is one of the best investments you will make as part of your boat or yacht buying process.
Let’s explore further. Marine surveyors come in all shapes and sizes and from various backgrounds with a huge variety of different skills sets. However, as professionals they are bound by a common code of conduct, quite often accompanied by a passion for their work. By using his/her skills, knowledge and forensic expertise, he/she can determine if you are about to make a serious and potentially financially disastrous mistake, or not. So why would you not pay a fair price for this invaluable service?
As a provider of a highly technical, professional service, it could be argued that a marine surveyor is no different from professionals in other industry sectors who have learnt their trade; e.g. an accountant, a solicitor or a financial adviser. They provide excellent services and charge an appropriate fee for them; therefore you should not expect a marine surveyor to be any different. In many cases a marine surveyor has cut his/her teeth and learned their profession over many years.
So what tips and advice can be offered when you need to instruct a marine surveyor? There are plenty to choose from and individual standards vary for sure.
CHOOSING A SURVEYOR THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU Instructing and engaging a marine surveyor, even for an experienced and knowledgeable yachtsman, or boater, can be daunting, let alone for a first timer. Logically, many people, although by no means all, will choose a marine surveyor based on location. It pays to shop around too as prices can vary, but beware – someone who is considerably cheaper than the rest may not be the best and, as in most walks of life, you generally get what you pay for!
A good tip and starting point is to only engage a marine surveyor who is a member of a professional body, or specialist surveying membership organisation. There are several in the UK and around the world and some (although not all) vet their members prior to granting membership. It is probably wise to avoid those who are not part of a recognised marine surveying organisation.
It is essential to choose a marine surveyor who has the right skill set and competency to survey your particular vessel and to successfully fulfil your brief and instructions. So, for example, if you are planning to purchase a heritage, wooden boat, choosing a marine surveyor who specialises in modern, production, GRP yachts, will not be the right surveyor. A quick check on the marine surveyor’s web site should give you an indication and a listing on one of the professional institute or surveyor membership web sites can also help. Ask
about his/her experience of handling
projects similar to yours.
The sometimes misused phrase ‘caveat
emptor’ - the concept that the buyer alone is responsible for checking the quality and suitability of the service before a purchase is made – most certainly applies here.
HOW CURRENT IS THE MARINE SURVEYOR IN THE MARKET? Technologies are changing fast. New models come on to the market regularly, some boasting the latest technological developments. New composites and materials are being brought to market all the time too. Are you sure that your chosen marine surveyor is equipped to deal with these? The International Institute of Marine Surveying helps to make this a little easier. Those members who are up-to-date with their continuing professional development are highlighted with an approved roundel on their web site listing.
HOW MUCH SHOULD YOU PAY AND WHAT ARE YOU BEING CHARGED FOR? There is no fixed price for a survey and you will find marked variations from one quote to another. Sometimes you will be quoted a price per foot, or per metre. Others will quote a set price for the job. Every surveyor has their own methods and ways of working. One good piece of advice is to ensure that once the survey is underway, you and/or the vendor are not present as distractions may cause the marine surveyor to miss something. They need to concentrate and focus, so whilst it is understandable that you want to be on hand and are eager to know the outcome of the survey, the best advice is to remain absent and let the marine surveyor complete the job in isolation.
As a rule of thumb for a medium sized, production yacht, expect a marine surveyor to be on site for most of the day conducting an in-depth survey and gathering the data he/she needs to compile his/her report. Most marine surveyors will spend a further full day compiling their report and recommendations, ensuring its accuracy before submitting it to you. So, you are paying a professional practitioner for two days of his/her time.
IN CONCLUSION Being a marine surveyor can be a challenging, tough and uncompromising job at times. Once instructed every marine surveyor will want to deliver the best possible survey and report on completion of the job. However, not always will you like their findings and recommendations, and as with any other professional in other walks of life, sometimes they must deliver bad or unpalatable news. But that is always preferable to knowingly letting someone put to sea in a vessel that is not fit for purpose, or which may not cope with the extreme demands of the sea, potentially jeopardising your life and property.”
The Report • March 2018 • Issue 83 | 29
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76
