Who does survey's ????

[lanason]

Who does survey\'s ????

OK - after all this messing around and asking advice and looking at which boat I am going to buy, I finally decide to make an offer. Subject to Sea Trial and Survey.
Who do I contact to get a survey done - How do I find out who knows their stuff - Is there an AA or RAC of the boating world who will give her the once over.
And if the guy (or girl - see paulineb I'm not sexist) is local to where the boat is will he be impartial ????



Adrian )

 

[Guest]

Re: Who does survey\'s ????

If the boat is west solent then I can reccomed Tony Staton Bevan, of Abbey yachts, milford on sea, he surveyed one of our old boats for the present owner,a vey nice chap, he explained to both buyer and us the seller in an excellent manor with no bias to any matter at all, and answered many questions I put to him which were not even related to this survey.

Paul js,

 

[BarryH]

Re: Who does survey\'s ????

Surveyors are like solicitors, you employ em, they got your interests at heart. In short there working for you. Have a look in the classifieds in the mags, they have a good range and in most parts of the country. depending on size of the boat and the number of engines (although, most serveyors can give only an informed guess with engines) will dictate the price. If poss get a sample of thr engine oil to have it analyzied, this gives a better indication of condition.

At the end of the day, you makes your choice, you pays your money.

 

[burgundyben]

Re: Who does survey\'s ????

Also in west solent in Marintec, the chap there,Bill Dunlop did 2 surveys for me, both were incredible amount of detail, no stone un turned, IMHO worth finding someone with experience in the particular type of boat ure after, Bill specialises in Fairey boats.

Good luck, its worse than buying a house.

 

[hlb]

Re: Who does survey\'s ????

IMHO Surveyers do little more than borrow your watch to tell you the time. They usually tell you things like. Boat on dry land so engines could not be tested. Or even in water. It's not there concern. They look after hull condition and scratches and things, pointing out the obvious. Survey on my boat said it was fine but badly stained around the lumbar regions. Of course this meant that it was after winter and it was a bit mucky and needed a wash!! Some poor buger spent allot of money to say that.

Haydn

 

[byron]

Re: Who does survey\'s ????

Sorry Haydn, what that means is the Surveyor found no major faults with your craft. You would be singing a different song had he pointed out some glaring deficiency. What you are saying is the Surveyor is useless because your boat was OK.
Names... I have heard Bill Dunlop is very good.

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[ChrisW]

Re: Who does survey\'s ????

We have used Tony as well on a number of occasions. He is very good and also he specialises in GRP.

 

[david_e]

Re: Who does survey\'s ????

Do surveyors have an association with an accompanying code of conduct, would you know? And is there a web address?

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Re: Who does survey\'s ????

I believe there is a trade association called YBDSA or similar which have guidelines. Sorry dont know if there is a website

 

[ChrisW]

Re: Who does survey\'s ????

this is the Yachtbrokers and Designer & Surveyors Association. Their e-mail is info@ybdsa.co.uk. Wheel House Petersfield Rd Whitehill Bordon, Hants GU35 9BU
01420 473 862 ( Not sure if the area code is still the same though)

 

[paulineb]

Re: Who does survey\'s ????

Whoever you choose to do your survey, I think it's a good idea to be there when they do it. They talk you through it and tell you a lot about the boat as they're doing it. Plus they can mention a fault which, when written down on the report, sounds terminal, but if you're there they can say or it's nothing really to worry about or, it only needs this or that doing to it to rectify it.

Pxx

 

[miket]

Re: Who does survey\'s ????

I had a bad experience with a Thames based surveyor, and have heard of a couple of other complaints of the same surveyor. Won't name him as I may not have all the facts.

Just beware. Not all surveyors are any good. Like many things it is better to have a recommendation. In my opinion the written report, whilst probably necessary, is a waste of space as it is usually full of "disclaimers". I have used Ian Burgoyne on all my boats bar one (6) and he always telephones me whilst still with the boat, and advises me of his findings. I also make it clear that I am not interested in knowing that there is a scratch on the port side, only in potentially major things.

He is based in Oxford, but also covers France.

 

[BarryD]

Re: Who does survey\'s ????

Mike - Its worth noting that the surveyor is only making recomendations unless the mortgage is dependant upon the survey. It's your choice as to how you use the document.

You pay your money and get a choice - for another £300 odd pounds I could have got an engine / electronics survey that would have highlighted that most of the kit was duff and that the power steering was knackered on my boat. So I saved £300 and have recently spent £1,800 correcting it - just a pointer that I am still in the novice category (saves BurgendyBen from raising it).

Most surveyors work of a standard rate card based upon price per foot, some charge VAT and others don't (hence cost differences). If I was buying another boat now - I'd ask for an example report before commisioning. Most surveyors seem pretty busy though so they can turn work away or delay it to the point where you will fall outside of the 14 day offer to completeion contract if you become bolshy.

Did I waste my money? Possibly as the hull turned up sound etc.. and everything that has broke since was excluded from the survey.

Havoc, fire, confusion, and mis-trust, yes my work here is done...

Barry D

 

[paulineb]

Why \'burgundy\' Ben?

Do you drink a lot of it ?

Pxx