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Boat Inspection Palm Beach – What Type of Marine Survey Do You Need?

At some point in time, as a boat owner you will need a boat inspection Palm Beach. The inspection may be because you plan on selling your boat, you are buying a new boat or need a survey report for the purposes of insurance or to present to financial companies. Whatever the case, it is always good to know what type of survey you need. To help with this, we have discussed the various types of surveys available.

Condition & value survey

The condition and value survey is the most comprehensive type of boat inspection Palm Beach. It provides the client with an informed, professional opinion of a boat’s condition as well as a fair market value. The survey includes in-depth visual inspection of the structural integrity, safety of equipment and all miscellaneous onboard systems. An out of water hull inspection and a sea trial will also be done. At the end of the inspection, the marine surveyor will send you a written report of the condition & value survey. This will give detailed information on the boat and includes a list of noted discrepancies or variations. The report also includes a recommendation section which lists maintenance, safety and repair items that ought to be addressed.

Insurance survey

The purpose of an insurance survey is to help underwriters determine the condition and insurability of a vessel. The survey may be required either for an initial policy issuance or renewal. The focus of an insurance survey is the structural integrity, safety as well as an inspection of the systems installed on the vessel. The safety gear will also be inspected and noted to ensure compliance with the federal requirements and pertinent identification information will be recorded for future reference, valuation as well as claims adjustment. A survey report will also be given.

Appraisal Inspection

A boat inspection Palm Beach can be done to determine the fair market value of a boat. This inspection is known as an appraisal inspection. An inspection may be required during financing, donations, estate settlements, legal cases and so on. Focus here is to get an overall impression of the boat’s condition. The survey is less in-depth and the survey report only gives general comments on the condition of the boat and the estimated fair market value.

Damage survey

If your boat was involved in an accident or was caught up in a storm, a damage survey can be done to determine the extent of damage to the vessel. This survey can also be done on a used boat to help know the repairs that will be required and the estimated cost of the repairs. A damage survey can also be used to determine the probable cause of an accident. When filing a damage claim, the insurance company will send a surveyor who will represent the interests of the insurance company. You can hire your own surveyor to inspect the damages and make recommendations.

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Marine Surveyor Palm Beach – Why Do You Need a Marine Survey?

Are you planning on buying a used boat? Do you want to know the exact condition of your boat? Do you want to get financing against your boat or get insurance? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you definitely need to reach out to a marine surveyor Palm Beach. But why exactly do you need a boat survey?

Get a better understanding of your prospective purchase

When buying a boat, getting a marine survey is not required. You can buy a used boat without hiring a boat surveyor. The problem with this is you will not know precisely if you are making a sound investment or not. Hiring a trained marine surveyor Palm Beach will help you get a thorough inspection of the boat from the stem to stern. The inspection will provide you with detailed insights as well as instill confidence knowing you are making a great decision buying that boat.

A boat survey report that is provided by a boat surveyor is an assurance of the condition of the vessel you are about to buy. Don’t rely on web content and photos as these are meant to promote only the positive aspects of the boat. Any information you get from the seller will also not focus on the critical issues that the boat may have. That is why you need a survey report which is done by a professional who is objective. A boat survey report will further provide carefully research current fair market as well as replacement cost values using trusted resources which are not available to the public.

Depending on a boat’s accessibility, a typical boat survey includes out-of-water as well as bottom inspection. The surveyor will also take a look at the onboard systems and also perform a sea trial. You will be provided with a full cosmetic and structural analysis, list of findings as well as recommendations. All this will give you a better understanding of the boat you are about to buy.

For the purposes of financing or insurance

If you don’t have the money to purchase a boat, lenders will require a survey to be done. This is usually done to determine the precise value of a boat. The lender will use the survey report to determine how much they should lend you.

For the purposes of insurance, you will be required to get a boat survey. Insurance companies usually have areas that have to be covered in an inspection. You need to make sure that you find a marine surveyor Palm Beach that will be accepted by your insurance company. You also need to request a list of things that the insurance company want to be included in the survey.

Bearing in mind buying a boat is a huge investment, you want to be certain you are not buying a doomed boat. It is the job of the marine surveyor to ensure you are not making a mistake.

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Boat Inspector Palm Beach – What You Should Know About Pre-Purchase Boat Surveys

A boat survey is needed when buying a used boat. However, to take the full advantage of the services of a boat inspector Palm Beach, you have to get a deeper understanding of what is involved in a boat survey. In this post we will be looking at the survey guidelines followed by surveyors, the scope of a pre-purchase survey and what you should do to get the most out of the survey.

Guidelines followed by boat surveyors

Bearing in mind a boat inspector Palm Beach will only listen and observe, it is easy to assume that he or she will cut corners when performing a marine survey. This is not true. A qualified boat surveyor is required to adhere to the Code of Federal Regulations (also referred to as the Coast Guard regulations). These regulations cover the minimal requirements for sanitation, navigation lights, safety equipment, electrical and fuel systems and engine.

The surveyor also has to adhere to the American Boat and Yacht Council Standards. These are recommendations that carry a lot of weight more so after an accident or if a failure ends up in court. Additional standards that surveyors have to follow include those from the National Fire Protection Agency and the Offshore Special Regulations. While the surveyor does make judgement calls, he must first adhere to regulations from a multitude of sources depending on the boat being inspected.

Scope of a Survey

A marine survey is a snapshot of the condition of a boat at the specific time it is being inspected. That is why you should never rely on old surveys. You also need to remember that the type of survey performed will be influenced by market forces which have created a ‘normal’ pre-purchase ‘condition and value’ survey.

A classic survey routine begins with a slip. The haul and bottom are cleaned and an inspection done once the boat dries up. The boat is re-launched and the boat inspector Palm Beach performs a sea trial. The surveyor will have to modify the routine depending on the weather. If the weather is too bad, the survey may be rescheduled.

At the end of the survey, the surveyor will write a report with a description of the boat and its systems, findings and recommendations, statement of the vessel’s overall condition and the fair market and replacement value of the boat.

How to get the most out of a boat survey

Whether you are buying or selling a boat, to get the most out of the survey you must first ensure you hire a reputable surveyor. Second, you need to get the boat ready for the survey by decluttering and making the necessary boat yard arrangements. You should also be present during the survey to help the boat inspector Palm Beach do his job and ask any question you may have.

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How to Find the Best Boat Surveyors Palm Beach

Ask ten boat surveyors Palm Beacha marine survey question and you will get eleven different answers. To be a smart consumer of boat survey services, it helps to understand surveyors themselves as well as realize that every boat is different. You also have to keep in mind that there are no specific requirements or licenses required for a person to becomes a boat surveyor.

Anybody can call themselves a boat surveyor. The only difference is that being an unqualified surveyor means you will not be able to attract as many customers and insurance and finance companies will be unwilling to accept reports from you. with that out of the way, let’s take a look at the key considerations you need to make when searching for qualified boat surveyors Palm Beach.

Consider the surveyor’s background

Marine surveyors come from various backgrounds. Some have been boat owners themselves while other specialize in the inspection of specific types of boats. The ideal surveyors to work with are those with a considerable amount of experience working in the boating or boat building industry. Second, you have to ensure that the surveyor you are considering has experience surveying the type of boat you own or intend on buying. If they have surveyed boats similar to yours, they will be able to find their way around the boat and spot problems easily. If the surveyor is inspecting a racing sailboat for the first time, you can expect to get an average survey. When buying a used boat, you don’t want an average survey, do you?

Checking the website of a boat surveyor will give you a feel of their backgrounds as well as their area of familiarity. While on their website, find out if they have ever surveyed the make and model of boat that you are considering. If they have, contact them and ask about what they look for when surveying a boat like yours. Asking for a sample report will help you get a feel of the approach they use in boat surveys.

Availability

Now that you are certain the boat surveyors Palm Beach on your listhave what it takes to give you a detailed report, the next step is to narrow down your list. The first thing you need to do here is to check the availability of the surveyor. If they are too busy, some surveyors will decline your request. If they do, ask if they have anyone in the area that they can recommend.

The key to finding the best marine surveyors in Palm Beach is to find the perfect match between the surveyor and the specific boat you want to be surveyed. Never rush the process and always stick with the survey you feel confident working with.

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Points to Remember Before a Boat Inspection Palm Beach

Are you ready for a boat inspection Palm Beach? If you are, you probably have already zeroed in on some of the best marine surveyors in the area. You have also done the math on how long the survey will take and compiled a list of things your surveyor will do. All this is, however, not enough. There are a couple more things every boat surveyor wishes you would do.

Do not rush the process

As a boat owner in need of an urgent boat inspection Palm Beach, you definitely want the survey to be done as soon as possible. What most people don’t understand is that even if the boat surveyor is available at the time you call him, delays are often unavoidable. This is due to the fact that surveys are usually done outside. The weather is a major concern. Moisture meters are not much good when used in the rain.

Away from the weather, the boat will need to be handled by a boatyard. Moving the boat and other items out of the way may cause further delays. The boat owner has to make arrangements for the sea-trial too. All these things cause unavoidable delays.

Prepare sufficiently for the inspection

The mistake most boat owners make is that of not taking the time to get their boat ready for the inspection. For starters, the boat owner or representative has to be aboard in order to guide the surveyor around the boat. Second, it is the job of the owner or owner’s representative to use tools to remove panels and to make it easy to access areas around the boat. The work of the surveyor is simply to observe and listen.

When getting ready for the boat inspection Palm Beach, you need to remove all the unnecessary gear out of the way and clean the vessel. Doing so will make it easier for the surveyor to assess the boat. Don’t force the boat surveyor to work around obstacles because that will only get in the way of his work.

The sea-trial

The purpose of a sea-trial is to evaluate the operation of the vessel. If you are not familiar with the vessel, you should arrange for someone to drive the boat. You also need to have as few people aboard as possible during the sea-trial. You also need to ensure all the hatches are up because the surveyor will walk in and out of every place on the boat. The less people you have aboard the easier it will be for the surveyor to do his work.

Leave the surveyor out of the negotiation process

Last but not least, unless you asked the surveyor to help with the negotiations, you should try leave him out. Surveyors generally talk only about the survey to their client.

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Marine Surveyors Palm Beach – What You Must Understand About a Marine Survey

There are always some important points marine surveyors Palm Beachwish their clients knew. That way they would be able to avoid the myriad questions asked when performing a survey. If you are getting ready for a boat survey or need help with a valuation, there are a couple of things every marine surveyor wishes you already knew. They include the following.

The only good survey is the one you get today

The worst mistake you can ever make is that of relying on an old survey. This is a common mistake new boat owners make. They assume that since the current owner had a survey performed a few months ago the information in the report still hold. This is never the case. The condition of a boat can be changed by so many things including hailstorms. To understand the exact condition of a boat, you need to bring in marine surveyors Palm Beach to perform a new survey. If you want to get the boat insured, most insurance companies require that you have a survey that is less than six months old.

Never miss your own survey

A marine survey is more like your own wedding; you have to be there. Although it is possible to ask a friend to stand in for you, it is always good to be on site while the survey is being done. Attending the survey will give you the chance to ask all the questions you may have and the surveyor will be able to ask you questions that helps him understand your boat even better. You also need to be around to show the surveyor around your boat and move items out of the way.

Experience is king

Never make the mistake of selecting a marine surveyor simply because he is affordable. When it comes to boat surveys, experience always trumps price. It is vital that you find a surveyor that has experience assessing boats similar to the one you have. That way he will not rely on guesswork or give you an incomplete survey report. Examine the reputation of a marine surveyor before hiring. Too many negative reviews are a red flag.

A survey is not a pass or a fail

A marine survey is never a test. The boat you are considering will not pass or fail the test. Marine surveyors Palm Beach simply evaluate the boat to determine if it is acceptable to the buyer. Insurance companies can use the survey to give a list of corrective actions that have to be done in order to provide coverage.

The above are the most important points you have to keep in mind when getting ready for a marine survey. For the most comprehensive surveys, you have to hire a reputable surveyor that has worked on boats similar to yours.

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Boat Surveyor Palm Beach – Answers to Great Questions About Marine Surveys

Have you ever worked with a boat surveyor Palm Beachbefore or is now the first time you are considering the option? If this is your first time thinking about working with a marine surveyor, you definitely have a lot of questions in your mind. How much will it cost? How long will the survey last? What do I need to provide to the surveyor? These are all questions that can only be answered by the surveyor you are planning on hiring. Each surveyor will give you a different answer. There are, however, other questions that have somewhat the same answers. They include the following.

What does a marine surveyor do?

Prior to hiring a boat surveyor Palm Beach, you want to understand clearly what it is that he or she does. The main duty of a marine surveyor is to thoroughly evaluate a marine vessel and provide you with a detailed report. The surveyor can help you understand the overall condition of the boat and the ideal market value. A surveyor can also be hired for the purposes of insurance. With many different types of surveys being available, you want to discuss at length the type of services that the marine surveyor offers. You also need to understand that your insurance provider may require you to work with a specific marine surveyor and check specific items.

How do you prepare for a marine survey?

To get ready for a marine survey, you need to remove all the unnecessary gear from the boat. The idea is to leave the boat free of clutter so that the surveyor can find his way around the boat with ease. the bilge as well as all the machinery need to be clean. Make sure you bring all the necessary keys and get all the necessary permissions for a sea-trial to be completed.

Should I attend the marine survey?

Your boat surveyor Palm Beach will need someone familiar with the vessel to open the locks and grant permission. You should, therefore, be present during the survey. Being present gives you the chance to get any clarification you need as the surveyor works. If you cannot be available for the survey, provide your contact information to the surveyor and if possible have someone around to guide the surveyor around your boat.

How often do I need a marine survey?

How often you need the survey will depend on your insurance company, the value of your boat, its age and the conditions you operate it in. Most surveyors recommend getting a boat survey at least once every 3 years. 

Can I do a marine survey myself?

You cannot do a marine survey yourself unless you are a licensed and experienced marine surveyor. This is more so when it comes to large, engine-powered vessels that have complex electrical systems.

While the list of questions is incomplete, it will definitely give you a good start. Always make sure you work with a surveyor that has a great track record working on vessels similar to yours.

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Marine Surveyor Palm Beach – 4 Things Your Marine Surveyor Wants You to Know

When getting ready to buy a used boat, hiring a marine surveyor Palm Beach will guarantee that you make an investment that you fully understand. Marine surveyors offer several types of services. But did you know there are certain things a surveyor wishes you already knew? In this post, we will be looking at the key things every marine surveyor wishes you knew.

The kind of boat you want

A marine surveyorPalm Beach can tell you a lot about a vessel, but they will not be able to tell you if the boat you are considering is right for you. If you are not sure if you want a sailboat or a powerboat, every other kind of craft you get surveyed will be a waste of time and money.

It is vital that before you hire a surveyor, you do your research to know the kind of boat that would be perfect for you. You then need to narrow down your search to the boats that make the most sense to you. Knowing how you plan on using the boat will further help the surveyor help you know which boats would be better for you. The general rule is to find the kind of boat you want then hire a surveyor.

Type of survey you need

As aforementioned, there are so many types of surveys performed by boat surveyors. They include condition and valuation surveys (marine surveys), engine surveys, and rig surveys. If you are getting a marine survey being done to help you get an insurance cover, your insurance company may require that you get an out of the water survey. This kind of survey inspects the bottom of the boat, running gear, and the interior and exterior of the vessel. For insurance purposes, rig and mechanic surveys are not required, but they are recommended.

Surveys have a limited lifetime

The worst mistake you can make when buying a boat is relying on the survey report of the previous owner. The fact you need to understand is a boat survey is a snapshot in time. It is good only for the day it is done. You should never rely on an old survey to accurately represent the condition of a boat. Water excursions, weather, and dry dock can damage the condition of a boat in an instant.

Give the surveyor room to work

A marine surveyor Palm Beach likes it when you are present at the survey. This enables them to answer any question you may have and get answers to their question without any problem. What they don’t like, however, is you getting in their way. The surveyor needs to see everything on the boat. Make sure you are not an unnecessary distraction.

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