The method of a survey is the same on every boat: measure, sound, test under load, record. What changes is where the weight falls. On a catamaran it is the bridgedeck and beams; on a trawler the fuel system and autonomy; on a gulet the fastenings.
Detailed pages by type
This page shows what comes forward by type. The point is not to say "every boat is different", it is to let you know which item is critical on your boat before the survey starts.
Survey Focus by Type
| Type | What comes forward | Critical note |
|---|---|---|
| Monohull sailing yacht | Keel attachment and root area · rig tension and terminals · chainplate bedding · rudder bearing and blade interior · core around deck hardware · sails and furling | Keel root and chainplates are the two critical points on this class. On a boat with evidence of grounding, no conclusion is drawn until the keel bolts have been removed and measured. |
| Catamaran / multihull | Bridgedeck and beams · two engines and two saildrives · a separate moisture map for each hull · davit and aft platform attachments · load distribution and trim | Not twice the work of a monohull, different work. Where the beams meet the hulls, and the laminate under the bridgedeck, have no equivalent on a monohull. |
| Trimaran | Main hull and amas · aka connections and folding mechanisms · separate readings on each hull · structural symmetry and deformation | On folding systems the pins and bearings are critical. Water in an ama upsets the trim, so it affects safety as well as performance. |
| Planing motor yacht | Engines and gearboxes · shaft line or drive system · trim tabs and stabilisers · fuel capacity · electrical load and generator · fire system | On a boat that planes, structural load concentrates in the stringers and bottom laminate. Areas that take repeated slamming are sounded separately. |
| Trawler / long-range motor yacht | An engine running long hours at low revs · fuel capacity and treatment · stabilisers and paravanes · bilge and engine room layout · autonomy equipment (watermaker, generator) | On a trawler the question is not speed but continuity. Hours are high, and with regular service that is normal; what is examined is whether the maintenance record can be traced. |
| Gulet and wooden boats | Fastenings · caulking seams · keel and frames · deck leaks · standard of the electrical installation · fire risk | On a wooden boat the work starts at the fastenings, not the visible surface. Türkiye has a large gulet fleet, and electrical installations are the most frequently recorded group of defects. |
| Classic and historic boats | Compatibility of original material with past interventions · keel-to-frame connections · method of previous repairs · documents and the boat's history · irreplaceable parts | On a classic boat, value lies in retained originality. A 'practical' repair in modern material can reduce the boat's worth. |
| RIB and fast boats | Tube condition and bonded seams · valves and air loss · bottom laminate and slamming areas · outboard bracket and transom · steering and controls | Tube repair depends on the fabric: hypalon and PVC need different adhesives. The wrong material opens a seam within a season. |
| Steel and aluminium hulls | Plate thickness (ultrasonic, on a grid) · weld runs and the heat-affected zone · cathodic protection and anode plan · internal surfaces and unreachable spaces · insulation and condensation | On a metal hull measurement is mandatory; visual inspection is not enough. Spaces that cannot be reached go into the report as limitations. |
| Ex-charter boats | Rudder bearings · winches and deck gear · age of sails and running rigging · interior wear · engine hours against service records · modification records | Charter history does not mean a bad boat. A regularly serviced charter yacht beats a neglected private one. What is examined is the record, not the badge. |
Why Scope and Duration Differ
| Type | Reason |
|---|---|
| Catamaran / trimaran | Two or three hulls, two engines, additional structural areas. Longer than a monohull of the same length. |
| Metal hull | Ultrasonic readings follow a grid; the number of points sets the time. |
| Wooden boat / gulet | Fastening checks and caulking inspection are done point by point; a surface scan is not enough. |
| Trawler / long range | More systems: generator, watermaker, stabilisers, additional fuel circuits. |
| RIB | A small hull, but tube inspection and the transom bracket are separate items. |
| Classic boat | Examining documents and history takes as long as the technical inspection. |
Priorities Change With the Buyer
- First boat: safety items and running costs come first. The report is written to answer "what will this boat need in her first season with you".
- Going into charter: safety equipment, document compliance and durability weigh heaviest.
- Planning long passages: autonomy, redundancy (two pumps, two charging paths), fuel capacity and access for repair at sea.
- Buying as an investment: resale value, the document chain and whether the work done is on record.
Scope is decided together: nobody writes a scope without knowing the type, the age and your plans for the boat. The same 45-footer is examined differently for weekend use and for a Mediterranean circuit. We talk about that at the quotation stage.
More boat types
Fishing BoatGRP and woodenLarge Yacht (24 m+)Motor yachts and guletsBozburun GuletWooden gulets and builds
Frequently Asked Questions
Two hulls, two engines, two saildrives and structural areas with no monohull equivalent: the bridgedeck and beams. More work means more time and a different fee.
Yes. On a wooden boat the work starts at the fastenings; caulking and surface come second. We work on gulets and traditional craft as well as modern wooden hulls.
Relative to value. Tube condition, bottom laminate and the transom bracket can all be measured; on a second-hand RIB the age of the tubes is the largest cost item.
The method is the same, the weight is different. On a classic, the method of past repairs and retained originality matter as much as the technical findings.
Not on their own. A marine diesel running at low revs accumulates hours and that is normal. What decides is the traceability of service records and behaviour under load.
Judge by the record. A regularly serviced charter yacht can be in better condition than a neglected private one, and the survey shows that by measurement.
Related Pages
Survey by MakeBuild philosophy and checkpointsGRP / Fibreglass SurveyLaminate, moisture, coreSteel / Aluminium SurveyUltrasonic readings and weldsWooden YachtsFastenings and caulkingSurvey TypesWhich scope you needRepair Guide100 findings and correct repairSurvey QuoteFee by length and scope
Let us set the scope for your type of boat
Send type, length, age and how you plan to use her; you get scope and fee itemised.
💬 WhatsApp 📝 Written quote 📞 +90 501 5 SURVEYScope: The survey is non-destructive and nothing is dismantled; details on the survey types page.
Continue with this topic
- RIBs and trawlers: Special boat types on their own pages.