$10-15/ft is typical-with a $400 minimum + engine analysis
($10/cylinder). This would be a 4 hour+ survey of the boat and
typically requires it to be hauled out at your expense. These surveys
are done by certified marine surveyors and they are accepted by
insurance companies for risk purposes. That said, I doubt you would
get a surveyor to come out and do a quickey survey. To much risk for to
little money. Is 10% of the boats value worth knowing it is in good
shape? Your call.... If the answer is No....
Do you have any boating friends who are very handy and been at the game
for many years? Or, assuming this is a power boat, go over to the
nearest charter boat area (such as Key Biscayne or Coconut Grove) and
find an established captain and offer him a hundred bucks to spend a
couple hours with you on a day his boat is not charted. THEN also pay a
marine mechanic who specializes in that type of engine take a look as
well. (Expect to pay $65/hr). Ask him if can do a compression test
(assuming they are gas)and a quick overview in an hour. If the
compression is good AND she will turn up to max RPM, then there is a
good chance the major stuff is OK. If the boat is out of the water,
they can check for below waterline issues such as blisters and softspots
as well.

In Broward County, Ed Rowe is one of the best surveyors around. I have
used him on 4 boats and he ALWAYS pays for himself. (In otherwords, his
report has allowed me to renegotiate the price with the owner due to a
long list of minor items). (BTW...fellow spam-haters.. my name is Ed
but I am NOT the surveyer I am suggesting)





wrote:
Hello.

Captians - what's a fair price to pay somebody who will perform a 30
minute pre-purchase inspection of a boat your paying $6500 for? And
then give you a 2 hour training (about 1 hour in the water) on general
boating and boat maintenance on your new boat.

Thanks.