Investing on wrecked boats for sale is a gamble and one wrong move might land you in a financial trouble. A marine surveyor might be the right person to approach in order to make the purchase a bit less stressful.
A marine surveyor inspects the boat or marine vessel, monitors and reports the condition of the boat as well as inspects the damage caused to the vessel. The thorough inspection helps you estimate the purchase price of the wrecked boat and how much additional dollars you may need to spend to on the repairs.
Here’s a detailed list of what the marine surveyor inspects before providing you with an estimate of the repair costs:
- The marine surveyor evaluates the structure of the boat and system in and out of the water during a pre-purchase inspection.The surveyor also looks for problems that might require an expensive repair.
- The surveyor inspects the engine installation, plumbing system, seacocks, electrical fittings and fuel line of the boat.
- The surveyor also examines the life rails, deck fittings, navigation lights, hull and other structures of the boat.
- The surveyor checks for stress cracks on the fiberglass, crack in the gelcoat, blistering and the signs of dry rot on the boat.
Things You Need to Know
- If you are thinking of buying a sailboat, it is important for the surveyor to inspect the rigging and ensure that he goes aloft because a visual inspection may not be enough to detect worn out cables and fittings.
- It is not possible for the surveyor to check the engine of the boat without a sea trial in order to inspect the temperature, RPM and other specifics of the engine.
How to Find a Good Marine Surveyor?
Finding the right surveyor is the necessary in order to make the right purchase decision. Anyone can claim to be a marine surveyor as there is no exam or license required which makes finding a good surveyor difficult. There’s however a difference between a professional and someone with interest in boats and marine vessels.
The good way to shortlist a marine surveyor is to test his knowledge of the 68 standards published by the American Boat & Yacht Council. If the person is able to answer most of the questions, he might be the right one to survey the boat.
The two major surveying organizations – National Association of Marine Surveyors and Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors- have programs to accredit the members. A surveyor with a certification from any of the organizations is expected to have a decent experience and knowledge of the job.
Seeking help of marine surveyor is always a wise decision as it might save you from wasting lot of time in extensive and expensive repairs after the purchase.