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Gordon Wedman August 26th 06 08:46 PM

recommended surveyors in San Diego
 
Considering the purchase of a boat in San Diego and am looking for
recommendations on surveyors.
I have been told the going rate is $10/foot and haulout is also about the
same.
Looking for someone that will do a thorough job for the money.
Thanks.



chuck August 27th 06 12:33 AM

recommended surveyors in San Diego
 
Contact BoatUS and ask for a copy of their approved surveyors in your
area. These are the ones approved for their insurance purposes.



Gordon Wedman wrote:
Considering the purchase of a boat in San Diego and am looking for
recommendations on surveyors.
I have been told the going rate is $10/foot and haulout is also about the
same.
Looking for someone that will do a thorough job for the money.
Thanks.



~^ beancounter ~^ August 27th 06 06:24 PM

recommended surveyors in San Diego
 
is boats us worth the $$ to join? are there ins rates
good?....thanx...


chuck wrote:
Contact BoatUS and ask for a copy of their approved surveyors in your
area. These are the ones approved for their insurance purposes.



Gordon Wedman wrote:
Considering the purchase of a boat in San Diego and am looking for
recommendations on surveyors.
I have been told the going rate is $10/foot and haulout is also about the
same.
Looking for someone that will do a thorough job for the money.
Thanks.



[email protected] August 28th 06 05:48 AM

recommended surveyors in San Diego
 

chuck wrote:
Contact BoatUS and ask for a copy of their approved surveyors in your
area. These are the ones approved for their insurance purposes.



Gordon Wedman wrote:
Considering the purchase of a boat in San Diego and am looking for
recommendations on surveyors.
I have been told the going rate is $10/foot and haulout is also about the
same.
Looking for someone that will do a thorough job for the money.
Thanks.


Thanks for the suggestion. I see they have a Marine Surveyors
Directory which lists a number of surveyors for Southern California
including two in San Diego. I also see the following disclaimer:

"NOTE: BoatUS does not endorse or guarantee the performance of
surveyors. No warranties, expressed or implied are intended or created
by this listing. Any questions regarding the scope of the surveyor's
inspection the cost, or the content of their reports should be
discussed with the surveyor."

This makes me think anyone can be listed if they pay. Nevertheless I
will contact the two San Diego listings to see what they offer.


Mark August 29th 06 04:45 AM

recommended surveyors in San Diego
 
Gordon Wedman wrote:
Considering the purchase of a boat in San Diego and am looking for
recommendations on surveyors.


One outfit I would *not* recommend is Christian & Co. They have a big
name and may have been good long ago, when Kells Christian himself did
did the small pleasurecraft C&V surveys, but later I learned he's
moved on to bigger and better things (commercial craft) and I had a
disappointing experience with them. Sort of a "bait and switch" con.

I needed an SAMS(?) accredited marine surveyor, and Kells has been one
since '94, so I hired him. Imagine my surprise when a local guy who
makes his living "workin' on boats" around the harbor showed up, not
listed as SAMS certified on the SAMS site. When I inquired he said,
"That don't mean a surveyor is any good."

Should have put a stop to it right there, but to make a long story
short, he erred on my boat's dimensions, engine horsepower, identified
my alcohol stove as a propane stove, labelled the deck coring material
as "unknown" when it was easily visible by unzipping any headliner,
listed one engine blower when there's two, miscounted the winches and
their sizes, miscounted the anchors, etc., etc. And the boat is a
common design whose manfacturer was located 50 miles north of San
Diego.

He even had the gall to ask, " Hey, you've got a lot of sails on this
boat, could you list them and their condition for me?" He then
couldn't even transcribe my list correctly and misreported the sail
count and types. Also took almost a month to get around to finishing
the survey. When I got it, it was also obvious he wasn't in command of
the English language, so I complained (to the phone secretary) and she
requested I correct the errors, send the edited version to them, and
they'll revise the survey. I'm acting as their free QA/QC service?
What am I paying $350 for? Version II was still messed up (apparently
I own no mainsails and am missing 2 winches), but I gave up and moved
on. Didn't hear from the insurance company so I guess I passed.

Unlike other surveys I've had done in the past, the final product was a
pile of hazy fluff with only 3 recommendations like "Paint rust spots
on engine." During the purchase survey I had done, Peter Britton, the
surveyor, spent 4 hours going through every inch of the boat (requested
I remove as many non-CG required items as possible from lockers prior
to survey), dragged a hunk of sail out of every bag, and was one dirty
tired guy when he was done. His survey actually described the boat
completely, with dimensions (right down to chain lengths, halyard
materials, etc., etc.) and equipment manufacturer's names, locations of
gelcoat crazing, caught a cracked lifeline swage, etc.

His recommendations list was 28 items long, divided into 3 sections -
Mandatory, Recommended, and Suggested. A lot of them were quite
incisive and news to me. He also sat down with me, answered all my
questions, and chit-chatted with me about this particular model of
boat, of which he had surveyed several dozen of over the years. That
survey was money well spent, although cleaning up after him was a
chore; if something was in the way, he threw it on the bunks or cabin
sole.

Obviously, the Christian guy spent less than an hour, didn't crack open
a locker or spend much time on the paperwork. Tried to discuss the
situation with Kells, but he didn't give a sh*t and said it was
standard industry practice. Waste of my time and money.

Sorry I don't have a surveyor to recommend; Peter Britton up in
Fountain Valley is getting on in years and doesn't like to travel much
anymore. Might even be retired now for all I know.


Gordon Wedman August 29th 06 06:03 PM

recommended surveyors in San Diego
 

"Mark" wrote in message
ups.com...
Gordon Wedman wrote:
Considering the purchase of a boat in San Diego and am looking for
recommendations on surveyors.


One outfit I would *not* recommend is Christian & Co. They have a big
name and may have been good long ago, when Kells Christian himself did
did the small pleasurecraft C&V surveys, but later I learned he's
moved on to bigger and better things (commercial craft) and I had a
disappointing experience with them. Sort of a "bait and switch" con.

I needed an SAMS(?) accredited marine surveyor, and Kells has been one
since '94, so I hired him. Imagine my surprise when a local guy who
makes his living "workin' on boats" around the harbor showed up, not
listed as SAMS certified on the SAMS site. When I inquired he said,
"That don't mean a surveyor is any good."

Should have put a stop to it right there, but to make a long story
short, he erred on my boat's dimensions, engine horsepower, identified
my alcohol stove as a propane stove, labelled the deck coring material
as "unknown" when it was easily visible by unzipping any headliner,
listed one engine blower when there's two, miscounted the winches and
their sizes, miscounted the anchors, etc., etc. And the boat is a
common design whose manfacturer was located 50 miles north of San
Diego.

He even had the gall to ask, " Hey, you've got a lot of sails on this
boat, could you list them and their condition for me?" He then
couldn't even transcribe my list correctly and misreported the sail
count and types. Also took almost a month to get around to finishing
the survey. When I got it, it was also obvious he wasn't in command of
the English language, so I complained (to the phone secretary) and she
requested I correct the errors, send the edited version to them, and
they'll revise the survey. I'm acting as their free QA/QC service?
What am I paying $350 for? Version II was still messed up (apparently
I own no mainsails and am missing 2 winches), but I gave up and moved
on. Didn't hear from the insurance company so I guess I passed.

Unlike other surveys I've had done in the past, the final product was a
pile of hazy fluff with only 3 recommendations like "Paint rust spots
on engine." During the purchase survey I had done, Peter Britton, the
surveyor, spent 4 hours going through every inch of the boat (requested
I remove as many non-CG required items as possible from lockers prior
to survey), dragged a hunk of sail out of every bag, and was one dirty
tired guy when he was done. His survey actually described the boat
completely, with dimensions (right down to chain lengths, halyard
materials, etc., etc.) and equipment manufacturer's names, locations of
gelcoat crazing, caught a cracked lifeline swage, etc.

His recommendations list was 28 items long, divided into 3 sections -
Mandatory, Recommended, and Suggested. A lot of them were quite
incisive and news to me. He also sat down with me, answered all my
questions, and chit-chatted with me about this particular model of
boat, of which he had surveyed several dozen of over the years. That
survey was money well spent, although cleaning up after him was a
chore; if something was in the way, he threw it on the bunks or cabin
sole.

Obviously, the Christian guy spent less than an hour, didn't crack open
a locker or spend much time on the paperwork. Tried to discuss the
situation with Kells, but he didn't give a sh*t and said it was
standard industry practice. Waste of my time and money.

Sorry I don't have a surveyor to recommend; Peter Britton up in
Fountain Valley is getting on in years and doesn't like to travel much
anymore. Might even be retired now for all I know.


Mark
Thanks for the note. I see Christian and Company is listed in the Boat US
Directory of Marine Surveyors. If I decide to use them I will insist on a
SAMS or NAMS accreditied surveyor.
I wonder if Peter Britton might recommend someone? Sounds like he did a
terrific job and maybe he knows someone who would do the same. Any contact
info?
Thanks



Mark August 29th 06 07:26 PM

recommended surveyors in San Diego
 

Gordon Wedman wrote:

I wonder if Peter Britton might recommend someone? . . . Any contact
info?


A quick web search:

Peter Britton NAMS-CMS Marine Surveyor Fountain Valley CA 714-531-2444


map August 29th 06 07:56 PM

recommended surveyors in San Diego
 
I did use Christian about 5 months ago and he did an ok job for me.
He showed up and did the survey himself and then went over the survey
with me.
My issue with him was: actual charge vrs quote...don't remember exactly
how but I ended up paying more than what I was quoted (might have been
my broker's mistake). To be fair I have to say that he caught an issue
on one engine that the engines' surveyors didn't catch.
If you get him to do the job, make sure he explains to you his quote,
try to be there while does the survey and then be very careful when
reading the report, ask as many questions as you can.
M.

He was persona
Gordon Wedman wrote:
"Mark" wrote in message
ups.com...
Gordon Wedman wrote:
Considering the purchase of a boat in San Diego and am looking for
recommendations on surveyors.


One outfit I would *not* recommend is Christian & Co. They have a big
name and may have been good long ago, when Kells Christian himself did
did the small pleasurecraft C&V surveys, but later I learned he's
moved on to bigger and better things (commercial craft) and I had a
disappointing experience with them. Sort of a "bait and switch" con.

I needed an SAMS(?) accredited marine surveyor, and Kells has been one
since '94, so I hired him. Imagine my surprise when a local guy who
makes his living "workin' on boats" around the harbor showed up, not
listed as SAMS certified on the SAMS site. When I inquired he said,
"That don't mean a surveyor is any good."

Should have put a stop to it right there, but to make a long story
short, he erred on my boat's dimensions, engine horsepower, identified
my alcohol stove as a propane stove, labelled the deck coring material
as "unknown" when it was easily visible by unzipping any headliner,
listed one engine blower when there's two, miscounted the winches and
their sizes, miscounted the anchors, etc., etc. And the boat is a
common design whose manfacturer was located 50 miles north of San
Diego.

He even had the gall to ask, " Hey, you've got a lot of sails on this
boat, could you list them and their condition for me?" He then
couldn't even transcribe my list correctly and misreported the sail
count and types. Also took almost a month to get around to finishing
the survey. When I got it, it was also obvious he wasn't in command of
the English language, so I complained (to the phone secretary) and she
requested I correct the errors, send the edited version to them, and
they'll revise the survey. I'm acting as their free QA/QC service?
What am I paying $350 for? Version II was still messed up (apparently
I own no mainsails and am missing 2 winches), but I gave up and moved
on. Didn't hear from the insurance company so I guess I passed.

Unlike other surveys I've had done in the past, the final product was a
pile of hazy fluff with only 3 recommendations like "Paint rust spots
on engine." During the purchase survey I had done, Peter Britton, the
surveyor, spent 4 hours going through every inch of the boat (requested
I remove as many non-CG required items as possible from lockers prior
to survey), dragged a hunk of sail out of every bag, and was one dirty
tired guy when he was done. His survey actually described the boat
completely, with dimensions (right down to chain lengths, halyard
materials, etc., etc.) and equipment manufacturer's names, locations of
gelcoat crazing, caught a cracked lifeline swage, etc.

His recommendations list was 28 items long, divided into 3 sections -
Mandatory, Recommended, and Suggested. A lot of them were quite
incisive and news to me. He also sat down with me, answered all my
questions, and chit-chatted with me about this particular model of
boat, of which he had surveyed several dozen of over the years. That
survey was money well spent, although cleaning up after him was a
chore; if something was in the way, he threw it on the bunks or cabin
sole.

Obviously, the Christian guy spent less than an hour, didn't crack open
a locker or spend much time on the paperwork. Tried to discuss the
situation with Kells, but he didn't give a sh*t and said it was
standard industry practice. Waste of my time and money.

Sorry I don't have a surveyor to recommend; Peter Britton up in
Fountain Valley is getting on in years and doesn't like to travel much
anymore. Might even be retired now for all I know.


Mark
Thanks for the note. I see Christian and Company is listed in the Boat US
Directory of Marine Surveyors. If I decide to use them I will insist on a
SAMS or NAMS accreditied surveyor.
I wonder if Peter Britton might recommend someone? Sounds like he did a
terrific job and maybe he knows someone who would do the same. Any contact
info?
Thanks



Gordon Wedman August 30th 06 08:43 PM

recommended surveyors in San Diego
 

"Mark" wrote in message
oups.com...

Gordon Wedman wrote:

I wonder if Peter Britton might recommend someone? . . . Any contact
info?


A quick web search:

Peter Britton NAMS-CMS Marine Surveyor Fountain Valley CA 714-531-2444

Thanks Mark and map.
I'll give Peter a call if it gets to the survey stage. Going to make an
offer next week to get the negotiations going.




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