Pre-Purchase Survey
When in the process of buying a boat you may find people suggest you get a survey done before completing the purchase. Pre-purchase surveys are completed by an independent surveyor who will outline the condition of the vessel and discuss any causes for concern yourself or the surveyor may have. Obtaining a pre-purchase survey is a great idea before buying a vessel, be it old or fairly new, as it will make sure the boat is fit for purpose and will not have any surprises in the near future.
What will the survey entail in a steel boat?
A steel boat survey will involve the close examination of numerous parts of the vessel such as;
1 - The Hull, The surveyor will conduct an inspection with an ultrasonic thickness gauge which will display the thickness of the hull and make sure the steel is strong and fit for purpose. The surveyor will also take a close look at the wear strip and make sure it is mounted efficiently and still is suitable for further usage.
2 - Checking for signs of damage, The surveyor will complete a visual inspection of the vessel checking for any deep gouges / extreme corrosion visible and include them in the survey.
3 - Equipment, The surveyor will go through the entire vessel listing the equipment such as power inverters, calorifiers and solar pannels and may check to make sure the equpment works as it should.
4 - Repairs / concerns, The surveyor will put together a list containing anything that would need to be repaired prior to buying the vessel along with a list of possible concerns that the surveyor or yourself may have.
What will the survey entail in a GRP boat?
A GRP boat survey will involve the close examination of numerous parts of the vessel such as;
1 - The Hull, The surveyor will conduct a both physical and visible inspection of the hull. The surveyor will use an ultrasonic thickness gauge to display the thickness and possible strength of the fibreglass, they will also conduct their visible inspection looking for any cracks and osmosis on the hull.
2 - Checking for signs of damage, The surveyor will complete a thorough inspection of the fibreglass, looking for any cracks or chips on the vessel and will include anything found in the survey.
3 - Equipment, The surveyor will go through the entire vessel listing the equipment such as power inverters, calorifiers and solar pannels and may check to make sure the equpment works as it should.
4 - Repairs / concerns, The surveyor will put together a list containing anything that would need to be repaired prior to buying the vessel along with a list of possible concerns that the surveyor or yourself may have.
Optional Tests:
As part of the pre purchase survey we can, at the clients request, take an oil sample and get it tested for better viewing into how the engine has been treated in its time of use. (Please see example below)