known Member
Agree. My new Bavaria had essentially no faults on delivery. I was present during most of the commissioning including the seatrial. In the 6 years i had it the only faults were related to the Garmin electronics, the Volvo engine (recall of the MD unit and failed waterlock) and failed motor on the Lewmar windlass.
rafiki_
Well-Known Member
On what evidence do you make this statement? When I have visited largish builders, their processes are very lax.
rafiki_
Well-Known Member
Nothing that I can see in the small print.
Little Ricky
Well-Known Member
I think that it is pretty fair to say that all builders build boats that will just about last, no more and no less. Extra thick GRP, 2 inch thick cherry wood interiors...alas...no point in todays price conscious world.
Tranona
Well-Known Member
Thick old GRP and heavy wood interiors are not necessarily signs of quality build. The biggest problems with new boats are not related to the structure but to all the gear that is stuffed inside them.
potentillaCO32
Well-Known Member
You have answered your own question. You clearly don't want to get a survey from your responses on here.
If your prospective purchase has hit a mudbank at any sort of speed then the grid may be slightly, or significantly, delaminated. I doubt you would spot that but your surveyor should. Just one example.
But hey ho, your money
aerobat
Well-Known Member
No , you will not see a profesionally repaired , laminated and epoxied even severe hull damage / cracking until you grind off the underwater section completely to the laminate . Also a survey will not find out under several layers of primers and antifouling .
That said - if repaired really that professionally by a specialized yard its nothing wrong with buying such a boat ( for a price reduction )
oldgit
Well-Known Member
Having owned some well used MoBos over the last half century, from popular, respected and reputable builders, all pretty much in the same ball park, 25ft to 40 ft cruisers capable of accomodating 4 people in varying degrees of discomfort would suggest that build quality has declined markedly over the years.
Suspect, in ye olden days a boat was designed, the cost of labour/ materials plus the required profit determind the asking price.
All of the early Princess boats which came under my ownership P25 P33 and P35 required no attention to interiors other than keeping clean.
Later when viewing P420 and P440 etc was very disappointed on how badly the interior of much newer boats had suffered.
More recently the only determinator appears to be selling at a price to match or under cut your direct competitor on that class of boat.
Would suggest from looking at the build quality of some more recent boats from the "volume builders" that glassfibre mouldings ie. fits where it touches and lots of sealer and contact adhesive has know replaced stainless screws and actual real wood.
It seems to have become noticeably apparent when the interior linings on Princess boats started falling off, at least Broom kept up standards, and probably why they went bust ?
Suspect, in ye olden days a boat was designed, the cost of labour/ materials plus the required profit determind the asking price.
All of the early Princess boats which came under my ownership P25 P33 and P35 required no attention to interiors other than keeping clean.
Later when viewing P420 and P440 etc was very disappointed on how badly the interior of much newer boats had suffered.
More recently the only determinator appears to be selling at a price to match or under cut your direct competitor on that class of boat.
Would suggest from looking at the build quality of some more recent boats from the "volume builders" that glassfibre mouldings ie. fits where it touches and lots of sealer and contact adhesive has know replaced stainless screws and actual real wood.
It seems to have become noticeably apparent when the interior linings on Princess boats started falling off, at least Broom kept up standards, and probably why they went bust ?
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jrudge
Well-Known Member
As mentioned above it really depends on your knowledge of boats, appetite for risk and ability to fix stuff yourself.
When I buy a boat I spend hours on it. Go through the whole boat. Does everything work ? Beer in mind to do this fridges must be on , ac working , oven work , hob work , all lights work. Dishwasher. Washing machine, windless et. It is endless. I can guarantee no surveyor will check simply everything. Remember when you pay you own it. Proper sea trial etc. engines. All nav kit., stabilisation etc.
Look in all spaces.
I have reasonable confidence that if something is wrong with it I will find it. Can I miss something ? Of course. So can a surveyor. The report will have so many caveats that if he or she misses something you will never have any redress. Same with houses and I don't survey them either.
So you really need to decide if you are happy that you have enough boating and mechanical knowledge or not.
Does the age of it help ? Of course. But boats are complex things and s&@& happens.
When I buy a boat I spend hours on it. Go through the whole boat. Does everything work ? Beer in mind to do this fridges must be on , ac working , oven work , hob work , all lights work. Dishwasher. Washing machine, windless et. It is endless. I can guarantee no surveyor will check simply everything. Remember when you pay you own it. Proper sea trial etc. engines. All nav kit., stabilisation etc.
Look in all spaces.
I have reasonable confidence that if something is wrong with it I will find it. Can I miss something ? Of course. So can a surveyor. The report will have so many caveats that if he or she misses something you will never have any redress. Same with houses and I don't survey them either.
So you really need to decide if you are happy that you have enough boating and mechanical knowledge or not.
Does the age of it help ? Of course. But boats are complex things and s&@& happens.
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