Surveys - Are they worth it?

[cliffsorge]

I have just made an offer on a boat and would like to get it surveyed, is it worth it? I think probably yes but whats the general view. In the States all machinery seems to be included why not here. Can anyone recommend a good surveyor in the Southampton/Hamble area.

 

[kghowe]

We have had our current boat for 2 years with no major problems. Just normal servicing and running costs. We had it thoroughly surveyed, mechanical and structural, total cost about £500. Was it worth it. Probably not on this one but.....Before buying this boat we set our hearts on another, had it surveyed, structural and mechanical to find about £7000 worth of repairs needed. Even if we'd haggeled hard we would never of made up the difference. Don't let me influence you in any way its a free country but that £7k buys a lot of fuel!! See mags for decent surveyors.

Good luck

 

[oldgit]

On a basic cheapo boat I doubt a survey will turn up anything that you cannot see for yourself if you can remove the 3 pairs of rose tinted glasses that we all wear when viewing boats.However the surveyor can bring a note of sanity to the proceedings by giving you a hint of the grief to come regarding the amount of money that the boat will consume and (for me the most important thing) why you will not be able to use the boat for what will seem forever.
In addition it may just also convince the owner of the boat that it is not just you that thinks his boat is a tad overpriced and he needs to get real on the correct value of the thing.Some of the boats I have been interested in have been up for sale for at least 1 to 2 years !!!!!!.The price has just been reduced by a couple of percent, still all the while its is generating mooring fees for the boat yard ?

Exercise is bunk.If you are healthy,you do not need it;if you are sick you should not take it.

 

[burgundyben]

Depends on how much to spend, age of boat allsorts, I spent £530 on a survey and then did not buy the boat, best 500 quid I ever spent, a year later and the boat in question is still for sale...

Then I found one I had a great deal more confidence in and so only had the hull surveyed.

Give more details about type of baot, history, useage, age, price, equipment and you could get more meaning ful advice from the loonies on here.

Try to find a surveyor that has surveyed this specific craft a fews time before, hence he'll know what to look for.

Good luck.

......girls, girls, get back, please, one at a time......

 

[lanason]

Very much so - YES - IMHO
Just had one done on my soon to be boat - gave me a list of things to do and checked all the important things like Hull condition.
Well worth the few hundred quid spend.
Even silly thing like a chaffed pipe from the bilge pump to the outside. Little cost to fix but important.

Not only that but the seller will do a runner if he knows something serious is wrong and he is trying to hoodwink you.
Adrian

Don't call me "Ian"
Cleopatra - yellow hull called Court Jester. Have you seen her ?

 

[Trevethan]

The rule is, if the survey shows the boat to be sound, you'll likely have wasted your money...

However if your surveyor points out problems and potential problems that could cost you a fortune/your life.. then its money well spent..

Look on a survey as insurance... If you don't have to claim do you consider the money wasted?

Regards,

Nick

 

[ianainge]

structual depends on age of boat unless there is anything seriously wrong all it will show is the odd hose or clip needs replacing expiry date of flares or extinguishers or some switchgear not working ,maybe things you could have found anyway.engine survey definatley spent £500 saved £3800.