If the seller is not willing to pay to have the boat put in the water for a
test run (and allow the survey to occur while in the water the same day),
then he is not interested in selling the boat. I would never pay at a
marina to have a boat put in the water so I can test drive it when the boat
is stored there.

As others have stated, buyer pays for the survey.
Seller pays to get it in the water for a test and the fuel (you should not
be burning much fuel on a test run of maybe a couple miles).

Now if your planning on doing a test drive on say Saturday and the survey
will not occur until another day - you would need to possibly pay for the
second put-in for the surveyor. You should coordinate so all occurs the
same day.

I have sold several boats and I have always towed it to the lake and paid to
launch for the test ride.

--
Tony
my boats at http://t.thomas.home.mchsi.com

"vze3j5ge" wrote in message
...
My husband and I are considering purchase of a used boat - currently out
of the water at our marina. We've spoken to a marine surveyor we might
hire who says that the engine can be tested to some extent on land but
that we really should put the boat in the water and check it out. Seems
reasonable - but my question is one about procedure. Who usually pays
for the marina to put boat in and take it out again in such a case -
buyer or seller?

Thanks for any help.

Elaine