Avoid That Sinking Feeling

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