On completion of the work, you will then need to carry out a final inspection in order for you to update your report to confirm that all repairs were carried out to an acceptable standard and then signed-off by you.


Most boatyards these days are able to project-manage their own work although in some smaller boatyards, an owner may prefer you to project-manage the work if the yard agrees to this arrangement. In my experience most boatyards are happy for you to be there providing your presence does not impact too much on their schedule.


To summarise, your role as a surveyor will usually end when you present your survey report to an owner. It may then continue with you overseeing repairs, or as the project manager responsible for scheduling the work and the budget.


SURVEY FEES


At the last Large Yacht & Small Craft Working Group seminar, those present were asked whether they invoiced their fees before or after the survey. Surprisingly, most surveyors indicated that they invoiced after the survey. I wonder how many of them have had disagreements with an owner regarding the content of the report they received where the owner had asked for a reduction in the fee or refused to pay at all? Personally, I always send the invoice out beforehand which has to be paid before the agreed date of the survey and, this condition is part of my TOB and I have never had a refusal.


Several years ago, I surveyed a yacht before sending the invoice to the owner and regretted it. Before the survey, the owner claimed that his vessel was in excellent condition and that I would not find ‘very much’ to report. In fact my inspections


found several major structural issues which, in the event, he did not agree with even though he shadowed me around the boat all day. He refused to pay my standard fee and insisted on a large reduction. Lesson learnt, hence my upfront payment terms.


You will also need to bear in mind that, if you have been asked to project manage yacht repairs, you must establish whether your PI insurance policy actually covers you for this. Many policies do not so you must check with your insurance provider before agreeing to manage a project for which terms may be agreed separately.


PREPARING FOR THE SURVEY


Having received details of a vessel for survey, research the designer, the builder and the type and age of the craft to be surveyed. You will then form an early mental picture of your project and save valuable time before carrying out your inspections. Many owners like to be present during the survey, which is fine, but they do tend to chat about the boat rather than allowing you to progress unhindered.


There are several types of survey depending on the owner’s requirements. If the survey is to assess the structural condition in order to insure the vessel, the


Insurer will usually insist on an out-of-water survey. They will also require the surveyor to provide a valuation and, in this regard, you will need to know the market value of specific vessel designs and types as well as making allowances for the condition and any historical value. One-off designs are much more difficult to value and can be a very subjective issue. However, if the designer is well known, that is a good starting point in pinning down information.


For a pre-purchase survey, recommend to the owner that the craft should be hauled-ashore, pressure-washed and chocked up in a boatyard for at least a week to allow for some flexibility with timing. Generally, the surveyor should expect that a thirty foot traditionally-built yacht in reasonable condition could take up to two days to carry out a full condition survey of the hull, deck and rig with possibly a return visit to the boat to clarify a particular detail.


Most importantly, the surveyor should not be too hasty to carry out the survey as wooden boats can have many hidden defects which may take time to discover. The surveyor should discuss the schedule with the owner and will also need to consider the time factor when quoting his fee for the Survey Contract.


The Report • December 2018 • Issue 86 | 53


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