Survey

[Wiggo]

Another one for the panel: leaving aside the 'peace of mind' thing, do I still need a survey when buying a stock, warrantied boat?

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[Jim44]

When I bought my F44 the dealer recommend it, just for piece of mind. It was worth the money becuase i got the Fire Ext. swaped for none halon ones. Think the halon are still in place as well thought.



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[jhr]

I would

Firstly, to make sure that there are no underlying problems. A warranty may give you redress if things go wrong, but it's much better to be aware of faults in advance and take remedial action. A piece of paper won't be much use to you when you're mid-Channel and taking on water.

Also, a warranty isn't for ever. What about underlying faults that don't emerge until the warranty period has expired?

Perhaps I'm being over-cautious, but I don't believe that even the large volume manufacturers have got close to the quality control now exercised by, for example, the motor industry. Personally I would have a survey done even if I were taking delivery of a brand spanking new boat.

Suspect this is teaching Granny to empty yolk sac containers by means of the creation of a partial vacuum, but you did ask.

Will leave it to others (?Oldgit?) to make enthusiastic noises about your choice of boat. Actually, I quite like them............ /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

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[Wiggo]

Re: I would

Point taken. But a 4 year old boat from a major builder *surely* coyuldn't have structural defects on that scale?

Eggs/Grandparents: yes, I know. There have been horror stories on here, though, of surveyors missing major defects, and wriggling out of any claims. Besides, if the rudders drop off mid-channel, what good is a surveyor's report? About the same value as the dealer warranty, I'd think...

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[jhr]

Re: I would

I'd hope you're right about the structural defects - but what about, for example, the case of the Princess that sank at its mooring last autumn? There was certainly talk that the hull and engines were salvageable and I would hope that a surveyor who knew his/her stuff would be able to spot if you were being sold such a craft when you or I would not. (I'm not suggesting that you are being sold such a craft, incidentally, before Messrs Sue, Grabbitt and Runne roll up their sleeves...........).

Which brings me on to your second point about the surveyor him/her self. Yes you are quite right that a surveyor's report won't re-attach your rudders and I suppose it boils down to luck or to having a reliable and/or recommended surveyor on hand. Don't have an easy answer to this I'm afraid, although I guess lots of people on here can recommend someone.

Our boat was 2 years old when I bought her, with engine and hull warranties still in place. I still had her surveyed at the time and I felt that the guy who carried out the survey did a competent and thorough job. I had intended to ask my old man ( a retired marine surveyor and a man who really knows his stuff) to do the job but he wasn't well enough at the time. However, he crawled over her a couple of weeks ago and issued a clean bill of health, so I guess I was lucky.

In the end, I suppose a lot of it is to do with the peace of mind thing, but I still don't think I'd buy any boat without getting a professional opinion on her.

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[Deleted User YDKXO]

Re: I would too

Absolutely definitely have a survey. If you're going for a mortgage, the finance company would ask for it anyway. Also, I would have a mechanical survey done as well. Apart from peace of mind, you can use any faults identified as a bargaining counter in any negotiation

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[Questor]

Graham

Your answer in one word - DEFINITELY.

What warranty is on offer - 3months? Which is about as much use as a pork chop in a synagogue, if its over the winter and gets little or no use, as I found out.

Now, of course, if you could get say 50 hours, that would be a different story......

Richard

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[Wiggo]

Re: fair point

engines out of warranty after 3 years, so it's worth knowing what sort of life they've led.

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[tcm]

Re: I would too

yep. I even had a survery at the end of the warranty period without selling - at which point i got a full Official List of the faults I knew about plus a few i didn't know about.

A dealer simply can't know every teensy thing, and it's unlikely that the terms of the deal will cover all those teensy things anyway. Bargaining chip at the very least. Otherwise a longstop cover: when you sell, the buyer will deffo have a survey and it's at that point that you will find it's been aground or whammed against the chain ferry

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[RDL]

Deffinately go for a survey, as Deleted User said, if you are going for a Mortgage on the boat, the Lender will insist on it anyway, so you will have no choice. I would also reccommend an engine survey prior to sea trial. If the engines have EDC, then all of the major warnings/faults will come up when the engineer plugs his lap top in. For example EDC,s will show up over heats. Armed with this knowledge you can then look hard at the T,s & P,s when out on sea trial.

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[oldgit]

Re: and so would I,but......

Just a quick comment on quality from well known builders of all types.
Interesting little mystery anecdote of the boat that had a few owners(and presumably surveys) before it was by inspected by a Mr Pascoe esq.
The boat would not hold a steady course and it turned out the whole hull was distorted.Appears that the hull was pulled from mould before proper curing had finished and one way or another it managed to make it to the salesroom.
Not sure of details but fairly certain boat would have been over the pond.


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