Choosing a yacht surveyor and commissioning
them for a survey is a crucial part of ensuring that
your vessel(s), is seaworthy, complies with the relevant
maritime standards and will meet the necessary insurance
and finance requirements. But be aware that choosing
a yacht surveyor, especially the right one, can be fraught
with difficulty. There are several types of marine surveyors
on the market (pre-purchase, damage, valuation, equipment,
insurance) each of them focusing in a special area and
targeted to provide answers to a specific need.
But very few, like Constellation Yacht surveyors offer
bespoke surveying requirements for high value Yacht
and pleasure crafts, with an informed and technical
submission that your dream boat is a sensible financial
proposition or a tub causing a never ending stream of
cashflow from your wallet. Our long years of experience
within this niche surveying field has led us to share
the following: What to look for when hiring a yacht
surveyor? When looking to hire a surveyor, there are
some core things to ask first and foremost. How long
have they been surveying and is their experience as
a surveyor with similar yachts Are they a member of
any of the survey organizations that have codes of practice
and requirements for continuous professional development
(IIMS)? Green water Surveyors are akin to a general
practitioner – find out what their areas of expertise
are.
Request a typical report and judge if the report is
in a manner you feel comfortable with. Ask them to provide
a sample survey they have completed on a similar vessel
Always ask for references. Check they have had adequate
training and are certified on related subjects to yachting
such as rigging inspection, system surveys, stability,
non-destructive testing (NDT) etc. Accreditation is
proof that the surveyor has been checked and certified
by specialist organizations, when you meet a company
who has a binder showing its references, certifications
and accreditation, it gives confidence in hiring them.
Avoid these misconceptions Your survey has priority
and should be completed as soon as possible. When scheduling
a survey, it’s safe to assume you usually insist on
starting and completing as soon as possible. While this
may stem from eagerness to know the results of the survey,
good surveyors prefer to spend some time to reflect
on their findings rather than give an off -the-cuff
view, so be patient.
conformities to help with the negotiation of the price
of the yacht. Bespoke survey companies like constellation
will not manipulate findings or negotiate on them to
adjust the price. We are neutral. Informatively, we
are also capable of providing a valuation for the craft
if so requested. Safety is always the number one concern
Safety needs to be upheld through the survey phases.
Never insist to carry out a sea trial if the yacht does
not have safety equipment on board, or has expired fire
extinguishers aboard, or not enough crew to act in an
emergency, or is not registered to go out to sea. Constellation
will assist further and consult on the modalities required
to overcome these. To Conclude Yacht Boats are not cheap.
However we believe contrary to what others imagine –
you may not need a fortune to buy a boat – but you might
need one to keep it afloat. To that end – the only way
to check the boat’s condition is to have a survey done,
and the results will often determine whether you should
go ahead with the purchase, renegotiate, or back out
altogether. Our experience shows if you decide not to
have a survey and faults are subsequently discovered,
the chances of having any redress are practically non-existent.
If you are buying through a broker, do not rely on the
broker’s list of surveyors. The broker’s priority is
to sell the vessel. Instead get a full condition survey,
often known as a pre-purchase survey, by an independent
surveyor of your choice.
The surveyor is on your side Sometimes you will want
a surveyor to be on your side to find non- Constellation
Marine Yacht specialists are adhering to client requirements
however nominal or large scale these maybe. We are National
Transport Authority (UAE) approved surveyors for non-classed
vessels, being corporate members of the International
Institute of Marine Surveying (UK), and individual members
of the National Association of Marine Surveying (USA),
our reports are internationally benchmarked and team
members fully qualified. Read more related blogs on
