How Much Does a Yacht Survey Cost in Turkey? What Drives the Price

“How much is a survey?” is usually the first question a buyer asks, and the honest answer is: it depends on what you need to know. A survey fee is not a fixed price for a fixed product; it reflects the size and complexity of the boat, the scope you agree, and the logistics of the day. This guide explains what drives the price of a yacht survey in Turkey, what you should expect to see in a quote, and how to compare quotes without paying for a cheap survey twice.

1. Boat size and type

The main driver is the amount of boat to inspect. A longer boat has more hull to sound and moisture-read, more deck hardware, more systems and more hours of work. Type matters as much as length:

• Sailing monohulls: Hull, keel attachment, rudder, rig and sails, plus engine and systems.
• Catamarans: Two hulls, two engines or saildrives, two steering systems and a bridgedeck structure. Roughly double the running gear to inspect.
• Motor yachts: Larger machinery spaces, generators, stabilisers where fitted, hydraulics and more complex electrical systems.
• Wooden, steel and aluminium boats: Each needs its own methods, such as ultrasonic thickness readings on metal hulls or detailed sounding on timber.

2. Scope: what exactly is being surveyed?

A pre-purchase survey, an insurance condition and valuation survey and a damage survey are different jobs with different reports. Within a pre-purchase survey, the scope can also vary:

• Is the boat inspected ashore, afloat, or both?
• Is a sea trial included?
• Is the rig inspected from deck level only, or aloft?
• Are additional tests required, such as engine oil analysis or an engine compression test?

Engine compression and blow-by tests are specialist work, coordinated with an independent engine technician and quoted separately. A clear scope in writing is the basis of a fair quote. See our survey types page for the differences.

3. Haul-out, lift and yard costs

The underwater hull, keel, rudder and running gear can only be seen with the boat out of the water. Haul-out, pressure wash and lift fees are charged by the marina or yard, not the surveyor, and are normally paid by the buyer. They vary by marina and boat size, so ask the yard before booking. A short lift of a few hours is usually enough for the hull, keel, rudder and shaft. Reliable moisture readings, however, need the boat to have been ashore and dry for at least a week, so plan accordingly if moisture is a concern.

4. Travel and location

Turkey’s yachting coast stretches from the Sea of Marmara to Antalya. A survey in a marina near the surveyor’s base costs less in travel than one several hundred kilometres away. Remote locations, early starts and overnight stays are reflected in the quote.

5. The report

What you pay for is not only the inspection but the report. A detailed report with measurements, photographs and prioritised findings takes time to write. Our reports run to 70+ pages, with findings graded A (safety or urgent), B (to be done soon) and C (advisory), and are delivered within 2–3 working days. A report you can use in negotiation, with your insurer and with your yard is worth more than a short checklist.

6. How to compare quotes

Comparing survey quotes on price alone is a common mistake. Ask each surveyor:

• What exactly is included: hull, deck, rig, engine, electrics, systems, sea trial?
• Which instruments are used: moisture meter, sounding hammer, thermal camera, ultrasonic thickness gauge?
• What does the report look like? Can you see a sample?
• When will the report be delivered?
• Is the surveyor independent of the seller, the broker and any yard?

A cheaper survey that leaves out the sea trial or the electrical system can cost far more if a problem appears after purchase. Our sample survey report shows what a full report contains.

7. False savings

• Skipping the haul-out: The underwater hull, keel and running gear remain unknown.
• Skipping the sea trial: Engine behaviour under load, temperatures and vibration remain unknown.
• Relying on the seller’s old survey: It describes the boat on a past date, for someone else, and possibly for a different purpose.
• Using a surveyor linked to the sale: Independence is the whole point of a survey.

8. Getting an itemised quote

The fastest way to get a price is to send the make and model, year, length, where the boat lies and what you need (pre-purchase, insurance, sea trial). Our survey quote calculator gives an instant itemised estimate, which is confirmed in a written quote.

Frequently asked questions

Who pays for the survey?

In a purchase, the buyer normally commissions and pays for the survey, and the report is prepared for the buyer.

Can the survey fee be negotiated into the purchase price?

The fee itself is paid to the surveyor; but the findings of the report are often used to renegotiate the price or to agree repairs before completion.

How long does a survey take on the day?

It depends on size and scope; most pre-purchase surveys with a haul-out and sea trial take one to two days.