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Yacht Survey Cost in Turkey, Instant Quote

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Survey Price Calculator

40 ft
Optional Add-Ons
+€150
+€400

Estimated Survey Fee

€950

* Contact us for a firm quote

Duration1.5 days
Report2-3 working days
StandardABYC

Your quote message is pre-filled automatically. Your details are never shared with third parties.

Select your boat length, type and location, your estimate appears instantly. The firm quote follows in writing, by WhatsApp or email. Pre-purchase, insurance and condition surveys to ABYC standards. Enter your boat details for a ballpark estimate in under 30 seconds, no sign-up required.⁠⁠‍​‌‌⁠​​‍⁠​⁠‍​​‌⁠​‍​‌​

The report runs to 70+ pages; every finding has a photo, its location and an A-B-C priority. See how the report is structured · Example findings

🏆ABYC Professional Member surveyor ⚓149 GT Licensed Captain 📋Transparent Process 🛡️Written Contract

Types of Survey

Every survey produces a comprehensive written report in English and Turkish, prepared in the format international marine insurers ask for.

🔍

Pre-Purchase Survey

The most thorough assessment we offer. Full hull inspection, equipment inventory, sea trial evaluation, engine inspection and osmosis screening. Delivered within 2-3 working days.

  1. 1EnquiryWhatsApp / form
  2. 2QuotationItemised, written
  3. 3BookingLift-out arranged
  4. 4AshoreMeasure and sound
  5. 5Sea trialUnder load
  6. 6Report2-3 working days
  7. 7DiscussionReading findings
Seven steps, with the end of each one known before it starts.

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Insurance Survey

Condition and market-value report prepared in the format insurers ask for. Includes photographic evidence and structural commentary.

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Osmosis & Hull Analysis

Systematic moisture survey using calibrated ultrasonic meters. Blister mapping and delamination assessment with remediation advice and contractor recommendations.

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Condition Survey

Ideal for vessels in storage or those requiring a periodic structural health check. Covers hull, deck, rig, accommodation and machinery spaces.

Survey price range

The bands come from the survey calculator's own rates: lowest to highest fee in the Bodrum area, from a new boat to one over 15 years old. The exact figure depends on length, type, age and where the boat lies.⁠⁠‍​‌‌⁠​​‍⁠​⁠‍​​‌⁠​‍​‌​

LengthSailing yachtMotor yachtCatamaranOn site
20-30 ft (6.1-9.1 m)€450-€850€600-€1,100€700-€1,3501.5 days
31-40 ft (9.4-12.2 m)€700-€1,150€900-€1,450€1,100-€1,8001.5 days
41-55 ft (12.5-16.8 m)€900-€1,550€1,200-€2,000€1,500-€2,5002 days
56-70 ft (17.1-21.3 m)€1,250-€1,950€1,650-€2,550€2,000-€3,1502.5 days
71-85 ft (21.6-25.9 m)€1,600-€2,400€2,100-€3,100€2,550-€3,8502.5 days

Included

  • Hull, deck and systems inspection ashore; moisture, thickness and electrical readings
  • The surveyor's work and readings on the sea trial
  • A 70+ page photographic report with findings graded A, B or C
  • Report delivered in 2-3 working days, then a walk-through of the findings

Charged separately

  • Haul-out, crane and hardstanding: invoiced directly by the marina
  • Travel: outside the İzmir and Bodrum areas, €40-350 depending on location
  • Sea trial costs: fuel, marina exit and use of the boat are on the boat's side
  • Compression and blowby: with an independent engine technician, €400-750 per engine
  • Diver underwater check: €150 where the boat cannot be hauled

Exact price in the calculatorRequest a written quote

Scope: The survey is non-destructive and nothing is dismantled; details on the survey types page.

Continue with this topic

  • What sets the price?: How length, type, age, location and scope affect the price, with a worked example.

What Every Survey Includes

We use ABYC standards as our baseline and go further where Turkish flag regulations require additional checks.

✅
Hull & Structural Integrity

Fibreglass, steel, aluminium or timber, full ultrasonic and visual inspection.

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Deck & Superstructure

Hatches, portlights, chainplates, stanchions and through-deck fittings.

✅
Rigging & Sails

Standing and running rigging, mast, boom, furling systems and sails.

✅
Engine & Machinery

Start and run procedure, cooling system, exhaust, fuel system and bilge.

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Electrical Systems

12V and 230V AC systems checked to ABYC E-11 standard. Shore power, batteries and bilge pumps.

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Safety Equipment

Life raft, EPIRB, flares, fire extinguishers and gas systems audited against current regulations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know before booking a survey.

The fee is based on the boat's length (in feet), type (sailing yacht, motor yacht or catamaran), age and the survey location. A 40 ft sailing yacht in the Bodrum area typically costs €900-€1,150, depending on age. Motor yachts and catamarans carry a surcharge due to additional mechanical and structural complexity. Boats over 15 years old also attract a small age supplement. Travel to distant Turkish ports is added by region, as shown in the calculator.
Yes, for a comprehensive pre-purchase or insurance survey the boat must be lifted out and left to dry ashore for at least a week. Moisture-meter readings are unreliable on a wet surface, and underwater components (propeller, shaft, rudder, keel, hull skin fittings) cannot be properly inspected in the water. Haul-out is arranged by the buyer with the marina; the cost is additional and varies by vessel size. We are happy to advise which marinas in each area offer the best facilities.
A pre-purchase survey on a boat under 40 ft typically takes 1-1.5 days including a sea trial. Boats between 40 and 55 ft normally require 2 full days; larger yachts up to 2.5 days. The written report, in English and Turkish, is delivered digitally in 2-3 working days. We do not submit a report before we are confident every finding is properly documented and photographed.
A full pre-purchase survey to ABYC standards covers: hull and structural integrity (visual inspection and moisture-meter survey), deck hardware and chainplates, standing and running rigging, sails, engine and mechanical systems (start, run and load test), electrical systems to ABYC E-11, fuel and gas installations, safety equipment (life raft, EPIRB, flares, fire extinguishers), navigation instruments, and all through-hull fittings. A sea trial is included to assess performance, steering and engine behaviour under way.
Absolutely, and we actively encourage it. Being present lets you see issues first-hand and ask questions as they arise. Many buyers find that an hour walking through the boat with the surveyor is more informative than reading the report alone. If you are travelling from abroad, we can coordinate the haul-out and survey dates to minimise your time in Turkey. We also offer a debrief call after the report is delivered.
A pre-purchase survey is a complete structural and mechanical inspection intended to give a buyer a full picture of the boat's condition before committing to a purchase. An insurance survey (sometimes called a condition and valuation survey) is a narrower assessment that establishes the vessel's current market value and confirms it is insurable; it is usually required when taking out or renewing a marine policy. The scope of an insurance survey is somewhat shorter, it typically does not include a full sea trial, which is why the fee is around 30% lower. Both types are prepared in the format Turkish and European insurers ask for; confirm acceptance with your own insurer beforehand.
No. We survey on the Turkish coast between Istanbul and Mersin. If the boat is in Greece and will be brought to Turkey, we can survey it on arrival; for a survey in Greece itself, use a surveyor based there.
No, the calculator gives a reliable ballpark figure but the confirmed price is agreed in writing once you send the boat details. Occasionally a vessel has unusual features (very old age, composite construction, complex systems) that affect the fee. We always confirm the final price before the survey date so there are no surprises. We do not charge for the initial consultation.
The report is prepared exclusively for whoever commissioned the survey, almost always the buyer, and is not shared with the seller or any third party without your written consent; that independence is the whole point of hiring an outside surveyor. Payment is due on or before the survey day, by bank transfer or cash, and the report is released once payment is complete. Because the inspection itself has been carried out in full, the fee is non-refundable even if you subsequently decide not to proceed with the purchase.
Yes. Reports follow an ABYC-aligned international format prepared in the format insurers, banks and leasing companies typically ask for for mortgage or finance purposes. If the survey is for insurance, let us know the insurer's name and policy type in advance so we can tailor the report format to their specific requirements and minimise the chance of a follow-up request.
A critical (Class A) finding, a structural crack, serious osmosis, or an electrical fire risk, for example, is flagged clearly in the report along with an estimated repair cost. From there the decision is entirely yours: use the finding to negotiate a lower price, require the seller to fix it before closing, or walk away from the purchase altogether. Our job as the surveyor isn't to make that call for you, it's to give you a solid technical basis for making it yourself.
It's worth paying attention to. A legitimate seller has no real technical reason to resist an independent survey, if the boat is sound, the survey actually helps them justify their asking price. Persistent refusal usually means either something is being hidden or the seller is trying to rush the deal through before you can look closely. We'd suggest reconsidering the purchase in that situation.
A factory warranty covers manufacturing defects, but workmanship errors, damage during commissioning, or knocks in transit can fall outside its scope. For new boats we can plan a narrower-scope inspection focused on installation and finish quality rather than a full pre-purchase survey, we'll agree the scope and fee together based on the boat and what you need checked.
There can be, which is exactly why it matters who you choose. Some surveyors get regular referral work from certain brokers, which creates pressure to soften findings. We don't solicit work from brokers, our fee doesn't depend on whether the sale goes through, and the report is delivered only to whoever commissioned it, almost always the buyer. That independence is the whole point of hiring an outside surveyor.
Strong wind, storms or rough seas can make a sea trial unsafe. In that case we complete the full on-land inspection and reschedule the sea trial once conditions allow, at no extra charge. Haul-out timing is also subject to the marina or yard's own weather policy, we coordinate that with them ahead of the appointment.
The core methodology is the same, but material-specific tests come into play. Wooden hulls get moisture readings and rot detection backed up by sounding (tap testing); steel and aluminium hulls get ultrasonic thickness measurement, corrosion/pitting checks and galvanic isolation testing; GRP (fibreglass) hulls get the osmosis screening described elsewhere on this page. Pricing works the same way regardless of material, just select the boat type in the calculator above.
During the survey we physically record the Hull Identification Number and cross-check it against the registration documents; any mismatch or sign of tampering is flagged as a finding. A formal international stolen-vessel database check (e.g. Interpol's register) is a separate service, we can point you to it on request, but it isn't included in the standard survey fee.
Yes. Banks and finance companies evaluating a boat loan or mortgage typically require an independent condition and valuation report, and ours includes both the technical findings and a market value estimate suited to that purpose. If you let us know your bank's specific format requirements before the survey, we can build those into the report.
The inspection ashore goes ahead in rain; only visual examination and moisture readings are deferred while the hull surface is wet. A sea trial is not run if wind and sea are unsafe, that part moves to another day and the report says so.
It does. Readings taken on a wet surface come out high and do not reflect the laminate's real condition. Moisture is therefore read with the hull surface dry, after the boat has stood ashore and dry for at least a week. The conditions are recorded in the report.
Moisture meter readings shift with temperature, so ambient temperature is recorded during the survey and compared against a dry reference area. What is read is the difference between areas, not a single absolute figure.
Yes, and winter has advantages: boats are ashore, access is easy and crane slots are flexible. The one thing to plan for is a dry hull before moisture readings, in a wet spell, time under cover is scheduled.
A postponement carries no extra charge. What can be completed is completed; what cannot, usually the sea trial, moves to a new date, and the report follows once that part is done.
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Understanding Marine Surveys in Turkey

A closer look at what determines price, how the inspection actually works, and why skipping it is rarely worth the saving.

What Sets the Price

Four variables drive the fee, in order of impact: boat length (every extra foot adds inspection time and scope), boat type (a catamaran's two hulls add 30-50% over a monohull of the same length), age (vessels over 15 years need a more detailed osmosis and structural check), and location (İzmir is the base area; regions outside the İzmir area and Ayvalık carry a travel surcharge). Sea trial and the digital report are always included; haul-out fees are not.

FactorImpactWhy
Boat lengthVery highEvery extra foot adds inspection time and scope
Boat typeHighCatamarans add 30-50% for the second hull
Boat ageMedium15+ years needs deeper osmosis and structural checks
LocationMediumBodrum is base; Istanbul and Greece add travel cost
Survey packageMediumPre-purchase > insurance ≈ valuation
Add-onsLowDiver check, engine diagnostic, priority service

The Technical Methods We Use

Moisture-meter survey is the primary method for detecting osmosis in GRP hulls: a calibrated moisture meter systematically scans the entire underwater surface, and readings are mapped against baselines for the hull material and age. The hull needs at least at least a week dry before scanning for a reliable reading. Thermal imaging scans the electrical panel, wiring runs, connections and engine to catch fire risk early, before a fault becomes visible. Sea trial tests the engine, gearbox, steering and hull behaviour under real load, vibration, overheating and structural noise that never show up with the engine idling at the dock only appear once the boat is moving.

Osmosis: The GRP Owner's Biggest Risk

Osmosis is water penetrating between the laminate layers of a fibreglass hull, triggering chemical breakdown. Early-stage osmosis shows as small surface blisters and is comparatively cheap to fix. Advanced osmosis has worked deep into the laminate, threatens structural integrity, and can require €8,000-€25,000 or more in gel-coat peel, drying, epoxy barrier and laminate repair, depending on length and depth. We combine moisture readings with systematic percussive testing and visual inspection to catch it at the earliest possible stage.

A properly executed survey report typically pays for itself many times over, both at the negotiating table and later, at renewal, by giving the insurer an accurate picture of the vessel's real condition.

What Buying Without a Survey Can Cost You

  • Advanced osmosis: €8,000-€25,000 or more in repair
  • Hidden structural damage: filled cracks or resin-injected fractures under cosmetic gelcoat
  • Engine overhaul: high-hour or worn engines, €10,000-€30,000
  • Electrical fire risk: old or improvised wiring
  • Rigging failures: hidden wire fatigue and terminal corrosion

Where We Survey

  • Bodrum & Milas: Milta Marina, Bodrum Marina, Torba Marina, Yalıkavak Marina
  • Göcek & Fethiye: Club Marina, Setur, D-Marin and İskele marinas
  • Marmaris: Netsel Marina, Marmaris Yacht Marina
  • Istanbul & North Aegean: Ataköy, Kalamış, Ayvalık, Çeşme marinas
  • Antalya & Mediterranean: Antalya Marina, Kemer, Finike, Kaş
  • Mersin & Eastern Mediterranean: Mersin Marina, Kumkuyu, Taşucu

Who Should Book a Survey

  • Second-hand boat buyers: the single most important use case, a survey grounds the purchase decision in fact rather than the listing photos
  • Anyone insuring a boat: most insurers require a condition report for vessels over a certain age
  • Overseas buyers: essential when purchasing remotely without visiting Turkey in person first
  • Sellers: a pre-sale condition report justifies your asking price and builds buyer trust
  • Banks & finance companies: independent valuation is required for mortgage or leasing arrangements

What to Check Before Buying a Used Boat

The most common regret we see as surveyors is a buyer who skipped the survey and relied on a visual look alone. At minimum, check these yourself, though most can only be assessed reliably once the boat is hauled out and with the right equipment:

  • Below the waterline: blistering, softness, or irregularities under the paint can signal osmosis
  • Engine room smell: burning, fuel, or mildew odours are an early warning sign
  • Damp or staining: water marks on cabin ceilings or walls point to a hidden leak
  • Electrical panel: improvised wiring or scorched sockets are a fire risk
  • Service records: engine maintenance history and hour meter should match the listing
  • Registration and HIN match: the hull identification number must exactly match the registration papers

If you're unsure about any of these, or even if you aren't, given the sums involved, an independent survey surfaces problems that aren't visible to the eye and strengthens your negotiating position.

Survey Terms, Explained

TermMeaning
SurveyComprehensive technical inspection of a boat
SurveyorIndependent, credentialed vessel inspector
OsmosisChemical breakdown from water penetrating a GRP hull
GRPGlass Reinforced Plastic, fibreglass hull material
HINHull Identification Number
Sea trialUnder-way test of engine and systems in real conditions
BlisterSurface bubble caused by osmosis
LOALength Overall, the boat's total length
ABYCAmerican Boat & Yacht Council, international small-craft standards body

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