10-15-2013, 10:27 AM
Also keep in mind that all Surveyors are not created equal. I have seen good ones that are very thorough and others that barely glance over things. My suggestion:
1) Hire a good Hull Surveyor. Don't hire the first one you call and certainly don't take the brokers suggested surveyor until you have called and interviewed several surveyors. There is likely a difference between the $8.00 per foot surveyor and the $15.00 per foot surveyor. Ask exactly what they are going to do and how long it is going to take. If they tell you they can knock out a 40' boat in two hours, hire a different surveyor.
2) If you are buying a vessel with gas engines, make sure you hire an engine surveyor or marine engine specialist to inspect the engines, do compression tests and pull oil samples. Make sure they go on the sea-trial and inspect the engines while running under a load. Just because it idles nicely does not mean it will run well under load and at WOT. Most marine gas engines are 8 cylinders. An 8 cylinder engine will idle and run well on 7 cylinders most of the time. Skipping the compression test and engine survey may cost you big time!
3) Diesel engines are expensive. Hire a diesel engine specialist to handle diesel engines.
4) Never buy a boat without the Sea-trial or Water Test or whatever you want to call it. That test should include a run at Wide Open Throttle. The engines should reach their rated WOT RPMs and they should do so without vibration and without overheating. An engine may run fine at cruising RPM and overheat and run poorly at WOT. Make sure the boat steers well, runs at a good attitude and does not have any weird habits.
Buying a boat is a big investment, make sure you buy it wisely!
1) Hire a good Hull Surveyor. Don't hire the first one you call and certainly don't take the brokers suggested surveyor until you have called and interviewed several surveyors. There is likely a difference between the $8.00 per foot surveyor and the $15.00 per foot surveyor. Ask exactly what they are going to do and how long it is going to take. If they tell you they can knock out a 40' boat in two hours, hire a different surveyor.
2) If you are buying a vessel with gas engines, make sure you hire an engine surveyor or marine engine specialist to inspect the engines, do compression tests and pull oil samples. Make sure they go on the sea-trial and inspect the engines while running under a load. Just because it idles nicely does not mean it will run well under load and at WOT. Most marine gas engines are 8 cylinders. An 8 cylinder engine will idle and run well on 7 cylinders most of the time. Skipping the compression test and engine survey may cost you big time!
3) Diesel engines are expensive. Hire a diesel engine specialist to handle diesel engines.
4) Never buy a boat without the Sea-trial or Water Test or whatever you want to call it. That test should include a run at Wide Open Throttle. The engines should reach their rated WOT RPMs and they should do so without vibration and without overheating. An engine may run fine at cruising RPM and overheat and run poorly at WOT. Make sure the boat steers well, runs at a good attitude and does not have any weird habits.
Buying a boat is a big investment, make sure you buy it wisely!
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