A survey report sets the price of a boat and the size of your risk. Who writes it matters as much as what it says.
This page sets out what to look at when choosing a surveyor, and which questions to ask.
1. Which survey do you need?
Two questions; we will tell you the rest.
2. Seven Questions to Ask
| Question | Why it matters | What a poor answer sounds like |
|---|---|---|
| Which standards do you work to? | A report should rest on measurement, not opinion. With no standard there is no basis for comparison. | "I go by my experience." |
| Which instruments do you use? | Moisture meter, sounding hammer, thermal camera, borescope, ultrasonic on metal hulls, which reading comes from which instrument? | "I can see it with my eyes, no instruments needed." |
| May I see a sample report? | Format, depth and readability should be seen in advance. | "Reports are confidential, I cannot show one." (A redacted sample can always be shown.) |
| Do you sell repairs? Do you take commission from yards? | If the person who finds the defect also sells the repair, he has an interest in its size. | "We survey and we fix, one-stop service." |
| What does the fee cover, and what does it not? | Exclusions, crane, hardstanding, travel, belong in writing from the start. | A verbal figure and no written scope. |
| How long must the boat be ashore before moisture readings? | Laminate moisture only means something once the boat has dried out. The answer shows whether the surveyor knows the method. | "Doesn't matter, I can read it afloat." or "Four or five hours is enough." |
| When will the report be delivered? | A realistic period. A very short one means either a stock template or superficial work. | "You'll have it this evening." (Impossible for a 70+ page report.) |
3. Work We Coordinate
Some procedures are carried out by authorised specialists. Where you need one, we arrange it and read the result alongside your survey report: tonnage measurement for registration, MCA coding for Red Ensign commercial vessels, and classification society surveys.
4. Signs of a Poor Survey
- A short report. A ten-page "report" is usually a checklist, without measurements or photographs of findings.
- No limitations recorded. Every survey has places that could not be reached. If a report states none, either they were not written down or they were not looked at.
- No classification of findings. A list without priority does not tell you what to do.
- Moisture read on a boat just lifted. A reading taken with less than a week ashore is misleading, and that must be said in the report.
- Fee tied to findings. "No charge if I find nothing" pushes a surveyor either to find nothing or to exaggerate.
- A surveyor recommended by the seller. Not necessarily bad, but the relationship is yours to ask about.
5. What You Should Do Before the Survey
- Have the boat standing ashore and dry for at least a week, otherwise moisture readings mean nothing.
- Book the lift and crane in advance; slots tighten at the end of season.
- Ask the seller for the document file: registration, service records, previous reports, invoices and photographs.
- If there is to be a sea trial, agree fuel and crew arrangements beforehand.
- Ask for the scope in writing: what is included and what is not.
Frequently Asked Questions
They are useful as a first filter: they show the person is subject to an organisation's rules and must stay current. On their own they are not enough. The real test is method, which standards, which instruments, and what the report actually looks like.
You may, but ask first: is there a working relationship with the seller or broker, and how many times have they worked together? If the answer is vague, choose your own.
An appraisal is a half-day walk-through: is this boat a serious candidate or not. No instrument readings, no formal report. A full survey is measured, reported over 70+ pages and includes a sea trial.
Because everything about our work can be checked: the method and its limits are written down, the instruments are listed one by one, the report format is open and the conflict-of-interest rules are explicit. We sell no repairs and take no commission from yards. Where work requires specific authorisation we coordinate it for you. The soundest way to judge a surveyor is by method rather than by claims.
Related Pages
AboutOur own answers to those questionsOur StandardsMethod, instruments, ethical limitsIndependence StatementConflict of interest rulesSurvey TypesScopes and how they differSample Survey ReportReport content and finding structureTerms of ServiceContract and limitation of liabilitySurvey QuoteFee by length and scope
Let us work out which scope you need
Tell us your situation. We will not sell you a scope you do not need.
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