Up and Under Marine Services, Anchorage Alaska
907-529-6025
Marine Survey
What to Expect?
Up and Under Marine Services surveys vessels assuring compliance with U.S. Coast Guard regulations (CFR) and voluntary standards such as American Boat and Yacht Council's "Standards and Technical Information Reports for Small Craft." ABYC "Standards" set the bench mark for quality and safety for the boat building industry. Manufacturers do not have to follow them, however, following the standards protects them from law suits and prevents dangerous mistakes. The National Fire Protection Association also has put out standards for commercial and pleasure craft. These standards help the surveyor determine risk and recommend improvements. We look at all onboard systems and determine their condition.**
ABYC and NFPA standards are concerned with how a boat is constructed. A survey will also point out any deterioration of a boat's hull and systems. We look for corrosion, fatigue and failure. When a surveyor discovers such conditions they will offer an opinion concerning the item; whether it needs to be renewed or replaced. It might also be the surveyor's opinion that deterioration is normal for the age and use of the vessel and no immediate action needs to be taken. A future maintenance plan might also be discussed. A survey should be a positive event in a boat's life. We are not only looking for fault in boats, we want to make them safer and run without failure.
How to Prepare For a Survey
Owners can do a lot to help out. Make sure all compartments are accessible and all removable gear is taken out of lockers. If it is a pre-purchase survey, make sure all gear included in the sale is on hand to be inventoried. It is very important that batteries are charged and hooked up. If the boat has shore power, be sure electricity is available to run all electrical systems. The owner should be present to answer any questions the surveyor may have and to witness what the surveyor may find. Potential buyers should be present as well. This can be awkward at times, sellers are afraid of having flaws uncovered.. Remember; if you sell a boat with inherent problems you put the new owner at risk. Sellers have a responsibility to have all deficiencies made known. The owner should make all documentation and paperwork concerning vessel available at time of survey as well.
Types of Survey
We perform pre-purchase surveys for prospective buyers and condition and valuation surveys for owners renewing or obtaining insurance or financing.. Sellers usually act in good faith but do not always know about possible failure in their own boats. Protect yourself with a pre purchase survey to assess the risk involved in buying a boat. Our condition and valuation survey (C & V) will tell underwriters what risk is involved in insuring your boat and how risk can be avoided. Again, this is a positive event in the life of a boat and will ensure safer use.
Protect Yourself
There is one more item a potential buyer should address before buying a boat. Buyers can do a title search with the U.S. Coast Guard or documentation agencies to make sure the boat is in fact owned by the seller. Also, it is important to make sure there are no liens on the vessel. Such liens go with the boat, you do not want to get stuck with someone else's financial responsibility.
The Report
The surveyor has plenty of work to do after the survey. Now it is time to research and analyze what they found. We search for U.S. Coast Guard recall notices for the boat and its equipment. We go to on line information exchanges to confer with other marine surveyors who may have seen similar boats. We also research the value of the boat in "Buc Books" and web sources only available to surveyors. Digital photos are imbedded into the report to illustrate any findings. We provide customers with 1 copy of report on paper and burn the file onto a disc for the customer. We also follow up with the client and make sure they understand all recommendations.
** Surveys visually inspect all systems as best as boat configuration will allow. Some areas may be inaccessible to the surveyor and no opinion of this area is offered. A sea trial is very important to determine how a boat functions and performs under load and should always be performed before purchase. We do not survey engines, that is the work of certified mechanics. We can only note obvious problems of failures in engine/transmissions.
907-529-6025