What a marine survey actually covers, and what it does not

A surveyor's job is to document the condition of the vessel on the day of inspection, identify deficiencies, and assess whether she is fit for her intended service. That is a narrower job than most buyers imagine, and knowing the boundary is what lets you use the report properly.

The three surveys people conflate

Condition and value (pre-purchase)

The full inspection. Hull, deck, structure, systems, safety equipment, and an opinion of fair market value. This is what your purchase contingency refers to.

Insurance survey

Narrower, focused on what the underwriter cares about: structural integrity, fire and safety systems, electrical compliance, and adequacy of ground tackle. Insurers commonly require one on vessels over a certain age.

Engine survey

Usually a separate specialist, and worth every dollar. A general surveyor will note obvious engine issues but is not a diesel technician. On a twin-engine boat the engine survey can be the difference between a good buy and a six-figure surprise.

What a good survey includes

• Hull below the waterline: inspected hauled or short-hauled. Blistering, prior repairs, keel and skeg condition, running gear, shafts, struts, rudders, props.
• Moisture readings in cored decks, transom and hull as applicable.
• Structural inspection: stringers, bulkheads, tabbing, engine beds.
• Through-hulls and seacocks: material, bonding, operability. A frequent source of findings.
• Electrical systems: AC and DC distribution, shore power inlets, galvanic isolation, wiring standards.
• Fuel systems: tanks, lines, venting, and compliance.
• Steering and controls, plumbing, tankage, ventilation.
• Safety equipment: fire suppression, extinguishers, flares, life jackets.
• Sea trial observations: engine temperatures and pressures, RPM reached at wide open throttle, handling, vibration, steering, shifting.

What a survey does not cover

This is the part worth reading twice. A surveyor generally does not:

• Disassemble anything. Surveys are non-destructive. What is behind a liner, under a tank, or inside a sealed void is not inspected.
• Open up engines. That is the engine surveyor's territory, and even then it is oil analysis and diagnostics, not a teardown.
• Guarantee the vessel. The report describes condition on one day. It is not a warranty and it does not predict failure.
• Verify title, liens or documentation. That is the broker's and closing agent's work.
• Inspect areas that cannot be reached without moving the owner's gear, cutting access, or emptying tanks. Good reports state these limitations explicitly. Read that section.

How to read the report

Findings are usually tiered by urgency. Sort them into three buckets:

1. Safety and structural. Non-negotiable. Fix before use, or renegotiate.
2. Deferred maintenance. Real money, but predictable, and legitimate grounds for a price allowance.
3. Cosmetic and advisory. Already reflected in a used-boat price. Pushing hard on these tends to cost you goodwill you will want later.

Be there

Attend the survey and the sea trial if you possibly can. An hour walking the boat with the surveyor teaches you more about your vessel than the written report ever will, and questions asked in the moment get better answers than questions emailed a week later.

Common questions