Marine Proclamation

Marine Survey: Why? Who? What

If you are thinking of pruchasing a used  boat, you face a business arraignment thar will invlove substantial expense. You need to be aware of various pitfalls; dry rot, wet rot, osmosis, electrolytic action, sterngland leaks, ill fitting hatches & ports, weakened, keel bolts, suspect sails and rigging, repairs. Further reasons for needing a marine survey are; insurance carriers and finance companies will required a survey on your boat purchase, as they need to know what condition and value it is assigned.

A Marine Surveyor should subscribe to and uphold a Code of Ethics and Practices. He of she should be prompt, professional, competent, knowledgeable, diligent, unbiased and objective. The Marine Surveyor you select should hold membership in a professional organization that oversees, examines and accredits it's members, through comtinuing education and field experience.Organizations such as Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors (SAMS) or National Association of Marine Surveyors (NAMS).You as a prospective buyer of a boat should have every confidence in the Marine Surveyor you hire.

A Marine Surveyor responsibility is to give his client a detailed analysis of the prospective boat being purchased, financed or insured. That analysis should be presented to the client ina neat, well defined, comprehensive, typed report, dated and signed by the attending surveyor. This report should include, but not limited to, information on the quantity, condition and operation of the following;

General: estimated replacement value, based on a comparable new boat, estimation of current fair market value, as boat is equipped and maintained at time of survey.

Detailed Description: of the hull and construction, including materials used in construction, hull or deck mounted fixtures, fastenings, running gear, fishing and tackle equipment, searing, protholes, hatches, through hull fitting, sea cocks, cover bimini, etc.

Safety Equipment: life jackets, life rings, life rafts, MOB's, EPIRB's, smoke/fume detectors, fire fighting equipment, bilge blowers, escape hatches, ground tackle, U.S. Coast Guard requirements and standards, etc.

Navingation and Electronics Equipment: compass, VHF & SSB radio, loran, GPS, SAT/NAV, radar, interfaces, navigation lights,auto pilot, log/speed,depth sounder, bottom/fish finder, chart link, sea temperature, etc.

Electrical Equipment: Generator; make, model, serial, gas or diesel, exhaust,system,fuel lines, fuel & oil filter, belts & hoses. Storage batteries; quantity, type, voltage, security. Shore power, electrical panels, fuses, circuits breakers, wiring, bonding, voltages & currents, lighting etc.

Propulsion Machinery: Engines; quantity, gas or diesel, make model numbers, serial numbers, horsepower, hours, reduction gears, fuel lines, fuel shutoff, fuel & lube filters, type of cooling, exhaust system, hoses, claimps, belts, etc. Shafts, shaft struts, packing glands, stern tubes, propllers, rudders, steering system, conctrols, shutdown, synchronizer, trim tabs, etc.

Pumps: Bilge; electrical & manual, including location. Pressurized potable water, waste (macerator), wash down, raw water, shower sump, air conditioner, heads ,hot water, etc.

Tank: material & capacity; fuel, lube oil, portable water, waste, etc.

Galley: location & equipment; stoves & ranges (including fuel type), refrigerators, freezers, ice makers, ice boxes, microwave, sinks, galley deck, etc.

Accommodations Compartments: accommodations, heads, showers, furnishings, sole, bright work, air conditioning, TV, stereo, etc.

Out of Water Inspection: running gear, shafts, struts, propellers, rudders, trim tabs, Hull inspection; blisters, delamination, cracks, damage of any nature, gel coat, anti fouling paint, zincs, through hull fittings, strainers, ground plates. Etc.

Sea Trial: check all operating mechanical and electrical equipment for proper operation, temperatures, pressures and speeds. Check for proper operation of all electionic,mechanical and electrical equipment requirment raw water.

Recommendations for Repairs and Corrections: List all determined deficiencies, malfunctions and damages identified by inspection and give recommendations for repair, replacement, etc.

This conculdes the basic outline of what will be observed, inspected and reported upon by the marine surveyor. The extensive use of the term "etc." is only to indicate there can and mostky will be more items to receive than can be described in this short narration.

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