yacht surveying, career path?

[steve yates]

I was Idly wondering what else I could do if I wanted out of photography, never having done anything else, and what sort of skills could be useful and transferable around the world if cruising around or as a part time/ when I wanted to basis in the uk in between sailing trips.

It also had to be something which would actually interest me, and yacht surveying was what came to mind. Anyone got any knowledge on what is required to retrain as one?

 

[Tomahawk]

Contact Toby Lester on Sailing Barge Ironsides.
He has made the same carer change.

 

[Motor_Sailor]

Good surveyors have two qualities:

The first is their fundamental human nature - you must naturally have a real love of detail; surveying for most people is dull, boring and repetitive, so make sure you are drawn to minutiae and being systematic and ordered. Not everyone is cut out to be a surveyor.

The second is technical knowledge. There are courses on this (even correspondence courses), but my personal belief is you can't be a surveyor unless you've been involved in boat building or repair etc, for a good number of years. Unless you know boats inside out, how on earth can you check boats inside out?

Now, that's the personal view of a retiree who's had a life of employing surveyors to be clients representatives on new builds and refits.
But don't be put off - lots of surveyors have shallow knowledge, scatty aptitude and write reports with more disclaimers than facts. And they seem to make a living.

 

[davidej]

I was Idly wondering what else I could do if I wanted out of photography, never having done anything else, and what sort of skills could be useful and transferable around the world if cruising around or as a part time/ when I wanted to basis in the uk in between sailing trips.

It also had to be something which would actually interest me, and yacht surveying was what came to mind. Anyone got any knowledge on what is required to retrain as one?

I don't think either of these are conducive to making a career as a surveyor.

Firstly who would want to use a surveyor who might have up-anchored and moved to another country just when you need to sue him. And secondly it is very hard to build a reputation when you are not there when people want you - it is not a service which will wait until you get back.

 

[Tranona]

Apart from acquiring the technical Knowledge, the biggest barrier to entering surveying is professional indemnity insurance which is just about essential. to get it you have to show competence and experience which is difficult to get if you don't have insurance. Many people get into it by having experience either like motorsailor says as boatbuilders or working for an organisation in a similar capacity, or working with another surveyor ot naval architect to build up knowledge and experience.

Not a profession for the peripatetic or part time. work comes mostly at short notice, but often takes a period of time to complete - so not just one day inspect second day write report and finish. plus the need for regular professional development if you are a member (almost compulsory) of one of the professional bodies.

 

[colind3782]

It certainly pays well! I was just quoted €1140 for an insurance survey on a 33' Furia!

 

[bitbaltic]

Good surveyors have two qualities:

The first is their fundamental human nature - you must naturally have a real love of detail; surveying for most people is dull, boring and repetitive, so make sure you are drawn to minutiae and being systematic and ordered. Not everyone is cut out to be a surveyor.

The second is technical knowledge. There are courses on this (even correspondence courses), but my personal belief is you can't be a surveyor unless you've been involved in boat building or repair etc, for a good number of years. Unless you know boats inside out, how on earth can you check boats inside out?

Now, that's the personal view of a retiree who's had a life of employing surveyors to be clients representatives on new builds and refits.
But don't be put off - lots of surveyors have shallow knowledge, scatty aptitude and write reports with more disclaimers than facts. And they seem to make a living.

That does make me smile. It reminds me of a moment earlier in my career (petroleum geology) when I was a wellsite geologist. The Mudlogging crew on the rig had to hand us an assessment sheet every week. They were young but diligent and hard-working and had done everything asked of them; I gave them high marks. My back-to-back (an older chap, incidentally) came on shift and complained that a) unless you had ten years logging experience (nobody does that, it is a career dead end and neither he nor I had it despite being their supervisors) and b) very specifically, unless the crew worked for Baker Hughes (needless to say they didn’t), then you couldn’t get high marks.

A year later I became the operations geologist running the whole show from the contractor office and the Mudlogging crew chief became (and still is) an outstanding wellsite geologist. My back to back that day, having been declined (I wonder why?) for operations jobs with a number of clients disappeared into the ‘where are they now’ category.

Putting preconceptions in the way of people’s career ambitions has, in my experience, always been a fast road to failure. You become the guy that didn’t sign the Beatles. Effort, dedication and the skills thus acquired are what counts. That will always trump a prescripted or preconceived path for someone’s career and, if you are managing people and bring inflexible preconceptions, it will drag you down too in the end.

As you say, it is an individual- and in all walks of life a not uncommon- view.

To the OP I say take on board the advice given about reliability and repeatability (which may not fit with your ambitions in personal life- work often does not and compromise is required) and if you can make those compromises pour effort in, study and go for it. If the compromises are worthwhile you will succeed; if not, you will not.

Apologies for something of a thread diversion.

 

[Seajet]

Steve,

PM on the way.

 

[JumbleDuck]

It also had to be something which would actually interest me, and yacht surveying was what came to mind. Anyone got any knowledge on what is required to retrain as one?

I think Southampton Solent University used to run a degree in yacht surveying, but I can't find it on their website. It might be worth asking them. All I can find at the moment is a DL Diploma in Small Craft Surveying offered by Lloyd's Maritime Academy and North Kent College jointly. Details at http://www.lloydsmaritimeacademy.com/event/small-craft-surveying-distance-learning-training-course. I'd be a little nervous about their statement that 3,000+ people have taken the diploma. If they are all working as surveyors that's a hell of a lot of competition for the work, and if they are not working as surveyors ... why not?

 

[Quandary]

Steve, I agree with those who say it would not suit your intended lifestyle, you need something that is more portable. I think what might be a possible use for your talents is to become a specialist rigger, mind you to know your stuff you would need to go racing for a while where these things are properly understood and constantly under review and analysis. In my experience on the periphery of the UK yachting scene, guys who understand how to set up a rig to perform are far from plentiful, in your planned destinations I suspect there are even less. You seem bright and resourceful enough, you have a head for heights and you have already worked out how to rig a triatic stay.

 

[steve yates]

That's a good idea! Racing might teach me to sail properly too