SURVEYOR SERVICES
Every vessel is unique which is why Josh makes no assumptions and takes a methodical approach to thoroughly inspect the vessel. As soon as your survey is complete, Josh compiles his photo documentation and findings into a comprehensive report so you have the information you need.
Surveyor services Josh provides include:
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is a marine survey and Why do I need one?
A marine survey is the inspection of a vessel’s hull, deck, structure and/or systems. There are various types of surveys performed on vessels, depending on client requirements.
Most financial institutions and/or insurance companies will require that you have a survey performed, especially on older vessels. They will need to know the overall condition and fair market value in order to finance or underwrite the vessel.
It is also recommended that a survey be performed on any prospective vessel purchase, whether new or used.
But the most important reason to survey your vessel is for the safety of the passengers and crew. It is recommended that a survey be performed every two to three years.
What do I look for in a Marine Surveyor?
Since anyone can call themselves a Marine Surveyor, it is important to know how to look for one with the right qualifications, the right experience, and the right suitability for your needs.
There are no governmental regulations for Marine Surveyors of recreational vessels. Certain Marine Surveyors are permitted to use a designation denoting their level of membership in accrediting organizations. These organizations subject potential members to a thorough peer review and successful completion of a written exam. Members are required to attend annual continuing education and to meet strict professional, technical and ethical standards. The most recognized accrediting organizations are The Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors (SAMS) with a designation of Surveyor Associate or Accredited Marine Surveyor (AMS), and the National Association of Marine Surveyors (NAMS) with the designation of Associate Member or Certified Marine Surveyor (CMS).
Marine Surveyors may also, and should, have one or more other professional memberships in recognized organizations that provide technical guidance and standards against which surveys are conducted and reports are prepared. Look for membership insignia to institutions such as ABYC, NFPA, and USCG who provide such standards to this industry.
A reputable Marine Surveyor should provide you with a professionally prepared written report that will be accepted by your lender and/or insurance company, in a reasonable amount of time. You can ask a Marine Surveyor for a sample report in order to get a sense of the level of detail you can expect in your survey.
A thorough inspection is one that is not rushed, and the duration of a survey will depend on vessel size, equipment and on-board systems. There may be additional services available such as engine surveys, oil analysis, galvanic and stray current corrosion testing, ultrasonic testing, moisture testing and other non-destructive tests. Ask ahead of time about any of these services if you know you would like them included in your report, and get advance notice if any of these services carry additional costs. For example, oil samples are sent to offsite third-party labs for testing, which incur additional fees to cover.
Be mindful that, while well-conducted surveys can provide excellent information on the vessels condition, they are not guarantees. The Marine Surveyor accurately reports the condition of accessible areas of the vessel only as they exist at the time of inspection.
What is a Preliminary Inspection?
The preliminary or “first impression” inspection is an informal walkthrough-style assessment of a yacht’s condition. This service is provided for boat shoppers who are unable to view a vessel in person, or generally feel they would benefit from having a knowledgeable surveyor accompany them for a viewing.
The inspection consists of an impartial visual-only assessment of the vessel’s overall condition and whether equipment and inventory match the boat’s listed specifications.
As your inspection report is delivered verbally (in person or over the phone), turnaround is very quick! After this inspection you should have a reasonably good idea as to whether or not a vessel is worth pursuing next steps (if considering a purchase) or walking away.
What is a Condition & Valuation Survey?
This is the most commonly requested survey service, as it is the most comprehensive. It is a detail-oriented, stem-to-stern survey that is meant to uncover and report on any problems that might be intentionally or unintentionally hidden. The C&V Survey is most often performed as a Pre-Purchase Survey, providing valuable information to facilitate a buyer’s decision in purchasing a vessel.
You will be provided with an in-depth inspection of the vessel’s structure, propulsion systems, plumbing, electrical, cosmetic components, and any other systems, accessories, or add-ons installed in the vessel.
Support systems, such as AC/DC electrical, navigation, water systems (potable, gray and black), fuel, propulsion, running gear and climate control are inspected for proper operation and installation. Components that are readily accessible are visually inspected. Tanks are inspected where visible, but are not hydro- or pressure-tested.
Potential issues are investigated, including moisture inspection (looking for signs of water intrusion in fiberglass hulls), thermal imaging readouts (determining potential problems such as bearings, heat exchangers for engine cooling systems, manifolds and/or risers), and oil extraction for lab analysis (looking for signs of excessive engine wear, combustion quality, and contaminants).
To do this, Josh uses the latest, state-of-the-art equipment to provide thorough and accurate reporting, such as the Tramex Skipper 5 Moisture Meter, FLIR ONE Edge Pro Thermal Imaging Camera, Ultrasonic Hull Thickness Gauge, and Zenith Z5 Automotive Diagnostic Scanner.
A bottom inspection and sea trial are also typically performed during this survey to check the vessel’s overall performance and test all of the items associated with the vessel underway (steering, autopilot, nav equipment, etc.). The report also includes a market valuation that is instrumental for insurance purposes.
What is an Insurance Survey?
Before insurance companies can determine whether or not a vessel is an acceptable risk, they may require an insurance survey. This kind of survey focuses on structural integrity and safety for the vessel’s intended use, and generally includes a determination of the vessel’s fair market value.
Other reasons an insurance company may require a survey are for boats older than a certain age, to renew existing insurance, or after damages/loss has been incurred due to an accident or other event for which a claim is being made.
Most often, the vessel is surveyed afloat, the systems and equipment are not operated, the bottom and running gear are not inspected, and the vessel is not sea trialed. However, an insurance company may require additional inspections, depending on their individual policies and the vessel’s age.
What is an Ultrasonic Hull Thickness Survey?
For metal and alloy boat hulls, marine surveyors will take non-destructuve ultrasonic hull thickness measurements to accurately assess the thickness of a vessel’s metal plating, which is crucial for identifying potential problems and ensuring the vessel’s structural integrity.
This form of survey uses rigorous and methodical techniques to ensure accuracy of reporting. The marine surveyor must map out test areas and take multiple readings in each area to ensure accuracy and account for any variations in the thickness of the plating.
Precise measurements of the hull plating & internal framing provide the marine surveyor with an excellent indication of the condition of a vessel. Due to the extensive nature of this form of testing, it is a standalone service.
For more information on ultrasonic thickness testing, click here.
How should I prepare for a marine survey?
To make for a thorough and speedy survey, it’s recommended that the vessel be prepared in the following ways:
- Clean, shipshape and in operable condition. Any gear and equipment should be ready for inspection.
- All papers, records and manuals for the vessel should be on board or made available for the surveyor.
- Lockers and cabin areas should be clear of clutter and miscellaneous gear.
- For sea trial and machinery operation, you must make arrangements for the owner or a captain to be available and where applicable, schedule a marina to haul the vessel for bottom inspection.
- Any disassembly of the vessel to gain access to suspect areas should be performed by qualified personnel and it is the responsibility of the person ordering the survey to make these arrangements (with written authorization of vessel owner).
- A written authorization may be required by the vessel owner before a survey is performed.
How much does a marine survey cost?
The cost of the survey is dependant on several factors: vessel type, age, power, construction, type of survey required, location, time frame and the requirements of the client.
How long does a marine survey take to perform?
The time it takes to perform a thorough inspection depends on the size, orderliness, and complexity of the vessel, yard scheduling conflicts and other factors. A full Condition & Valuation Survey for instance can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days. However, most surveys require a full day to complete.
When do I receive my written survey report?
Josh reviews the most pertinent findings with the client once the inspection has been completed.
Typically, the written report will be available within 48 hours, unless there are an excessive number of findings or other unusual circumstances. Written reports are delivered to the client via email as a PDF attachment.
What is a moisture inspection?
A moisture inspection involves inspecting areas of a vessel where water intrusion is known or suspected.
To identify suspect areas, a marine surveyor will look for telltale signs in the vessel hull such as dark areas, dimpling, softness, warping, and blisters, paying special attention to areas around bedded thru-hull and other fittings where water has an opportunity to ingress into the hull core.
Once suspect areas are identified, Josh will use modern, state-of-the-art equipment – the Tramex Skipper 5 Marine Moisture Meter (see video below for details) – to determine the extent and cause of water intrusion.
What is ultrasonic thickness testing?
An Ultrasonic (“audio-gauge”) Thickness Meter is used to help determine if there is any degradation of steel or aluminum hull material (wastage of plating material), which affects the structural integrity of a vessel.
Ultrasound thickness measurement involves the use of high-frequency sound waves to penetrate the steel plating of a vessel and measure the thickness of the material. The sound waves are sent out from a transducer, which is placed on the surface of the steel plating. The waves then bounce back off the steel and are picked up by the transducer, which calculates the thickness of the material based on the time it takes for the waves to travel through the steel and return.
After determining key areas on the vessel where readings will be taken, the marine surveyor will take numerous ultrasonic-thickness measurements to build a picture of the average plate thickness of an area.
After the readings have been taken, the marine surveyor will analyze the data to identify any areas where the hull plating is thinner than it should be. This may indicate corrosion or other forms of damage that need to be addressed.
This kind of testing is particularly useful when integral fuel, fresh water, grey and black-water tanks cannot be accessed for visual inspection.
What is thermal imaging and Why is it used?
Infrared thermal imaging in marine surveying enables marine surveyors to identify potential problems that may not be detectable with the naked eye or using traditional surveying tools and equipment. This type of imaging is ideal for observing temperature anomalies that are abnormal in machinery, electrical equipment, and even solids such as wood, fiberglass, aluminum, and steel.
A marine surveyor will look for thermal anomolies with boat systems such as heat exchangers for engine cooling systems, manifolds and/or risers. Coolant blockages, clogged seawater filters, porous impellers or corrosion damage to heat exchangers and cooling lines can quickly lead to a reduction in cooling performance and costly damage.
Josh uses modern, state-of-the-art equipment – the FLIR ONE Edge Pro Thermal Imaging Camera – to produce high quality thermal images which he is then able to analyze to identify potential hazards and issues.