To survey or not to survey?

[dombuckley]

The only Nauticats within your price range will be the older type, with a timber deck and superstructure - stay well clear unless you like chasing leaks around the circumference of the deck joint. It's also the least "saily" of the three you mention - very much a motorboat with a sailing rig added to assist the motor.

The coaster is a robust boat with decent performance for her type, and probably the best overall build quality of the three. The Neptunian has easily the best performance under sail, but not quite the interior space of the others.

 

[Caraway]

I was saved from a stupid mistake by having a survey on a GRP inland cruiser. It turned out to have been home-finished. Not very well.
Years later I was saved from a Jaguar 25 by a survey, which noted enough items to put me off.

However, it didn't save me from the Inland Revenue who conflated unrelated invoices in my books and assumed I was diddling them big time.
They found the survey and lift-out costs in a cheque book stub and a payment of £2000 in Antigua on a credit card statement.(Friendly advice. Keep personal and business spending separate)
They grandly announced that I kept a yacht in Hull Marina and had sailed it to the Caribbean for an expensive holiday.
I had to point out the survey charge was for a small yacht that I had not bought and that the £2000 in Antigua was actually (if you read it closely) 2000 pesetas (about £12) in a shop called Club Antigua on Fuerteventura during a cheap 1 week winter holiday.
(Pesetas went out of currency in 2002)

As this was my 3rd interview with the taxman, at my accountant's, I dared to ask him if he had anything else irrelevant to bring up. Oh we did laugh. (My accountant thought it went well.)

In the end, after 6 months investigation, they decided I owed them £82 for claiming on an estate car they said was not allowable. I understand the Inspector retired with ill-health.
Note; This is a warning to boat buyers to keep scrupulous records, especially if self-employed.

 

[Graham376]

I was saved from a stupid mistake by having a survey on a GRP inland cruiser. It turned out to have been home-finished. Not very well.
Years later I was saved from a Jaguar 25 by a survey, which noted enough items to put me off.

However, it didn't save me from the Inland Revenue who conflated unrelated invoices in my books and assumed I was diddling them big time.

Two surveys I had done more than paid for themselves by reduction in prices based on professional repair costs. All fixed DIY.

I won't comment on tax man except to say I have also suffered several tax and VAT in depth inspections.

 

[Elessar]

First post and I'm worried that it's a daft noob post, but then that would be an accurate description of me, so I'll press ahead.

I'm looking at a (grp) motor sailer to buy, it's 50 years old and about £20k. It has had an insurance survey done 4 years ago, which I have a copy of, which reads as all is well. I'm questioning if much of note on a vessel of that age will have occurred in the last few years, and I can save myself what will probably end up being a grand of survey and haul out charges? Not a lot of money on a £50k plus boat, but a significant percentage at this price, and I've broken my hard limit as it is.

I’m on boat number 6. Only number 2 had a survey and that I bought in the USA unseen. Somebody had to see it.
Make the offer accordingly. Make it clear no further chipping.
The only time I’d have a survey is if it was unseen which incudes if buying brand new.