Surveys - Why?

It is generally considered good practice to have a second hand boat surveyed before purchasing it.

There will also be occasions when an insurer will require sight of a survey report before agreeing to provide cover on some vessels. Those over a certain age, home built and refitted boats.

The Right Man for the Job

1. Find a surveyor who is knowledgeable in the type of vessel involved.
2. The Surveyor must be independent of the buyer, the seller and any intermediary involved in the sale.
3. Be sure that the surveyor carries a professional indemnity insurance.
4. Many surveyors carry qualifications and/or are members of professional bodies, such as the Yacht Designers and Surveyors Association (YDSA)
5. To find a surveyor speak to such an association or ask at the local marina or a Yacht Broker for their recommended list.

What Type of Survey

1. The survey itself should be full, covering the whole craft including engine(s), rig, hull, deck and fittings.
2. The survey should be done out of the water i.e. "dry". There should also be an indication of the value of the vessel when the survey is done.
3. To be acceptable to an insurer (and each insurer may have their own rules) any survey for insurance purposes should be not more than one year old.
4. A survey done for someone else, the previous owner or a previous potential buyer, should not be relied upon. While it may be a useful guide the surveyor involved only has a responsibility to the person who commissioned the survey and to no-one else. If there is a survey in existence, done for someone else, it may be possible as well as more economic to re-approach that surveyor for an "update" rather than commission a new survey.
5. Any survey will contain recommendations. It is sensible to speak to the surveyor once in receipt of theses recommendations to understand fully what needs to be done. These recommendations should be divided up in some sort of order of priority such as:-
   • Those that must be attended to before the craft is put back into the water.
   • Those which can be done after the craft is afloat but before she is put back into commission.
   • Those which should be done soon but can wait until the next lay up period.
   • Those which need doing to "keep the craft in good condition
6. Once the recommendations have been attended to, the surveyor should be called back to check them out, and confirm, in writing, that the recommendations have been complied with to the surveyor's satisfaction.

Condition Reports

On some craft, usually smaller craft, an insurer may only ask for a condition report. In these cases the craft should be inspected by a knowledgeable (boat builder and the like), independent (not one who has worked on the boat) person.

He should be asked to confirm in writing that the craft is in sound, sea (or river) worthy condition, is suitable for the use to which she will be put and is being and has been well maintained.

Inland Waterways Safety Certificates

While these are not full surveys, Haven Knox-Johnston will accept them in lieu of a survey in craft over 25 years old provided both the safety certificate is valid and there is a report on the hull carried out by a surveyor out of the water. However, craft of 40 years old or more may still be subject to a full survey.

How Often

While it is wise to have any "elderly" craft regularly checked over it is up to an owner as to how often the vessel should be surveyed.

Some insurers, however, ask for surveys on a regular basis, every 3 or 5 years. Haven Knox-Johnston do not do so where the vessel is insured with us for the same owner.

It is wise to ask any insurer, who requests a survey, how often after the acceptance of the first one will there be a request for another.

A survey may seem an expensive irritation but while any owner will feel that they "know" their own boat it is essential that an independent, qualified, insured person is called in when necessary.

The above is for information purposes only. It is not intended to define legal terms nor is it intended to affect the interpretation of any policy we may issue.

If you have any questions concerning your insurance, there is no replacement for having your individual questions answered individually by your insurance broker or insurer.