Preparing Your Boat for a Marine Survey

You have received an offer for your yacht; the buyer is organizing the marine survey. The survey is an in-depth examination of your boat and can be the make or break part of the deal. Consequently planning for the particular survey should be a high priority.

Marine surveyors hope for a pristine, well taken care of boat; it sets the stage for the survey. I have had more than a couple of surveyors say to me that they are able to usually tell what they're going to discover by how a boat looks from the dock. A surveyor is likely to find those things that do not work and advise the buyer. If items don't function, any prospective purchaser will deduce the worst and more than likely be looking for an allowance for brand new equipment. It will be much easier and less expensive to repair everything before surveying the yacht than to pay to have it repaired later on.

In addition, as soon as your vessel is inspected by a likely purchaser, if everything operates, your transaction is just about in the bag. Alternatively, an extended list of non-functional items can often cause a buyer to get second thoughts after which the best you can hope for is a much lower price, simply not to lose the deal!

For Starters
* Make certain the yacht is squeaky clean and clutter free, it is easier for the surveyor. Be mindful first impressions are critical.
* Subsequently, ensure the boat is free of clutter and trash. Remove everything not included in the transaction, both to reinforce perceived space and to get rid of any uncertainty as to what is a part of the deal. Spare tools, aged fenders, dirty lines, that pail of cleaning chemicals within the lazarette... eliminate all of it. It will get in the way of the surveyor doing his duty.

Make Sure All Equipment Works
To begin with, non functioning equipment problems could be a red flag for the buyer. If a toilet doesn't work correctly, a handle is loose, or something else isn't as it should be, handle it. You can probably take care of a good number of those matters yourself, and a little amount of extra sweat can result in great value once the surveyor notifies the purchaser he has found little wrong with the yacht.

Prior to going to survey:

Electronics/Electrical
* Inspect all equipment, toilets, inverters, stereos for operable status. Repair as required.
* Check all lights to make sure they operate. This consists of all salon lights, stateroom lights and all navigation lights.
* Fix the lights that do not work.
* Confirm cooling and refrigeration systems operate and get them fixed if they do not operate correctly. A lot of boat owners don't inspect the return air filters on their yacht's air conditioning.
* Ensure all communication and navigation electronics are in decent shape and operational. This includes the compass. Get repaired or exchange those that don't operate.

Mechanical
* Investigate your engine room for oil, water or fuel leaks. If they are there a surveyor will certainly find them. It's possible to fix these problems at this point more inexpensively than if you have to compensate for it to be repaired after a survey.
* Inspect engines for any oxidization; clean with a wire brush and touch up with paint as necessary.
* Inspect primary engines and generators for water and oil; top them off as needed.
* Ensure batteries are in good shape and topped off.
* Begin and operate all engines. Any reluctance to start or defective performance should be checked out.
* Run engines up to operating temperatures. Any higher than normal numbers ought to be researched and corrected.
* Check out all engine instrumentation. Change out inoperable gauges or calibrate as necessary.
* Check all raw water hoses for wear and tear. If any of the hoses are cracked, replace them. If they really are spongy they need replacing.
* Make sure all of the raw water hoses under the water line or under pressure are double clamped at both ends.
* Inspect all hose clamps for rusting; exchange all that are.
* Check out all sea cocks for easy functionality and any leaks.
* Inspect all strainers. Clean as needed.
* Inspect exhaust hoses for age deterioration. All hose ends needs to be double clamped.
* Investigate prop stuffing boxes and rudder stuffing boxes for any excessive seepage.
* Check prop and rudder stuffing boxes for all decay; fix as necessary.
* Inspect struts inside yacht for any decay.
* Bilges should be clean and dried out; re-paint if needed.

Cleaning
* Get rid of all personal non-essential things.
* Remove all non-critical boat equipment despite the fact that it will be included in the deal.

Documentation
* Ensure all applicable documents are on the boat and up to date. The surveyor will want to see documentation or registration documents. Also required are credentials for any tenders or PWC's.
* Any building blue prints or manuals that can be furnished may prove to be useful to the surveyor.

Safety
* Validate all United States Coast Guard safety items mandatory for the class of vessel.
* Flares - ensure they're not expired. Expiration dates are written on every flare.
* Fire extinguishers - proper number, and installed. Must be inspected annually.
* Ship's bell on your vessel.
* One approved life jacket in decent condition for each person on board.
* Ensure horn works.
* There needs to be a copy of the US Coast Guard Navigational Rules on the boat full time.
* Inspect anchor and rode, safety wire, and correct splice within the rode with thimble and bitter end secured.
* If there is an automatic permanent fire extinguishing system aboard, it has to be in date - a yearly obligation.
* All bilge pumps and mechanized float switches must remain in working order.
* Investigate and try out all alarms - electrical, generator, engine, carbon monoxide, smoke, fire and bilge.
* Life rafts require inspection credentials.
* EPIRBs must remain functional.

Hull
* Restore any damaged wood and refinish if required.
* Get underside and running gear cleaned by diver.
* Scrub and change zincs.

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