Why should I spend the money for a Survey?

Safety and peace of mind:

Boats are not like automobiles should a problem occur, you cant simply pull over to the side of the road.
Bargaining power:

 I get paid to find problems with the vessel. Many times I will find issues that are unknown even to the seller. Most of the time the survey will pay for itself by providing the buyer with a list of findings to negotiate the asking price.

 

It’s only a 23’runabout why bother?

This year I did several inspections for clients interested in smaller vessels. The majority were as advertised, however a few had major structural defects, wet rotted stringers, electrical issues and even serious fuel system safety issues. These items that would not have been found by an untrained layman.
 

I know the seller, why bother?

One client from another state called me and requested a survey on a 26’ fishing boat located in my area. He had seen the boat on the internet; there were several pictures showing the vessel to be in good condition etc... It also turns out the prospective buyer’s uncle knew the seller and had nothing but good things to say about the seller. Seller had nothing but good things to say about his pride and joy. Buyer sends seller a deposit remainder of balance due upon completion of survey. I check the vessel out on the web and it appears in good condition and very reasonably priced. I arrive at the marina and proceed to the office to inform them of my presence and intentions. As any good surveyor knows, these guys probably have more insight into the vessel than the owner having performed (or not) the service work over the years. In a matter of five minutes I was told all about how the stringers had been repaired, new this and that after this and that happened. Then that they were going to repair the running gear as soon as possible!! When I viewed the boat I couldn’t believe it was the same vessel as advertised on the internet. The pictures on the web were obviously very old, taken when the vessel was in much better condition.

I have seen this more than a few times this year where vessels advertised on the internet are not at all what the advertiser/seller portrayed.