[Rhodes22-list] How to find a boat surveyor

[Michael Meltzer]

thier is only one thing to watch out for here, what is a good surveyor to you and a good one for the brooker are to different
things, the broker wants a surveyor that will never kill a deal but still looks good, like never use the brokers surveyor, very much
like a realtor and house inspector.

MJM

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Skinner" <robert at squirrelhaven.com>
To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Thursday, August 05, 2004 1:02 PM
Subject: [Rhodes22-list] How to find a boat surveyor


> Lou Rosenberg wrote:
> > >   How does one find a boat surveyor?
> >   Although the owner is basically giving this boat away,  I understand I
> > need to know what expenses i will incur to bring it up to standards
> > that I will feel safe and good about.    That said, I know up front
> > this is a 'project boat'  and would expect to have to invest serious
> > cash to overhaul it.
> >   any one have leads on surveyors in the NYC metro area??
> >   Thanks
> >   Lou
>
> When I recently bought a used sailboat, I first put together
> a list of the items that concerned me for that type of boat
> and age (based on some experience and the suggestions of
> others who were familiar with the design), and negotiated a
> tentative price with the owner.
>
> In my search for a surveyor, I wanted someone who was near
> the target boat's location to reduce travel expenses from
> the surveyor, and who had a reputation among local marinas
> as honest and competent.
>
> I started with the address of the then current boat owner,
> as the boat was trailerable and in his drive.  I then did
> a search on
>
>    http://www.switchboard.com
> and
>    http://www.whitepages.com
>
> using the category "marine surveyors", listing the closest 20.
> I printed that info.
>
> Then I ran another similar search on "marinas", listing the
> closest 40, and printed that.  Going thru the "marinas" list,
> I highlighted the biggest boatyards and repair facilities.
>
> Then I called the selected 5 nearest the boat owner's
> residence and called them, asking for recommendations for
> marine surveyors.
>
> A couple of surveyor's names came up more than once.  I picked
> the closest to the boat, and called him to discuss the items
> that concerned me on the target boat, and his fees for checking
> them out.
>
> As he seemed able and cooperative, and reasonably priced, I
> asked him to go look at the boat and examine it for defects in
> the hull, soft spots on the deck, condition of the standing
> rigging and sails, whether the outboard would start (can't
> run for long out of the water), whether the trailer wheel
> hubs spun freely, whether the trailer had a 2" ball and a
> flat 4-wire connector, and other less important details.
>
> I provided this checklist in writing via email so there
> could be no misunderstanding, and asked for a verbal report
> of condition and his opinion about the boat's value relative
> to the price.
>
> Note that a written report and appraisal would have been
> much more expensive.  He did take digital pictures of the
> defects that he found and email them to me before the verbal
> report so I could better understand what he was saying.
>
> The net effect was that I was confident enough of the boat
> to show up with a cashier's check, knowing that the boat
> was ready to tow home, and that it was worth the money.
>
> Hope these ideas help.
> -- 
> Robert W. Skinner CDP, "Squirrel Haven"
> 9 Gateway Commons, Gorham, ME 04038-1331
>
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