Insurance assessing of a Hylas 46.


• There are now more marine surveyors that know the industry well, and less people who just decide to be a marine surveyor and hang out a shingle - (these inexperienced surveyors can miss important problems which can lead to accidents and drownings).


• I also think that there are more clients that blame the surveyor for any issues they have with their boats. They think the surveyor missed or assessed something incorrectly. They may come back after the survey, sometimes a month later and sometimes years later! I have to reply diplomatically and clearly, that the survey is based on the condition of the yacht, at the time, on the day of the survey.


• The public more commonly understand the benefits to having a survey when they are buying a boat. I often have clients that are grateful for a survey that helps them to make an informed decision when buying their boat.


• More people seem to


understand that it is an essential service because people need to make sure that when they spend big money, sometimes life savings, that they are getting value for the yacht they are buying. We are talking hundreds of thousands of dollars, sometimes a retirement fund!


• An accurate and thorough survey protects the client’s investment, and they know what they are getting for their money. It can also be a bargaining tool for a sale price reduction.


Peter (right) with his original mentor when he first started, Paul Slivka (left) the SAMS director in Australia (long ago retired but still a good friend) and next to Peter is Serge Testa whom he mentored but is also now retired. They’re standing next to a plaque by Redcliffe council celebrating Serge’s record for circumnavigating in the smallest boat, for which he still holds the record.


152 | ISSUE 115 | MAR 2026 | THE REPORT


Assisting Peter Lambert (left) with an Insurance assessing an Hylas 46.


• In Australia now, all the insurance companies require a marine survey every 5 years. This means that there is always work, even when boat sales are low (decrease in demand for pre- purchase), but there is always assessing work for insurance companies too.


Q3. We hear of ever-increasing temperatures affecting the Queensland area of Australia. The thought of being in a bilge/ engine bay inside a steel boat is unappealing. How are you coping with this phenomenon?


During an inspection, areas that can get hot, like the engine bay, are cool before the engine is started. More and more boats have air conditioning and often the temperature where


I work is quite pleasant. There is always a breeze on the water. Plus, the amount of time spent in small spaces is minimal in an inspection.


GRP (fibreglass) boats plus some timber and aluminum vessels make up the majority of my work and don’t get as hot as steel boats.


Q4. I mentioned your love of mentoring earlier, so, as a mentor, what personal satisfaction do you get from mentoring a less experienced surveyor and why?


Because I am so busy and many of the older surveyors have retired, the workload has increased significantly. When I train and mentor new surveyors, I can pass on work to them and give them quite a lot to do


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