Category: Boat Surveyors Palm Beach

Hiring boat surveyors Palm Beach is something you must do if you want to buy a used boat or want to understand the current condition of your boat. The surveyor will perform a thorough evaluation of your boat and compile a report that helps you understand its fair market and replacement value, cost of repairs, and other information that helps you understand your boat better. However, before hiring a boat surveyor, it is a great idea to start by understanding how the experience will be like.

What does a boat surveyor inspect?

The first thing boat surveyors Palm Beach do is locate and note the hull identification number (HIN) of your boat as well as the boat’s state or federal registration marks. A routine boat inspection will include moisture readings in the deck and hull. The surveyor will also check for blistering and delamination. The transom, bulkheads, and stringers will also be inspected for structural integrity. The surveyor will also take a look at the wiring, electrical systems, and test plumbing. A surveyor will include the condition of underwater gear including the struts, shafts, and propellers. The fuel system will also be inspected.

During a marine survey, the surveyor inspects and makes an inventory of all required safety gear. The list of areas that are inspected will vary from one boat to the next and depending on the type of survey that is requested. Always speak with a surveyor to know what the survey will include before you hire them.

What is required of you during the survey?

When working with a boat surveyor, it is highly recommended that you be present throughout the survey and sea trial. Being present will help you ask questions about the systems on the boat and help the surveyor around the boat.

It is good to note that the surveyor is not there to let you know if buying the boat will be a great investment. The surveyor will not help with negotiations with the owner. The surveyor will remain as objective as possible.

How long does a survey take?

The length of a marine survey depends on the boat that is being surveyed. The survey can take a few hours or a full day. You also need to note that bad weather can cause the survey to take longer. A sea trial will take between 30 to 60 minutes.

There is a lot that goes on in a marine survey. The best thing you can do is find dependable boat surveyors Palm Beach. The last thing you want is for your survey report to be turned down by an insurance or financial institution because the surveyor you used is not credited.

Boat Surveyors Palm Beach

One of the reasons you may need to hire boat surveyors Palm Beach is for the purposes of damage survey. This is a survey done to determine the extent of damage to a boat. A damage survey is mostly requested after an accident or bad weather. A boat owner may hire a surveyor for this to know how many repairs are needed. In most cases, damage surveys are requested by insurance companies. In this post, we will be taking a look at a few facts you should remember about a damage survey.

Terms and reporting

The first point you should understand is that damage surveys should not take more than a day to complete. The boat surveyors Palm Beach will require no more than one full day of attendance. However, depending on the extent of damage, the marine surveyor may request additional time.

Once the survey is completed, the surveyor will provide you with a preliminary report. This report includes an outline of the incident as well as the extent of damage to the vessel. In many cases, the report will also include the estimated cost of repairs. You will then receive the final damage survey report.

How long it takes for you to get the final report will depend on a number of things. The main influencing factor is the availability of information. For example, missing invoices can delay the final report.

Cause of damage

So long as the boat owner presents an allegation as to the cause of damage to their boat, the marine surveyor will give an opinion regarding the cause of damage in the report. If no allegation has been presented by the owner, the surveyor will state their opinion regarding the cause of damage. This will be included in a separate message.

The surveyor will not give an opinion on the cause of the collision or elaborate on any appointment of blame. The surveyor will also never discuss liability. This is because doing so will prejudice underwriter’s and owner’s positions.

Purpose of a damage survey

A damage survey is usually done to report on the condition of a boat after an incident. The boat surveyors Palm Beach will simply observe then report on the extent of the damage. The surveyor will not dismantle components to determine the extent of the damage. He only listens and observes.

The above are the most important points you should understand about damage surveys. If you are hiring your own surveyor, it is always good to go with one that has many years of experience surveying boats that are similar to yours.

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.

Boat Surveyors Palm Beach