Category: Marine Surveyors Ft Lauderdale

Are you ready to be a boat owner? If you are, congratulations. This is one of the best investments you will ever make. However, how long you will be happy with your choice will depend on the thought you gave the purchase before going through with it. For one, you don’t want your excitement to cloud your judgment. That is why you should consider working with marine surveyors Ft Lauderdale to help assess the condition of your target boat. The surveyor will also help you know if the boat meets your needs. Here are more considerations you must make.

Review the Boat’s History

It is easy to assume that a boat that looks great is well maintained. The truth is before putting their boat on the market, most sellers do a lot of cosmetic work. This is done to cover the flaws and win the trust of potential buyers. No matter how good a boat seems to be, always bring in marine surveyors Ft Lauderdale to perform a thorough inspection. The inspection will review any flaws the boat has and any major repairs that may have been done. Moreover, the survey report will give you the list of previous owners as well as how and where the boat has been used. The marine survey report will give a better understanding of the boat so that you make a more educated choice.

Insurance

While it is not as mandatory as car insurance, boat insurance is very important. It is what keeps your investment safe. Find an agent with underwriters that specialize in marine boat insurance. Working with an insurance agent helps find specific insurance companies in Fort Lauderdale as well as helps you compare rates and policies. How much you pay in boat insurance will depend on the age, size and value of your boat. If you are insuring a pre-owned boat, you will first be required to provide a survey report. The insurer will give you a list of items that should be inspected. The survey report helps the insurer know if the vessel is worth insuring and for how much.

Storage

Even in the summer months, you will not be using your boat every day. What this means is you have to find a place for it to stay when you don’t need it. If you buy a boat that can be put on a trailer, you can store it on your compound. However, if the boat is too big, you will have to think about hiring a professional to move it and get permits to transport it from points A to B. You may also want to think about docking it at a home port marina. All this will cost money so be ready.

Marine Surveyors Ft Lauderdale

 

Now that you have found the right used boat to buy, the next thing you should do is bring in experienced marine surveyors Ft Lauderdale trusts to assist with the inspection. While it is okay to buy a boat without performing a thorough inspection, you are in safer hands when you work with a competent surveyor. In this post, we will be looking at what marine surveyors focus on in a boat inspection.

Exterior

A marine survey usually starts with the visual inspection of the exterior of a boat. The goal is to help marine surveyors Ft Lauderdale depends on get a feel of the hull. This is very important because you don’t just want a beautiful boat but a sound boat that will keep you and your family safe. When inspecting the exterior of a boat, the surveyor will do the following:

• Check for damages or major repairs on the hull
• Inspect the condition of the decks, transom, fuel tank and bilge
• Make sure the stringers are connected properly
• If you are buying a sailing yacht, the boat surveyor will check the sails and rigging because they are very costly to replace.

Engine and electrical

Now that a record has been made on the condition of the exterior, the next step is to check the condition of the engine and electrical systems. These are basically the heart of the boat. If they are not working properly, they are not only expensive to repair and replace but your boat will not work without them. When inspecting the engine and the electrical, the surveyor will do the following:

• Check the condition of the oil
• Inspect for rust around the engine
• Inspect the belts, hoses and electrical connections
• Check the condition of the propeller
• Listen to the sound the engine makes
• Inspect all the electrics

Interior

The interior of a boat gives a good idea on how well the boat has been cared for. You should, however, note that some sellers will do temporary work to improve aesthetics. For the untrained eye, it is not easy to detect these kind of upgrades. An experienced marine surveyor in Ft Lauderdale will, however, be able to detect upgrades that have been done to cover the rot. Some of the things the surveyor will do include the following:

• Inspect for mold and mildew
• Check for leaks
• Check the hatches, doors and windshield

A lot goes into a boat inspection. To ensure you are not spending money on a doomed vessel, you will need the input of experienced marine surveyors in Ft Lauderdale. Hire someone that has inspected vessels that are similar to the one you are targeting.

Marine Surveyors Ft Lauderdale

 

In the last couple of years, the boat market has experienced major fluctuations in both buying trends and values. Many people all over Florida are buying boats mostly to enjoy the convenience of a personal boat. However, whether you are targeting a yacht or a small boat, when buying a used vessel, one thing that remains the same is the need to work with marine surveyors Ft Lauderdale trusts. But why is a pre-purchase marine survey so important?

There have been changes in some insurance company’s requirements before issuing a marine policy. One of those changes is the need for a pre-purchase marine inspection. This type of survey is more important today than ever before. But why is that the case? Why must you work with marine surveyors Ft Lauderdale affirms before buying a used boat?

To determine the value and overall condition

The key reason why you need a pre-purchase boat survey is so as to understand the exact condition of the vessel you are targeting as well as its fair market value. The primary job of a boat surveyor is to inspect every inch of your boat. This is done to determine if there are major issues that ought to be addressed. A sea trial may be done to determine how the vessel performs. At the end of the survey, your surveyor will provide a detailed survey report which includes photos of all the issues that were found.

It is only after a boat survey has been done that a surveyor is able to determine the value of your boat. Information on value is not only important for you during negotiations but also for the insurance companies and lenders.

It is a requirement by insurance companies

As aforementioned, most insurance companies require that you provide a survey report. In most cases, you will be provided with a list of items that have to be addressed in the survey. It is paramount that you find a surveyor that will be approved by your insurance provider. Even where an insurer chooses to send their own surveyors, to ensure you get comprehensive coverage, you should hire your own surveyor for an independent survey.

Get familiar with possible future repair or maintenance concerns

The third reason why you need a pre-purchase survey is so as to know the future maintenance or repair concerns. This information is fundamental during negotiations. If it costs a lot to maintain a vessel or handle certain repairs, you will want to make sure you get the best deal during purchase. A marine surveyor in Ft Lauderdale will help you understand all the maintenance and repair concerns you should be aware of. The surveyor also lets you know if there are major maintenance issues that need to be addressed prior to getting the boat back on the water.

Marine Surveyors Ft Lauderdale

 

Marine surveyors Ft Lauderdalehelp you understand the exact condition of a boat. Their input is particularly important when getting ready to sell a boat or getting ready to buy a used vessel. However, there are a couple of things you have to do in order to get the most from the input of a boat surveyor.

Hire a competent surveyor

The mistake most people make when hiring marine surveyors Ft Lauderdale is hiring a surveyor for the sake of hiring. They fail to look at the range of services a surveyor will offer, the experience a surveyor has and the reputation of the surveyor. In the long run, they end up being frustrated with the boat survey services they get. To avoid these issues, you must always do thorough research on a surveyor. Make sure you are choosing someone that has the experience and know-how to offer the best services in a boat survey. The person you hire must also have great communication skills.

Stay out of the surveyor’s way

Most boat surveyors like it when you are around during the survey. That way you will be able to ask any question you may have as well as answer questions from the surveyor. When you are around, you will also be able to help the surveyor navigate the boat and help where possible. However, being present does not mean you get in the surveyor’s way. The job of the surveyor will be slower if you keep on hovering. You need to give the surveyor enough room to work.

Sea trials are not boat rides

The purpose of a sea trial is to help the surveyor check the systems, generators, electronics and other components on the boat. During this time, the surveyor will need to focus on how the various components function to determine their condition. For this to happen, you need a few people on the boat during the sea trial. A sea trial is not the time to take your family on a joy ride. Leave your kids, pets and aunt at home. You can bring a friend or two but not a crowd as that will get in the way of the surveyor.

Surveyors want to build relationships

Last but not least, your boat surveyor in Ft Lauderdale will be striving to build a long-term relationship with you. Most surveyors will tell you that their work is only as good as their last survey. As a result, surveyors are happy to talk things over and answer any questions you may have. The goal is to make you feel comfortable and happy working with them.

Marine Surveyors Ft Lauderdale

 

No-one loves unnecessary expenses. This is more so when it comes to boat ownership. When buying a boat, the last thing you want is for it to be a burden due to the myriad repairs that have to be done. That is why you pay marine surveyors Ft Lauderdaleto help inspect the boat top to bottom to make sure it doesn’t have any hidden issues. In this post, we shall be looking at some of the things you can do to save money with boat surveys. Let’s get started.

Instruct your surveyor

Prior to hiring marine surveyors Ft Lauderdale, it is imperative that you be clear on what you need. For example, if you need a survey done to help with boat insurance, you need to find a marine surveyor that is experienced in performing surveys for insurance companies. In that case, the surveyor will let you know if you will end up spending too much on insurance or not. The surveyor will also let you know the type of cover you should pick and how much you can expect to get.

All in all, before any survey work starts, you need to reach out to your insurance company. Pay attention to what they want to see in the survey report and the type of surveyors they accept. In most cases, underwriters will provide you with a list of what should be covered in a boat survey. That way you will be able to instruct your surveyor accordingly and avoid paying for inspections that you will not need.

Keep in mind that all someone needs to become a marine surveyor is a paying customer. This means it is your job to find the most qualified surveyor for your needs. Most surveyors lack formal qualification while others don’t have any proper training. Depending on what you need, find a surveyor that has experience and a good reputation doing what you need. That way you will avoid getting a mediocre survey report.

Choose the right type of survey

The type of survey you select will further impact how much you end up spending on surveys. The method of survey that you select will mostly be dependent on the materials your craft is built from. If your vessel is made of aluminum or steel, the surveyor will pay attention to the plate thickness using ultrasound and a hammer. They will also focus on the welding. With fiberglass, different disciplines will be needed. Focus will be on the high load areas, the physical structure and moisture levels. The surveyor will also focus on damage/ groundings.

Getting the right inspection is the key to avoiding money wastage on a doomed boat. Always hire the most competent surveyor and know exactly what you need out of the survey. If a boat seems to be too problematic, you should avoid it.

Marine Surveyors Ft Lauderdale

 

Buying a boat is a big investment. You don’t want to make any decision that ends up taunting you for years to come. That is why you must make the decision with care. Involving marine surveyors Ft Lauderdale is one of the key things you can do to avoid making the wrong decisions. This is because surveyors understand boats better and will be able to offer valuable advice on the vessel you are considering. Let’s take a look at the top mistakes you must avoid when buying your first boat.

Relying on an old survey report

The fact most people fail to understand is that a survey report is simply a snapshot of a boat’s condition at the time a survey was done. A lot can change within a few days. A boat can be involved in an accident or the owner may change up some things. It is for this reason that when buying a used boat, you have to involve independent marine surveyors Ft Lauderdale.

The role of a boat surveyor is to perform a thorough assessment of the boat. They will be able to identify flaws in the vessel and make recommendations on repairs. The surveyor will also help you know if the boat has been priced fairly. If you need financing or insurance, in most cases you will require a survey report in order to qualify.

Buying too big

Just because you are fortunate enough to buy a 65-foot catamaran does not mean you should buy one. When searching for a boat to buy, you need to know what you need it for. You also have to be realistic about your skills and select a boat you are certain you can manage comfortably. Keep in mind having more space onboard does not mean you will use it all. A larger boat will also attract more marina and berthing fees, maintenance and haul out costs.

Failing to budget

A common mistake people make when buying a boat is assuming that the sale price is the only price they will pay. There are several expenses you have to keep in mind. They include marina and berthing fees, maintenance costs and the cost of insurance. When it is well maintained, a boat will have a better resale value when it is time to sell it.

Not asking for expert advice

As a first time buyer, there is a lot you don’t know about boats. The best thing is you don’t have to do everything alone. Advice and expertise from marine surveyors Ft Lauderdale will help you know if you are making the right investment. Always refrain from doing everything on your own.

Marine Surveyors Ft Lauderdale