Finding a Qualified Surveyor
If you’ve already read our boatsforboaters.com article on the benefits of getting a marine survey then you know it takes a qualified surveyor to get the job done right. How do you find a good marine surveyor?
There are many marine surveyors available and most are easily found through word of mouth, phone and Internet directories, and boating publications. If you are working with a boat broker or dealer they will most likely have names of surveyors to recommend. Or, if you are looking at boats on your own you can contact brokers for names of surveyors.
There are also several professional organizations. The Society of Marine Surveyors, Association of Certified Marine Surveyors and National Association of Marine Surveyors each require their members to meet certain rigorous standards of training and experience. All of these groups offer lists of surveyors and each has a website which you can access from our Boating Links section. Surveyors are used to traveling so don’t be afraid to call one who is not in your immediate area.
So, finding a surveyor should be relatively easy. However, beware of the unqualified masquerading as the real thing. There are a lot of "boaties" out there who have lived the boating life and consider themselves experts. They may even come recommended by someone who should know better. Always ask for a surveyor’s credentials and get a few references since you’ll be putting your money and your safety on the line when you accept a survey. The safest default position is to not use anyone who isn’t certified and a member of one of the above organizations.
Hiring the surveyor is pretty straightforward, with a few twists. Tell them about the boat your are looking at in advance so they can decide if it’s within their general expertise to look at it. Some surveyors focus on powerboats, others sailboats, some may prefer to work with larger boats versus smaller. Interview them to get a reading on their experience level and background. Some surveyors come with a long boat industry background, while others may have simply gone to school and launched their career. One is not necessarily better or worse than the other—you simply ought to know. Finally, ask for references to other boats they’ve surveyed. If they tend to get their work through brokers, ask for those names.
Once you’ve picked a surveyor, ask how they go about doing the survey. Get a sample report and see how well written it is. Is it clearly broken down into sections reflecting the different parts of a boat? Does the survey cite how to correct deficiencies that are discovered? Does the surveyor cite various codes and regulations to back up his findings? If you can’t understand it you may not want the survey done by them. Ask if the surveyor will be bringing in other professionals to look at things like the engine(s) or sophisticated electronics and rigging. This can provide a more in-depth survey for you, but will cost you extra as the professional will charge for the inspection time and creation of a separate report. Last but not least, ask how much the survey will cost and when the surveyor wants to get paid.
How a survey is accomplished is covered in our article Boat Surveys and Surveyors. Use the survey as a learning experience even if you decide not to buy the boat you are looking at. This will help you become more confident with your initial assessment of the next boat you want to buy.