You found the boat. You agreed on a price, “subject to survey.” Now what? Here’s what actually happens during a pre-purchase survey, what we look at, what falls outside the scope, and how to use the report once you have it.
What a survey is
A marine survey is an independent professional opinion of a boat’s condition and value on the day it’s inspected. The surveyor works for you, the buyer, not the seller or the broker. The goal is simple: no surprises after you sign.
What we inspect
Out of the water
With the boat hauled, we inspect the bottom for blisters, cracks, and repairs, then check the running gear: props, shafts, struts, rudders, and every through-hull fitting. We sound the hull with a phenolic hammer and take moisture readings to find delamination or wet core that you can’t see from the surface.
Structure
Stringers, bulkheads, the transom, and the deck carry the load. Soft spots, cracks at stress points, or signs of old water intrusion here are among the most expensive problems a boat can have.
Systems
We trace AC and DC wiring, overcurrent protection, and battery installations; inspect the fuel system from fill to engine; and test steering, controls, bilge pumps, plumbing, and any gas or carbon monoxide detection.
Safety equipment
We check the gear the U.S. Coast Guard requires for the boat’s size and use: life jackets, fire extinguishers, visual distress signals, sound-producing devices, and navigation lights.
The sea trial
On the water, we run the boat through its RPM range, compare maximum RPM to the manufacturer’s spec, watch engine temperatures and gauges, and note handling, vibration, and any leaks under load.
What a survey doesn’t cover
- Hidden areas. A survey is non-destructive. We don’t remove fixed panels, cut into the hull, or take things apart, so some areas simply can’t be seen.
- A full engine survey. We note how the engines run, but internal condition requires a mechanical survey and oil analysis by a qualified technician. On any boat with significant engine value, we recommend one.
- A guarantee. The report describes the boat on survey day. It isn’t a warranty of future condition.
How to read your report
Findings are grouped by priority. Safety issues come first, then recommended repairs, then routine maintenance notes. The report also includes a fair market value based on the boat’s condition and comparable sales.
Buyers typically use it in one of three ways: to renegotiate the price, to ask the seller to complete repairs before closing, or to walk away. Your lender and insurer will usually want a copy too, and an insurer may require safety items to be corrected before binding coverage.
How to prepare
- Book the haul-out with the yard. Haul-out fees are separate from the survey fee.
- Ask the seller to charge the batteries, top up fuel, and clear out lockers and the engine space.
- Gather registration or documentation, the HIN, maintenance records, and any previous surveys.
- Plan to attend. You’ll learn more about the boat in a few hours than in your first season.
For the full list, see what we need from you before survey day.