Hull Surveys
Getting a Hull Survey is always a good idea. Whether its for peace of mind or requested by your insurance company.
If you’re not familiar with a Hull Survey, it’s an in-depth inspection of a vessel and its systems. The survey is an educated opinion made by an accredited surveyor. The thoroughness of the survey depends on what information you want.
A Pre-Purchase Survey is usually the most extensive and arranged by the buyer before the purchase of a new or used boat.
During a pre-purchase survey the surveyor will inspect every accessible space of the vessel. They will be looking for issues with the hull, superstructure, engines, drives/running gear, electrical AC/DC, and any additional system on the vessel. This survey is usually conducted out of the water and again in the water with a sea trial of the vessel.
You can also expect a Fair Market Value for the vessel based on condition and like sales in your area.
A Condition and Value Survey is sometimes requested by your insurance company to write the policy. This is usually less extensive and might not require and out of water inspection. They will be looking at seaworthiness and safety of the vessel.
The Damage Survey is to assess the extent of the damage sustained to the hull and systems. This survey is typically done by an insurance company to investigate a claim.
The costs of a survey depends on what type of survey you are requesting, the size and type of you boat, and where the boat is located. Surveys will range from $14-$75 dollars per foot costing more as the size goes up.. When interviewing surveyors, they will give you an estimate of how much it will cost and how long it will take them to do it.
If you are looking for a hull surveyor in your area, Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors, SAMS, is a great place to start. https://www.marinesurvey.org/ They set the standards and practices for marine surveyors worldwide. Look for a surveyor that is a member of SAMS and ABYC.
Its also a good Idea to update your hull survey every 3-5 years.
