The Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors
Welcome to The Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors®
Find a marine surveyor.
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Types of Surveys
Tug & barge, commercial workboat, yachts & small craft, fishing vessel, hull & machinery, what type of survey do i need.
How To Choose a Surveyor?
The Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors® (SAMS®) has three (3) primary classes of memberships
Accredited Marine Surveyor
Surveyor Associate
Affiliate Member
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Accredited Marine Surveyors
Jim Dias, Veteran Marine Surveyor since 1978
Jim is a NAMS® Certified Marine Surveyor
Suverying over 8,000 sail & power boats since 1979.
Depending on the type of survey your boat requires we will perform a number of various tests and inspections to ensure that your survey report is thorough and reliable. Listed below are the available services we can provide during your survey.
Non-Destructive Testing:
Non-Destructive testing describes the process of surveying the boat without dismantling or otherwise harming the structure of the vessel or its components. Non-Destructive testing usually begins with a visual inspection and can incorporate methods such as moisture metering, and percussion sounding with hammer to investigate possible delaminations voids or saturated cores. These methods will tell the surveyor if there is corrosion, rot or moisture in the interior parts of the hull, deck and appendages.
Test and inspect engine & generator components, steering, controls, shafts, electronic systems, during the sea trial while all machinery and pumps are operating under the manufacturers specified loads.
Safety Equipment Inspection:
The safety equipment inspection includes taking inventory of required safety & man over board equipment, firefighting and distress equipment, navigational equipment, to ensure that all of this gear is in proper working order. All navigation lights and sound signals that the vessel has and is required by Coast Guard federal regulations, are checked out, with recommendations made.
Mast & Rigging & Sail Inspection:
The mast and rigging components are inspected while under full sail, for wear, corrosion, fatigued terminal fittings and possible lightening strikes. The sails will be inspected for over-stressing, and chafing and to ascertain the level of wear and longevity of the sails.
Engine Inspection:
The engine is the most vital component of any boat; it can also be the most expensive item to replace. A properly performed engine inspection will ensure that the engine is properly installed and will identify wear and tear. A sea trial will be recommended so that the performance of the engine can be observed while the engine is operating under load.
Systems Inspection:
A thorough systems inspection of electrical systems wiring, and condition of batteries will tell if the wiring is safely installed throughout the boat & adheres to the proper electrical specs. This inspection can go a long way to eliminating the chance for electrical problems or possible fire. All generators, fuel systems, air conditioning, navigation, water, and sanitation systems are put through their paces.
Underwater Dive Inspection
This type of inspection can “make or break” your sailing schedule – it can also prevent the need for an unnecessary haul out depending on findings.
Refit & Repair Consultation Services:
Refits can be as minor as rigging replacements and an Awl-Grip job or as extensive as a full-on restoration to include new decking, complete interior redesign, re-wiring or machinery/engine replacements. In addition, they might involve modernizing the look of any yacht or helping to maintain the classic look of older boats. With over 20 years of experience managing multi-million dollar refits & new construction for both power and sailing vessels, when over seeing your refit we will deliver your boat on time and under budget.
Jim currently splits his time between New England & Florida. Often traveling for surveying jobs along the eastern U.S. and Carribean. He also enjoys getting out on the water for sea trials & deliveries. He has spent his life on the water, on boats, living on boats, delivering boats. His passion for an ocean-based life is tough to match. Starting in 2023, he decided he would give back a bit to the boating community by sharing his insights with viewers on YouTube, partnering with Yacht Hunters YouTube channel
Sailboat Buying Guide: EP1
Sailboat Buying Tips: EP2
Sailboat Buying Tips: EP3
Sailboat Buying Tips: EP4
Rates & Availability
Please contact Jim for his current availability & rates. Call or email using the form at the bottom of this page
I can’t say enough regarding the professionalism and knowledge of Jim Dias. Jim’s thorough survey of a 64′ Pershing allowed me to feel confident in my decision-making. His years in the field were apparent throughout the process. The final survey documents allowed me to easily prioritize the important items to negotiate with conditional approval. Excellent experience!
Unquestionably one of the most experienced and knowledgeable surveyors on the entire East Coast. 30 years ago he was making You Tube type videos on how to conduct a proper survey. I have had him do the most intricate vessels like complex Wonderbird, to complex sailboats, straightforward Gradey White’s runabouts, Hatteras’s Motor Yachts… everything. He us a trained engineer who worked in the boat construction business. He is the only surveyor I use. If he’s busy, I wait. Recommend him highly. Captain BullDog Thal
Here are a few questions Jim gets frequently…. if you have another question use the form below to send him a message and he’ll make sure to get back to you as soon as possible.
What is your coverage area?
I have a boat i need surveyed, what is the next step.
Give me a call or send me an email to discuss timing, availability, type of survey, and other important details to figure out if the logistics will work
Can you help me do a sea trial of a boat I'm about to buy?
Sure thing. I love sea trials and taking a deeper dive to ensure that buyers and sellers are both on the same page when it comes to boat condition & safety.
Do you do insurance surveys?
Sure. Insurance surveys are more akin to a home appraisal and we do these quite often.
What is your favorite boat?
The one I happen to be on. ;)
James M. Dias – NAMS Certified Marine Surveyor
Accredited Marine Surveyors One Dock Lane Guilford, CT, 06437, USA Telephone: +1.(203) 901.5235 Email: [email protected]
If Jim doesn’t get back to you right away, that means he might be out at sea, in the bilge, or out of pocket. He will get back to you as soon as he can!
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Jim Dias, NAMS Certified Marine Surveyor One Dock Lane Guilford, CT, 06437, USA Telephone: (203) 901-5235 Email: [email protected]
Yacht Survey Partners | Superyacht survey specialists
Marine surveyors and consultants supporting the superyacht industry
Yacht Survey Partners are global marine surveyors and superyacht consultants providing pre purchase surveys, condition surveys and post casualty surveys for both hull machinery and P&I claims, casualty support including salvage, technical consultancy, expert witness and dispute resolution.
We specialise in yachts above 30 meters in length (both power and sail) with a particular focus on superyachts above 40 metres combining our yachting experience and knowhow with first class support to our clients including the world’s leading yacht brokers, managers, law firms, marine underwriters and insurance brokers.
We combine extensive technical knowledge and experience in the luxury yacht market with an excellent commercial understanding of brokerage, new build, refit and insurance markets, making us exceptionally well placed to provide sound objective advice in all aspects of marine surveying.
PRE PURCHASE SURVEYS
Pre purchase surveys form a significant part of our business. We work Globally, with assignments in the last 12 months in the USA, Hong Kong, South Africa, Northern Europe and all over the Mediterranean. We only survey yachts larger than 40 metres, whether motor or sailing yachts. We have extensive experience in surveying yachts larger than 70 metres. The largest yacht that we have surveyed to date is 124m. However, given the team’s experience and our highly scalable survey system, we are happy to survey much larger yachts.
We pride ourselves on our responsiveness throughout all stages of the survey process. This means that you will receive a fully costed proposal within 48 hours of your request. It means that we will do our best to accommodate even the tightest of timelines. And above all, it means rapid reporting: the buyer’s team are kept abreast of progress during the survey. A final written report is generally issued within 3 working days of our team stepping off the yacht.
We pride ourselves in embracing technology to optimise the survey process. Our cloud based survey platform not only enables us to deliver industry leading reports within time timeframes, but it also offers the buyer’s team a uniquely powerful tool to understand issues, solutions, priorities, costs and timeframes. The software can also greatly assist with post-closing transitions to new yacht managers and also with refit planning.
For our clients, we aim to offer a seamless service from first enquiry, through survey planning, execution, reporting and follow up.
For the yachts that we survey, we pride ourselves on being easy to work with: efficient, organised, polite, easygoing and experienced. All our surveyors have served at sea themselves.
If you would like to know more about our superyacht Pre Purchase Surveys, please click the link here . If you would like to read more about the Superyacht Survey process, please follow this link .
CONDITION SURVEYS
We are often retained to undertake condition surveys, either to assist Owners and Brokers in preparing a yacht for sale, or to assist Owners and yacht managers in planning a major refit, or where underwriters require an up-to-date condition survey prior to agreeing policy renewal.
Our condition surveys follow the same general approach as our pre purchase surveys, with the seamless service from first enquiry, through survey planning, execution, reporting and follow up. Our condition surveys provide the same industry leading reports within time tight timeframes, backed up by our unique web-based survey platform.
If you would like to know more about our superyacht Condition Surveys, please click the link here .
INSURANCE SURVEYS
We work for the leading marine hull & machinery underwriters, P&I clubs and insurance brokers, providing insurance claim support, mostly for yachts of over 30 metres in length. We support insurers throughout the life of a claim, from initial investigation and fact finding, damage surveys, review of repair specifications, review of repair quotations, overseeing repairs and at the completion of the repair process, review and approval of accounts.
At any one time we are engaged in supporting a wide range of ongoing claims, including fire, floods, groundings, collisions, allisions, paint damage, lightning strikes, extreme weather damage, tender damage, machinery breakdown, abnormal corrosion, latent damage and design defects. The only claims that we don’t support are crew medical and personal accident.
Our services include a 24/7 emergency response service, where we have in the past arranged tugs for salvage and recovery, towage to a safe haven or towage to a shipyard for repairs or to stand by a yacht where insurers deem that it would be prudent for a damaged yacht to be escorted to safe haven. We have also consulted on towage approval plans and assisted yacht management companies as part of their own emergency response plans.
If you would like to know more about our Insurance Surveys and Insurance Claim Support, please click the link here .
If you need to contact our 24/7 Emergency Response Service, please click the link here .
TECHNICAL CONSULTANCY
Our technical consultancy services have included providing advice to Owners during complex repairs and refits, major insurance claims, refit planning, preparations for Class surveys, capex and opex budgeting and dispute resolution.
If you would like to know more about our Technical Consultancy, please click the link here .
We specialise in providing technical support including specification and contract reviews, milestone/ progress surveys, pre delivery harbour and sea trials, warranty list management, dispute resolution and providing technical support for the Owner’s team.
If you would like to know more about our New Build Technical Support, please click the link here .
We specialise in providing technical support including refit specification and contract reviews, milestone/progress surveys, pre delivery harbour and sea trials, warranty list management, dispute resolution and providing technical support for the Owner’s team.
If you would like to know more about our Refit Technical Support, please click the link here .
SHIPYARD SERVICES
We are happy to work with shipyards as well as Owners and yacht managers. Our work includes dispute resolution, JH143, technical audits and technical consultancy.
If you would like to know more about our Shipyard Services please click the link here .
LEGAL SUPPORT
We work with a number of leading marine law firms, providing technical support on complex cases, assistance with dispute resolution, review of technical specifications within new build and refit contracts, insurance claim support, expert witness and of course sale and purchase.
If you would like to know more about our Legal Support Services please click the link here .
Yacht Survey Partners was founded by Richard Franklin, who was previously global head of Braemar Yacht Services. Having built the business to become recognised as one of the leaders in the yachting industry, Richard formed Yacht Survey Partners in 2021.
Our international team of Yacht Surveyors have all served time at sea as Superyacht Captains and Chief Engineers, and ashore as Technical Managers, Project Managers and Superintendents. They all have in depth technical yachting knowledge combined with extensive superyacht survey experience.
Yacht Survey Partners also work closely with a range of specialist marine technical service providers in areas such as electrical systems, marine engineering, AVIT, paint and naval architecture, bringing in their support as required.
RECENT PROJECTS
Yacht Survey Partners work with many of the world’s most respected yacht builders, shipyards and superyacht owners undertaking a range of marine surveys including dry dock inspections, sea trials and acceptance trials.
We are experienced in working to tight deadlines and in many cases handover our final report within a few days of leaving the yacht.
In recent months we have completed pre purchase surveys on many yachts with an average length of 62 metres and a combined total of 28,000 gross tonnes including some of the most high profile superyachts to change hands in recent years.
Below is a selection of our most recent superyacht surveys.
47m San Lorenzo Explorer Yacht in Antigua
95m Lurssen Kismet survey
55m Damen support yacht survey
Goose (ex Atlantic Goose) pre purchase survey
45m Feadship Blue Sky survey
65m Feadship Callisto survey
55m Research Vessel R/V ODYSSEY survey
53m Sailing Yacht PINK GIN VI survey
56m Vitters new build sailing yacht acceptance trials
Yacht Survey Partners are based in London with surveyors in key yachting locations around the globe including Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona, Tarragona, La Ciotat, Marseille, Antibes, Monaco, Genoa, Livorno and Fort Lauderdale.
Whether you need a superyacht survey, technical advice or claims support, a member of our team is on hand wherever and whenever you need to provide urgent assistance and advice.
News & Articles
Is AI the future of superyacht surveys?
Navigating Superyacht P&I Insurance Claims
Superyacht investor article featuring yacht survey partners.
Navigating Superyacht Hull & Machinery Insurance Claims
Unlocking the secrets of a successful sea trial
Using specialists as part of a superyacht survey
Contact our head office.
+44 7745 03 79 92 +34 664 502 664
Email Yacht Survey Partners
By appointment
Contact our satellite offices
Yacht Survey Partners Southampton
Yacht Survey Partners Antibes
Yacht Survey Partners Fort Lauderdale
Yacht Survey Partners Hong Kong
Yacht Survey Partners Palma Mallorca
How To Get A Sailboat Surveyed
- November 29, 2022
The pre-purchase survey is one of the most crucial parts of the purchase process. Beyond checking boxes for a contract, it’s a chance to learn about your sailboat, and figure out what you need to do to make it better. And you can make sure you’re getting maximum value for your sailboat purchase.
Finding a Sailboat Surveyor
The Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors has a searchable database of qualified, accredited marine surveyors. Many states don’t regulate who may call themselves a surveyor, so take the steps to make sure that the person you hire has professional credentials.
Ask other sailboat owners for recommendations, though you still check credentials. Get quotes for pricing and check availability as the best surveyors are usually very busy.
If the listing broker recommends a surveyor, it’s best to thank them politely and find your own. While brokers and surveyors should be ethical, it’s better to avoid any confusion about who the surveyor is working for. The surveyor works for you and no one else, and the choice is entirely yours.
Survey pricing is variable with region and boat size and complexity. Expect at least $20/foot, possibly up to $40/foot. For large, complex boats that take multiple days or a survey which requires travel, then may quote you a per diem rate and expenses.
What exactly is a survey?
A survey is a detailed of a sailboat, and may be done for several reasons. An insurance company will require a survey, but an insurance survey is rarely as detailed and expensive as a pre-purchase survey, though a pre-purchase survey will satisfy the insurance company.
The word “survey” also refers to the final written report.
Pre-purchase inspection
You should have a condition in your purchase and sale agreement that reads “subject to a suitable survey and sea trial.” The sea trial is usually part of a survey and done at the same time.
The surveyor will inspect the boat from bow to stern, looking into all lockers, under all floorboards, and at accessible systems. They may tap the hull and deck with a small hammer, looking for voids in the fiberglass. They’ll turn things on, flip switches, and check the listed inventory against the actual boat to make sure listed equipment is present and functioning.
During the seal trial, the surveyor will observe the steering systems and the engine running through a series of throttle positions, noting any problems or concerns.
The Written Report
Within a few days of the inspection, the surveyor will return a written report of the findings. This will include pictures, comments, notes, and details about the boat’s equipment.
The report should be a neutral, fact-based set of observations about the condition of the vessel’s condition at the time of inspection.
A sailboat survey report should include:
- Details about installed engines and generators, including model numbers, serial numbers, and engine hours.
- Listing of hardware found, and its condition and operating state.
- Observations and notes on the general condition of the boat cosmetically.
- Notes on any specific flaws, failings, or areas that merit additional inspection or concern.
- An approximate market value of a vessel.
- Recommendations for any repairs or maintenance noted. Any violations of USCG safety regulations.
It rarely includes speculation about conditions which are not directly observed, nor will the surveyor typically include a recommendation for or against purchase. This is a “statement of condition” rather than a recommendation.
That’s not to say the surveyor may not have an opinion about whether you should buy the boat, but that won’t usually be in the written survey report. But you can definitely ask them about it.
Planning the Survey
Once you find a surveyor, speak to them to make sure what is included in the survey. Many surveyors won’t climb rigs to inspect rigging. Others may only do a cursory inspection of engines, or not want to comment on sail conditions. Find out what else you may need, and plan additional inspections with your rigger, mechanic, or sailmaker as needed.
You’re also responsible for arranging and paying for yard services like hauling, washing, blocking, and re-launching. Find out what the surveyor wants and make reservations at the hard you want to use.
Surveys are “non-destructive” unless otherwise specified, so there should be no drilling, scraping, or other destructive testing. If there is destructive testing needed, you will need permission, and the seller will expect you to return the boat to the same condition if you reject the boat.
Before the planned survey, check the weather, confirm your hauling arrangements, and make sure everything is ready to go. When it’s survey time, plan to show up and spend the day on the boat with the surveyor. Consider arrangements for lunch, drinks and snacks to keep work going forward, especially if the boat is some place out of the way.
Some boat owners prefer not to be there, but in our experience, this is a mistake. You don’t want to get underfoot and slow the surveyor down, but you will get loads of information about your boat as you watch them work. Some may give you a running commentary or point things out to you as they find them, and may show you things no picture and paragraph of text will convey. And you also may help and speed the process.
The owner may be there. If not, they will have someone representing them. This is often the listing broker who will operate the boat and handle it in maneuvers. It’s not your boat yet, so it’s up to the owner or the owner’s agent to take responsibility for the boat.
For a more complex sailboat, plan to spend a long day, or even more than a day on a very complex boat with lots of systems. If it’s a multi-day survey, find out how your surveyor takes their coffee. A happy surveyor is a talkative surveyor, and you’ll learn a lot by just chatting about the boat on a break.
Getting The Report
The goal of the survey report is to establish if the sailboat actually is as presented for sale, based on the age and disclosed condition of the boat. A used sailboat will not be perfect. There is a nearly 100% chance that a good surveyor will find one or more “problems.” Odds are, it will be many more for older boats. It is important to note that not every “finding” in a survey is going to translate to a price adjustment or repair on a used boat.
Understanding the meaning of “Findings”
It’s the interpretation of whether a “finding” is a “problem” that the trick lies. An older boat may have dings and scratches in gelcoat, rust on some mechanical system, minor corrosion, small leaks, and may items that show wear and tear.
And that may be completely normal for the age of the boat. It is a used boat, not a new one. What you may think of as a problem is really just a finding.
What becomes a genuine problem is something which does not function or interferes with the ability to use the boat safely without fixing it.
A scratch in the gelcoat is a finding, but a missing handle on a through-hull is a problem. A radio listed in the inventory should work or be fixed or replaced if it isn’t, but a forward-looking sonar listed as “inoperable” before the survey is just a finding.
Handling Findings
Review each finding in the report. The major findings will usually be highlighted, and those which make the boat unsafe or inoperable will be called out.
For each major finding that must be fixed, you have two options. First, you can demand that the seller fix the problem. Most contracts allow the seller to either fix a problem or propose a cash adjustment in the sale price. Sometimes, you may also propose a cash adjustment – check the terms of your contract.
If the seller refuses to fix the item or adjust the price, you have two more options: you can accept the boat with the flaws, or you can walk from the deal.
Effective Post-Survey Negotiations
Most contracts require the purchaser to present, in writing, any requests to fix problems in a survey. There are effective ways to do this, and ways that are bound to fail.
Do Your Homework
Handing the seller a copy of the survey and saying “fix everything” isn’t like to get a positive response. Nor is demanding a large dollar figure off the sale price with no supporting argument to justify the figure.
So if you’re serious about buying this boat and want to deal with the flaws, you’ll need to get an estimated value for the repair for every problem you want addressed. Only use the serious findings – safety issues, things that render the boat unusable, or major equipment which does not work. This gives the buyer an out to take the dollar adjustment, or fix the problem.
Get hard numbers and actual quotes from vendors and suppliers when possible, and document it. The cost to replace new units or buy older equipment from Ebay or marine salvage and consignment shops are both allowed, as are a reasonable cost for labor to replace the equipment.
Be reasonable – the seller isn’t going to re-fit the boat for you. One broken radar display in an integrated but obsolete set of electronics will not get you a new, state-of-the-art set of integrated equipment installed. Even if you can’t get a compatible radar display anymore. You may get a credit for the cost of a used radar display, but not all the other equipment.
You don’t want to wait for the seller to repair the boat before you close, and you can be almost certain the seller does not want to be bothered to do the repairs either, unless they can do it themselves on the cheap. So you can escrow the repairs. Based on the estimates you assembled, block out money from the sale to make the repairs. The broker will hold this, though you can use a lawyer. List repair items with a reasonable time period to get the repairs done, with costs for each. From 90 to 180 days is typical, depending on the repairs.
As you do the repairs, give the bills to the broker and they release the funds to reimburse you. Once you’ve done the work or the deadline passes, the remaining funds are released to the seller. It’s more work, but you can often get more funds conceded with an escrow than you can with a simple credit off the selling price.
Is It Time To Walk?
If you’ve taken a boat to survey, you’ve put some money into it, and have a personal stake in buying it. But what if the survey is not as good as expected? How do you know if it’s time to walk from the deal?
First, if you are uncomfortable with any finding or that it can be fixed, reject the boat. If you have a list of issues you want addressed and the seller will not budge on any of them, that also may be a sign that you may not want this boat unless you’re willing to pay for the repairs.
Finally, if the market value in the report is significantly below the purchase price, you may have a problem. If you’re financing, your bank may not go forward. You may have a deeply flawed boat which is reflected in the estimated value, and that’s a good bullet to dodge
Use the Survey
Most surveys have a list of findings, and this list of findings is your first work list on your new sailboat. You know most of what is wrong with your new boat before you ever sail it.
Most surveyors are happy to take questions about their surveys and discuss their findings even after a survey, so are a valuable resource for you with your new boat.
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Finding A Marine Surveyor
- By Tim Murphy
- Updated: June 30, 2015
Finding the Right Surveyor
To finance or insure a boat, you’ll need a current survey. But how can you find a reputable marine surveyor whose advice you’d trust with your investment and your family’s safety? “There are no requirements that say a surveyor needs to know anything more about a boat than what you may know,” says Dwight Escalera, principle surveyor at Executive Marine Services in Wakefield, Rhode Island. To complicate matters, your yacht broker can’t ethically recommend a surveyor to you; doing so could invite collusion.
Where to look? Three organizations—the National Association of Marine Surveyors , the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors and the American Boat & Yacht Council —can help you find the expert you need. First, compile a short list of surveyors to interview. While your broker can’t give you a single name, he or she can provide a list of half a dozen names. Alternatively, go to the NAMS or SAMS website and enter the boat’s location for a list of certified local surveyors. SAMS accredited marine surveyors have demonstrated basic knowledge, including an exam. SAMS surveyor associates haven’t yet qualified as an accredited marine surveyor, but they’ve agreed to abide by SAMS ethics and standards. Membership in NAMS or SAMS doesn’t tell you about a surveyor’s knowledge of boat systems and construction. But the ABYC does, in eight areas: marine electricity, diesel engines, gasoline engines, marine systems, composite boatbuilding, marine A/C and refrigeration, marine corrosion, and general standards. “Knowledge of the ABYC Standards would demonstrate that a surveyor knows how a boat needs to be constructed in order to be safe,” says Escalera. ABYC deems someone who’s earned at least three certifications a master technician . Cross-reference these lists, then interview several candidates about their particular experience. If your boat has particularly complex systems, look for experience in those areas or call in an additional specialist.
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Kelsey Marine Survey
Experienced Inspections
We've been working on and inspecting boats for over 35 years. When you hire Kelsey Marine Survey, you bring decades of boating knowledge with you.
Expert Appraisals
Boats are expensive! So is Boat repair. With Kelsey Marine Survey on your side, you know the boat you buy will be worth the price you pay.
We don't just look at Boats. We test them. Comprehensive sea trials for both sail and power boats. Make sure your boat doesn't just look good on paper.
Why Kelsey Marine Survey?
Because we know our business. At Kelsey Marine Survey we live and breath boats. Been there, and done that. We know what to look for and why. We know what wear and tear looks like. We know what to find and where to find it. We can see a boats strengths, and weaknesses, in a way that only comes with years of experience in the field. We have that experience. We detect hull moisture, wood core deterioration, sup-par engine strength, and an array of other hidden tell tale signs as to the history and current condition of a boat.
When you purchase a boat, you need to get it done right. Kelsey Marine Survey does it right. We offer detailed analysis and reporting, cost model comparisons, and component life expectancy analysis that allows you to know what you're buying, and what you're not. Kelsey Marine Survey offers competent, cost competitive, in depth analysis of all aspects of sail and powerboats, large and small.
Member of the National Association of Marine Surveyors
Member of the American Boat and Yacht Council
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Evaluating Marine Surveyors
Often taken for granted, the decision to engage a marine surveyor is one of the most important ones you can make. here's some important advice in advance..
So, it’s the happiest day of your life because you just bought a sailboat. No, it’s the happiest day of your life because you just sold your boat. Either way, completing this kind of transaction typically involves a survey and, occasionally, elevated blood pressure readings. If you are doing the survey for the “right” reason—to assure the safety of skipper and crew—you want to be advised of potential hazards or failures, and the event may be a walk in the park. If you are evaluating a boat to determine its fair market value before writing a check, or are going through the motions because you were instructed to by an insurance company, you may have your fingers crossed that the surveyor doesn’t find too many defects.
Regardless, the person in the middle of the process is a surveyor whose education, experience, and temperament will factor heavily in the evaluation of the vessel. Fortunately, in the past 20 years, the practice of surveying has evolved to produce surveyors that fit the classic definition of a professional.
Historically, surveyors often were retired shipwrights, vessel operators, or designers who made surveying a post-retirement (and, often, part-time) career. Like the members of any work force, some did a better job of keeping current with construction technologies and methods than others. These days, the pros have distanced themselves from the part- timers by establishing organizations that have formal admission, ethics, and continuing education requirements, all of which can benefit buyers and sellers, along with banks and insurance companies.
Qualifications Of the community of surveyors—whose population is unknown—some 1,800 are members of two organizations formed to create operational and educational standards for the profession. The National Association of Marine Surveyors (NAMS) was formed in 1962 and presently boasts 800 members—a number recently on the decline. This organization designates members who meet its eligibility requirements as Certified Marine Surveyors (CMS).
The Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors (SAMS), was formed in 1987. Its membership has grown to 1,000 surveyors. SAMS’ professional designation is Accredited Marine surveyor (AMS).
According to Michael J. Schiehl, chairman of the NAMS Qualification and Certification Committee, “Each candidate must meet certain experience requirements, be recommended by his peers, and pass a rigorous examination in his specialty.”
Joe Lobley, a SAMS regional director, said, “SAMS has different classifications. An ‘SA’ is a Surveyor Associate (someone who is in the learning process); an ‘AMS’ is an Accredited Marine Surveyor. To achieve the latter designation, an SA must have fulfilled specific educational requirements, performed a certain number of surveys, passed a review board, and passed an extensive AMS exam.”
A major difference between the organizations, explained Schiehl, is that “In order to maintain the CMS status, he/she must document at least six continuing education hours yearly. Failure to do so results in loss of the CMS status until such time as the CE credits are attained and accepted.” In comparison, Lobley told us that “An AMS must gain continuing educational credits during a set time frame or be dropped from membership.” Another crucial difference is that NAMS members cannot engage in selling or repairing boats at the same time that they’re surveyors, whereas SAMS members aren’t restricted in this way.
Both organizations endow the industry with a level of professionalism, and both claim that lending institutions and insurance companies are becoming predisposed to requiring a NAMS or SAMS survey.
“SAMS members’ written surveys must follow a recommended content, but are still unique to each surveyor,” Lobley explained. And the NAMS website lists the items that NAMS members evaluate during a survey.
Many marine surveyors are also members of the International Association of Marine Investigators, a non-profit organization formed in 1986. IAMI membership requires broad experience in many areas including insurance adjusting and marine surveying.
Though many surveyors agree that there are non-members who are qualified to perform surveys, to hedge our bets, PS would opt for a member of one of these organizations whose certification is current. As a consequence, only SAMS or NAMS members with current certifications were interviewed for this article. Some are also IAMI members.
Form vs. Substance Boat surveys primarily come in three flavors: prepurchase, insurance, and damage assessment, the last specialty more closely resembling a police investigation.
The pre-purchase survey is the most comprehensive, and is strongly advised (or required by a bank) when purchasing a new or used vessel. The surveyor’s approach is to assess the condition and overall operation of the vessel, including structural integrity, electrical systems, the propulsion system, the fuel system, other machinery, navigation equipment, miscellaneous on-board systems, cosmetic appearance, electronics, and overall maintenance. In most cases, the boat will be hauled to inspect the condition of the bottom and appendages, including the drive shaft, cutless bearing, and propeller.
For most surveyors, the expense of a sea trial is an add-on that, if chosen, might best include taking along a reputable sailmaker (ideally one with a performance background) who can provide an assessment regarding the condition of the sails, and an evaluation of the boat’s performance.
“Surveys for insurance companies are conducted primarily to assure the underwriter that the vessel is basically sound and worth the amount of money for which it is being insured,” said Kells Christian, a surveyor in San Diego, CA. The insurers are interested in structural integrity and safety for the vessel’s intended use, and also want to know the vessel’s fair market value.
An expanding field, damage assessments are performed to determine the extent of damage, recommend repairs, estimate repair costs, and, if requested, provide a possible cause for the claim. Regarding this category, Jane Christen of Michel & Christen, a surveying firm in Seattle, told us that surveyors there play the game on a different field.
“We are hired by insurance companies to evaluate the cause of damage and provide a written description of the work, and reasonable cost, necessary to return the vessel to its original condition.”
From an educational standpoint, these surveyors are more like Inspector Clouseau in that “We take a different educational path that involves intensive training in boat systems, and studies of the causes of common types of failures,” explained Christen. “We need to know where to look for the cause of the damage, and how to articulate the requirements for a repair.”
Of their approach, partner Rex Michel said, “I feel like I’m working for the boat, not the company or the insured, to effect a solution that puts the boat back in its original condition.”
If assessing the damage from an incident is what you require, your best bet is to select a surveyor who specializes in this particular niche.
Your Survey What should you expect of your surveyor and the resulting survey? The surveyors with whom PS spoke were candid. They characterize owners and buyers in three groups: 1) those going through the motions because they have to; 2) informed owners/buyers who want to be assured that all systems are functional on board; and 3) newcomers to the pastime who don’t know how or where to look for, or deal with, defects. And they all agree that forming a relationship with the client is an important ingredient in the process.
Greg Davis, president of Davis Company, Ltd., the largest surveying company in the U.S., is chairman of NAMS’ Yachts and Small Craft Committee. Of the surveyor-client relationship he said: “It should be initiated on the basis of trust. And, the buyer should be looking at the purchase without rose-colored glasses,” which could translate to disappointments in the form of a vessel not being purchased, sales commissions being lost, or an unhappy seller. That is not Davis’ concern, he told us. In fact, he was the only surveyor with whom we talked who considers the inclusion of prices for comparable boats as part of a complete survey.
“We do the same thing when we buy a house, don’t we?” asked Davis.
Another surveyor, Gloucester, MA-based Gene Barnes, told us that “Personal compatibility is important. If you (the client) can’t relate to the surveyor on the phone, you will likely not be able to have him understand or relate to your situation. There are plenty of technicians that know a lot about boats, but cannot relate that information to their clients. All good surveyors should have technical ability, but some are better than others at putting it into ‘human’ terms.”
Tom Hill, also of Gloucester, presents a written agreement between surveyor and purchaser that specifies his role and responsibility. “I don’t know enough about rigging or mechanical systems to properly evaluate them, so I recommend that experts in those fields be brought in. And, no surveyor has X-ray vision, so we can’t be expected to see what’s behind a panel or cabinet. We can only detect visible defects that exist now, but cannot predict future events.”
His point is well taken. The cost of a survey always plays a part in the equation, with low-bidders often being awarded the assignment. However, as Hill stated, “A buyer could not afford a survey that included removing cabinetry or other obstacles to conduct a thorough evaluation of a boat.” So, at best, a survey will reveal only those areas in which visual flaws are found or suspected.
Kells Christian in San Diego said he encourages clients “to participate in the survey, especially neophytes, because I teach them how things work and the type of maintenance programs that are necessary.”
Be aware that surveyors typically stipulate that the survey is good for a specific period of time. This serves to protect the surveyor from legal action that might arise if a boat experiences system failures some time after the survey has been conducted. “I tell clients that a survey is only good for 15 days,” one surveyor said. “If the boat is purchased six months later, the survey is not valid,” so buyers assume an unnecessary risk when relying on an old survey.
In which areas are flaws most likely to occur? SAMS president Jim Wood told us: “All areas are subject to deficiencies. Even on new boats.” At the top of his short list is standing rigging: “If it’s over five years old, I would expect to find a myriad of potential failures: broken wire, cracks, corrosion, bent toggles, tangs and turnbuckles, corrosion at the chainplates.” Of masts and booms, he noted the most common ailments are “mast out of column, corrosion, cracked spars, fasteners, welds, gooseneck, and prior repairs.” Of hull inspections: “Fiberglass blisters, wood rots, steel rusts, and aluminum corrodes, so pick your poison. Seacocks should be checked for function and accessibility. Most hull-to-deck joints are poorly designed and fastened with machine screws. Look for daylight and leaks.” Other major items are the mast step, where corrosion may occur; the keel attachment, which should be checked for “smiles,” bolt tension and corrosion; the rudder attachment for lubrication; steering apparatus for worn cables, quadrant tension, and range of motion; and rudder delamination.
Gene Barnes explained: “Unless I have been alerted to past problems, I will seldom look for a specific problem area. I usually let the vessel speak for itself and discover the problem areas during the course of the survey. Often boats that may look tough to start with end up OK, and other vessels that appear OK may have a fatal flaw, such as wet keel floors, or a compressed maststep.
“Occasionally, I will discover one area that will lead to problems in another that are significant enough to stop the survey. Wet core material in the decks, wet rudders, and wet keel floors are the most common. Rudders are fairly easy to fix, wet decks and wet keel floors or stringers can be very expensive,” he added.
SAMS regional director Joe Lobley said “All of these are important, plus tabbing, grid work, fuel systems, engine systems, including all plumbing and exhaust, condition and installation of batteries, compliance with current USCG and NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) for safety items, and overall value. I expect to find problems almost anywhere, which is why a complete examination is necessary.”
Beyond assessing the condition of a boat in minute detail, the majority of surveyors share the firm belief that they play no role in the sales process.
James Wood summarized a general opinion that strikes fear in the hearts of brokers and dealers: “Brokers negotiate, surveyors present findings. A word of caution: Don’t let the broker push you into the deal. Get the survey before you sign on the dotted line or make an offer, and make the sale contingent on the results of the survey. Then let the broker or buyer negotiate the price. Why would you agree to buy at a certain price prior to survey, particularly in light of the fact that you’re going to have to have a survey for financing and/or insurance anyway? My job is to deal with the facts/findings and present them to the buyer/lender/underwriter. I’m not an advocate for either side.”
Woods’ opinion runs contrary to the process that typically occurs in a transaction, but is worth considering. Though home inspections typically take place after an offer has been accepted, an important difference exists in the fact that boats spend the majority of their lives submerged in water.
Lobley added, “I step out of the final negotiations, report the condition, and let the parties negotiate. The sale of a vessel usually comes down to how much the seller will take off for the needed corrections on safety items.”
And Gene Barnes added, “In my opinion, the surveyor’s job is to speak for the boat, but since boats are bought and used by people, good surveyors are able to relate well to people. I will suggest a client not purchase a specific vessel if they ask, and I’ll provide information that supports such an opinion. Clients who indicate that they are unsure of what they are doing are generally treated more cautiously than a knowledgeable buyer that understands what is involved with owning a used boat. With knowledgeable buyers, I will generally put the information on the table and let the buyer and seller work it out. If asked by a neophyte buyer, I will provide guidance, but usually in broad terms rather than specifics that relate to a given vessel or purchase.”
This explains the tension we observed during a recent survey in the presence of buyer, seller, and broker. Upon the discovery of a soft spot in the bottom of a 20-year-old fiberglass vessel, the surveyor took the conservative approach and recommended that the area be laid open for further examination, and left it to the three unhappy parties to agree on a course of action.
Conclusions Boat surveys bear a striking resemblance to physical examinations that are conducted when you’re feeling fine, but you nonetheless consult your MD to see if you’re sick. You may not want to know that you have some affliction, but the knowledge might affect the manner in which you conduct your life. The same holds true for your boat. It is easy to avoid dealing with a failing through-hull when you’re unaware of it, but your ignorance may put you and others in harm’s way.
If you’re in the market for a surveyor, it’s prudent to first check that person’s credentials. Then, seek recommendations from boat owners who have previously engaged that person’s services. Finally, make sure you understand what you’ll be charged, how extensive the survey will be, and what form the end product will take.
Also With This Article “One Boat—Two Takes” “What Surveys Cost”
Contacts • NAMS, 800/822-6267, www.nams-cms.org • SAMS, 800/344-9077, www.marinesurvey.org • Christian & Co, 800/944-4789, home.fda.net/~ychtsrvy • Michel & Christen, 800-794-0089, marinelosssurveyors.com • Davis Co., Ltd., 800-223-8816, www.daviscoltd.com • Gene Barnes, 978/281-6040 • Tom Hill, 978/283-7006 • James Wood, 800/693-3832, www.marinesurveyor.com/jwood • Joe Lobley, 978/774-5060, www.marinesurveyor.com/leblanc • Lynne Reister, 206/282-6003 • Sam Colt, 360/387-4030, www.coltmarsurv.com
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