Introduction:
The process of purchasing a boat can be overwhelming for most people. Most buyers will settle one particular boat and this becomes their standard. Buyers tend to make their selection based on how the interior looks. You will get lots of advice from family, friends, and brokers, but at the end of the day it will be your decision on what to purchase.
It is practically impossible to fully assess every boat that you look at in a period of about 30 minutes. The trick is to have some idea as to what you need to be looking for. To do your own quick survey there are things that you need to look for and have a few small tools available such as a flashlight, screwdriver, and camera. Bring along a pin and paper to record your findings.
Topsides:
Keeping the side of your face just clear of the topsides, walk around the hull. You are looking for irregulars in the surface, such as bumps, flat spots, hard spots, or damage. Also, watch the flow of the hull to the deck joint for signs of separation.
Bottom:
Make a second slower pass around the boat, this time examining the bottom. Look for blisters, bumps, blister repairs, flat spots, through holes, transducers, and note any defects.
Keel:
If there is a keel joint, check for tightness. Examine the leading edge and bottom of the keel for signs of d
amage caused by hard grounding.
Hull Delamination:
With the handle of your screwdriver tap the hull around the through-hull fittings, including rudders and transducers. These are areas most likely for delamination to start.
Rudder:
Move rudder back and forth to ensure that there is little play in the rudder stock. Ensure it operates to port and starboard smoothly. View the rudder closely to verify any cracks and look at the bottom of the rudder.
Propeller:
Shake the propeller to check the cutlass bearing and strut. Note the condition of the propeller for damage.
Deck Delamination:
Start at the bow working your way aft sounding the deck and hardware with the handle of the screwdriver. The other way is to use your own weight to verify soft spots in the deck.
B
edding:
As you move around the deck look for beads of caulking along the toe rails and around windows frames.
Gelcoat Cracks:
It’s quite common to see crazing in the gelcoat, especially in way where the stanchions are secured to the decks, so keep an eye on this while inspecting the decks to ensure that it is just in the gelcoat and not the fibreglass.
Helm:
Move the tiller or wheel to verify moving easily with no bending as you move it from hard over to port and then to starboard.
Stanchions:
Check all of the stanchions, pulpit forward and aft to ensure that it is sturdy and solid as installed.
Winches:
Rotate each winch around in both directions, listening for the regular musical click of pawls that will suggest that the winch is clean and well lubricated.
Canvas:
Give all canvas a quick once over, feeling the cloth for age and condition. Check the stitching and look for stretching, chafing and tears.
Working Sails:
Uncover the sails to verify their condition and confirm age of sails. Check stitching and ensure that the sunbrella is still attached to the head sail.
Mast:
Sight up the mast to verify that it is straight. Note the condition at the base of the mast and the condition of the protective finish.
Rigging:
If lower end fittings are swaged, make a quick inspection of each end to see if cracked or bent. Check for broken strands and check the end fittings.
Chain Plates:
Check the end fittings, note also the size and condition of the chain plates. Ensure properly aligned with the attached shrouds or stays. Once below deck check the chain plates as they should be accessible inside. Look for signs of water damage.
Inside Leaks:
Using your flashlight look for salt crystals, dust rivulets, and water stains. Investigate further if water stains are evident.
Tabbing:
Find access to some bulkhead tabbing and check it. Bulkheads should be tabbed on both sides with several layers. The tabbing should extend onto the bulkhead at least 3 inches, more as the boat gets larger.
Mast Support:
Check the bulkhead or beam that supports a deck-stepped mast, it should be solid and undistorted. If the mast is keel stepped, check the supporting floors for signs cracks or rot.
Door Alignment:
Looks at the cabin and cabinet doors. Some misalignment is common, but if the doors jams or has been trimmed, the hull is flexing and wrenching the bulkheads.
Head:
Is the head installed as per the local regulations? Is the toilet dry and clean or leaky and disgusting?
Batteries:
If the batteries are still in the boat are they clean and the terminals corrosion free. How old are the batteries and are they secured properly.
Electronics:
If the face of the switch panel is hinged, open it and view inside. Check the wiring in two or three locations for size, type, and support and for the condition of the connections. Switch on each of the electrical items as you move through the cabin to verify operational.
Through Hull Fittings:
Observe any through hulls with gate valves to ensure seacocks appear clean and easy to open and close.
Keel Bolts:
Pull up the floorboards and look at the keel bolts for corrosion or signs of leakage.
Bilge:
Is the bilge clean and dry because this tells a lot about how the boat has been maintained. Is the boat equipped with electric and manual bilge pumps.
Engine:
Is the engine clean and painted or is it full of corrosion. Is there an engine maintenance log available. Check the oils and belts for their condition. Pending the size and condition of engines, you may want to hire an Engine Surveyor.
Hiring a Professional Surveyor:
Once you have surveyed your potential boat and are pretty much sure that you would like to proceed with the purchase it is time to hire a Marine Surveyor.
Marine Surveying for Pleasure Boats in Canada is an unregulated service. Because someone calls themselves a Marine Surveyor doesn’t mean that they are actually one. A significant percentage of so called Professional Marine Surveyors have no credentials and some don’t have any experience with small vessels.
Finding a Marine Surveyor can be fairly easy and here are some of the options;
- Ask around the marina
- Inquire from other boat owners
- Search websites or yellow pages
- Ask the manager of the boatyard
- Ask the yacht broker
Surveys are required on pleasure boats for insurance purposes after they are ten year old and every five years thereafter. The purpose of the marine survey is to evaluate the boats present condition and estimate its fair market value and replacement cost. Remember when you hire a Marine Surveyor, he is working on your behalf and not the insurance company or broker.