On Nov 23, 1:51*pm, Vic Smith wrote:
Another thread touched on this, and it may deserve more than it got.
It was suggested that one can do their own survey.
Let's eliminate boat newbies. *They need a surveyor.
I always buy used cars. *I never take them to a mechanic, because I
know my used cars. *I trust myself. *I never burned myself once I knew
used cars. *When I was inexperienced I bought a couple lemons.
That's why I learned all about used cars.
I don't expect others to follow my path with cars.
But a sailor is different than a typical car driver.
His life relies on his transport. *His boat.
An experienced sailor should know how to survey a boat himself -
maybe. *Since I don't have a boat yet, I sure can't speak as an
experienced sailor.
But from what I've read about what surveyors do, and from what I've
gleaned from the experienced sailors here, it seems there are many
writing here that know more about glass, gear, electrics, rigging, and
rot than the typical surveyor.
Many here may be somewhat weak on engines, but does the surveyor
typically do a compression test and oil analysis?
Does he check all engine linkages?
Does he reveal electric wiring or test electronics that you can't do.
Does he point out a sail tear you can't see?
Does he run his hand over cable for frays where you can't or see rust
that you can't see?
Tell you something about rope you don't know?
Does he do anything WON'T do before you cast off?
Is it seeing loose tabs, hull voids, core rot?
Does he give you a guarantee/warrantee on the inspection?
Or is it mostly a second-opinion/peace-of-mind feel you get?
The bank sent an "appraiser inspector" to examine my house as part
of the mortgage requirements some years ago. *The guy couldn't tell
me anything new that I didn't know from my own inspection, and missed
plenty I saw. *Cost the bank a few hundred for that - passed along to
me no doubt.
Like to hear from the experienced boat owners here.
Might learn something.

--Vic *

for me it depends on what i am doing with the boat. if i am picking up
a boat to reloft it and rebuild it i dont get a survey because im just
gonna rip the boat apart and any rot will come to light. if i plan on
doing some fixup and flip work i get a survey to find out if there are
problems i have over looked and to see if the price is worth the
headach. if i am buying a plastic boat i tend to not get a survey
because i am almost obligated to rip the transom and house off of the
boat and fix the rot issues. (never seen a plastic boat that didnt
have rot issues in these places) If i am getting a boat to use with my
students i dont get a survey because i am going to take the boat apart
and rebuild it and each problem i run into i use as a teaching point.
surveyers are best used when you are plunking down a bunch of cash and
want to negotiate price. good surveyers can find problems that you and
the seller may not have looked at (soft places next to the keel, rot
under pipes, electrical problems, keel cooler problems, rot under the
mast step, ETC.)

steel boats i always get surveyed no matter the size, or what i am
going to do with it. to much can hide under paint and i dont want to
waste time kneedle gunning the entire hull if i dont have to. engines
are another always have surveyed deal I want a list of all the stuff
wrong with the power plant and a good mech on hand to let me know if i
ought to pull it or fix it.
I dont get electrical surveys done at all, ever. there is not a used
boat on earth that does not need all the electrical ripped out and
replaced.

I tend to get anything over twenty feet looked at after i do a fix up
and go to great lengths to have a clean bill when i am done. I have
one set of eyes, it is valuable to me to have another set being
critical of my work and to see that i have not overlooked something.

for smaller boats i let the buyer get a surveyer to look it over and
urge them to find one out of area. I have a good rep with the guys and
gals in this area and that can cause problems if i want to make a
honest deal, after all these folks know i want to sell the boat and i
am friends with them so the trend is for them to give me the benifit
of the doubt.

some boats the best guy to hire is not a surveyer. rather a marine
archetect would do you a better job. many old steel boats have been
refit over the years and sometimes stability is comprimised or the
boat is no longer able to be sailed in fresh water. some sailboats
have to big of rig, to small a rig, wrong angles for standing rigging,
bad rake, under sized sticks, whimpy mast steps, over all bad design,
a bunch of other stuff that a surveyer will not catch. the archetects
job is to run the numbers, find the flaws and let you know.

the weakness of getting a survey or having an archetect go over things
is that some folks consider them to be the last word, allow them to
make decisions, or give opinions. not good when buying a boat you want
advise and data not opinions.