My insurance company has asked me to get a survey, do you do that?
Does the surveyor do the sea trial
Hauling out of the water for a survey
What does a complete survey/pre purchase survey include?
My insurance company has asked me to get a survey, do you do that?
Yes, I do many of these. They are usually required:
- For New Zealand boats over approx. 30 years old operating locally. Typically update or renewal is required every approx. 5 years. Often the insurers (such as Vero/Mariner) request their template form to be completed but sometimes a full survey is requested.
- Insurance survey requirements are often more comprehensive for vessels traveling overseas. Survey frequency varies.
Please find out the following the requirements (or forward to us) and then call or email to discuss.
- What have the insurers asked for?
- Have they sent you a template vessel condition report form to be completed by a qualified surveyor of boatbuilder?
- Or have they asked for a full out of water survey?
Does the surveyor do the sea trial
In New Zealand surveyors do not typically participate in the sea trial for recreational surveys. However, it is a good idea to include a suitably experienced surveyor in the sea trial especially for sailing vessels. Checking moving component systems under load is invaluable in assessing vessel operating condition (this would be an extra cost).
In most cases we would recommend that a mechanic check the operating condition of the engine of the vessel. However, we inspect the external condition of the engine and drive line.
Hauling out of the water for a survey
To do a full inspection or insurance inspection, you will need to have the boat hauled out to enable the surveyor to inspect the above and below waterline parts of the hull. The exception is 3rd party insurance that can sometimes be procured with a very basic in water inspection.
The deck, internal structure, most equipment except for the external driveline and rudder can usually be done on the marina while the vessel is in the water.
In New Zealand the most common protocol is to do a lift, clean (water blast) and hang the boat in a travel lift at one of the marinas. Due to the cost and availability of the travel lift machines the typical times for a vessel that is not badly fouled are approximately:
Lift and hang for 1 hour up to about 11m
Lift and hang for 1.5 hours from 11m to 14m
For multi hulls the above required times are usually longer.
For vessels larger it is often more practicable to have the vessel put up on the hardstand for the day or day/s.
Lift and hang does not enable reliable moisture tracing below the waterline while the antifouling is damp or if there is much copper in it. If signs of osmosis are noted, a further longer hardstand period may be recommended.
The complete inspection can also be done on a hardstand.
What does a complete survey/pre purchase survey include?
Ultimately the vessel’s safety is only as strong as the weakest link in the vessel structure, systems or navigation so the breadth needs to be sufficient to cover anything that could cause risk. The following is approximately what we cover. We also include:
- overall “global” images
- Identification of issues and recommendations for each issue
- detailed images of any issues. Scope of the vessel inspection will vary depending on vessel size and type:
Hull exterior
- Hull skin/shell below and above waterline
- Skin fittings (through hull fittings) and penetrations
- Keel and keel join
- Drive line (propellers, struts, shafts, shaft seal)
- Rudder, and bearing wear
- Thrusters
- Beltings
- Platforms
- Trim tabs
- Hull windows
Hull internal
- Hull internal structure and bulkheads/framing
- Skin fittings/through hull fittings, sensors, seacocks
- Bow thruster tube and thruster
- Mast step (sailing boats)
- Tanks security and visible condition
- Chain plates (sailing boats)
- Keel bolting
- General interior condition
- Hull windows
- Hull and deck join
- Bilge pumping
Deck
- Deck skin
- Windows, hatches and ports
- Lockers
- Hardware (mooring cleats, fittings)
- Anchoring (anchor, rode, windlass, bow fitting, bow platform)
- Railings/stanchions
- Mast collar
- Access ways
- Toe rails
- Handrails
- Navigation lights
- Canvas work
Mechanical
- Engine mounts and bearers
- Engine exterior condition
- Engine exhaust
- Steering system, seal, and autopilot/s arrangement
- Heaters
Sailing systems
Note: we can’t always check operation and a more extensive check including rig check aloft may be recommended.
- Deck attachments
- Chain-plates
- Furlers
- Standing rigging age and condition to gooseneck level
- Running rigging
- Winches
- Clutches
- Main sheet/headsail track attachments
- Blocks
- Mast
- Mast base/collar fitting
- Boom
- Other spars
Plumbing
- Hot water
- General condition of pumps etc
- Toilet and holding tank systems
Electrical
- Battery types, security, locations
- Wiring general condition
- Instruments identification – plotter/radar etc
Gas system
- Status of regulatory certification
- Bottle security
- General condition
Safety equipment
Scope of checks vary depending on type of survey, all safety equipment may not be included for pre purchase
I need blue water insurance and they require a full out of water survey, I’ve also got to get an International Voyage Certificate (IVC) from Maritime New Zealand, why do I need both?
The IVC serves a different purpose than insurance. But there are overlaps. Ultimately they are both about safety and risk of the vessel and people onboard. We can often do the out of water component of the insurance inspection during the same haul out as for the IVC. Please call or email to discuss.
If a vessel for sale already has had a recent survey done by the seller do I need another one if I want to purchase the boat?
We recommend the buyer get their own independent pre purchase survey done including all the structure, all elements of the hull and deck shell and penetrations and equipment.
- Broker contracts will almost always require the buyer to sign off that they are satisfied and have had the opportunity to get their own survey done.
- Surveys are usually not transferable unless they have been updated and readdressed by the same surveyor.
- Private surveyors are not regulated (unlike commercial) and there is no barrier to entry. Not all surveys include the same amount of information or scope, some do not include recommendations, and not all will meet the scope required by insurers.