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Random Quote: I refuse to have a battle of wits with an unarmed person.
In general, I am convinced that a survey is very important when buying a used boat.
But what about this situation...
I am looking at a 2004 22 foot center console boat with <50 hours on a 4 stroke engine. The boat looks to be in mint condition and I will have the engine inspected by a certified mechanic before purchasing. I have looked closely wear or damage. The electronics, gauges, and bilge pump work. The hull and engine warranties are transferable. Would you get a survey on a boat like this (realtively small, relatively new, lightly used) if the engine checks out?
$10.00 a foot to know if you should buy it for sure. However it is not likely that a boat that has 50 hours on it and a 2004 would need more than a looks great from you and a water trial after placing your modest deposit is resonable to ask the seller.
$10 per foot? I am having a 38' surveyed on Thursday and am paying $836. That's $22 per foot and the going rate in NY. If you can get a good survey on a 22' for $220 get it!!!
__________________ "Dad's Team"
38' Dawson
Rockaway Inlet, NY
The survey will be the LEAST amount of money you will probably spend on a boat. Its also the SMARTEST money.
A survey is only NOT necessary if you can afford for the boat to be a complete loss because of some unknown damage, ie stringer rot, transom rot,water intrusion , etc... A survey can also serve as a nice tutorial on all the things the boat has and can do.
BTW..............I paid $17 per foot for a survey in CT, which included compression test. That was in June of this year.
Agree with all that is said and I think the insurance company will want to see a survey too before they insure your boat. Better safe than sorry-by the way why they selling such a lightly used boat? Is a Q to ask off the bat.
Wouldn't be a bad idea. Even boats with 0 hours can have defects that aren't readily apparrent to the naked eye. Then again, I've never had a survey for any of the used boats I have purchased and never encountered a problem with any of them either (but that might just be luck). New boats, now that's a different story.
__________________ Grady White SeaFarer 226 w/Yamaha F225 - SOLD
In general, I am convinced that a survey is very important when buying a used boat.
But what about this situation...
I am looking at a 2004 22 foot center console boat with <50 hours on a 4 stroke engine. The boat looks to be in mint condition and I will have the engine inspected by a certified mechanic before purchasing. I have looked closely wear or damage. The electronics, gauges, and bilge pump work. The hull and engine warranties are transferable. Would you get a survey on a boat like this (realtively small, relatively new, lightly used) if the engine checks out?
I just had a pre-purchase done on a new boat and will certainly never buy a boat without a survey done. A few hundred dollars for piece of mind that its safe, less likely to give you expensive repairs after the warranty and having an independent third party on your side is worth every cent.
Personally I see no need for a survey. Its basically "new", and probably still has warranty. Check the boat out, sea trial it. If satisfied, save the survey money. Have bought at least 15 boats over the years and never had a survey. If a yacht or big sportsfisher, then yes. Otherwise its a waste of money.
"Saving money" on a survey can be the most expensive savings you will ever see. If you finance the boat the lending institution will either require a survey or will want to inspect it themselves. A survey with a clean bill of health may earn a better interest rate on a loan. Insurance companies are the same story. I had a survey done on a 22 foot boat I bought on line before I went all the way to Ft. Lauderdale from South Carolina to look at it (and in this case, buy it). It cost me $300 and included compression tests on both engines, electronics check out, ultrasound on the hull, etc., etc.. All this was in an 18 page report with pictures, explanations, recommendations, and a fair market value estimate. Larger boats with more sophisticated equipment (radar, A/C, autopilot, cabin heat, refrigerators, water makers, freezers, etc.) understandably are more costly to have surveyed. The cost of survey is not only justified, the lack of one is simply reckless and foolish. Also, beware of salvaged "hurricane boats". There will be quite a few of those around for quite some time.
Big fan of surveying . . . but on a 22 footer, I'm not so sure. There aren't that many systems and of those that exist, it's not very extensive.
Compression test . . .well not exactly but you can sea trial it and see rated rpm at WOT vs. actual . . speed . . .
Electrical . . .go around with a voltometer.
Not exactly "ultrasound" but if you tap around with a plastic tipped hammer, you can detect delams and voids in the hull. Everything else is toggling switches and checking for loose screws and what not. Now if this was a big fat sportfisherman with systems upon systems upon systems . . .I'd even survey a brand new boat. Well, you'd have to in order to insure it. But on a 22ft. center console?? I think that you could be your own surveyor. Just take the time to check EVERYTHING. Buy a fat fish finder with the savings.
Forget the warranties . . .who wants to sit out a season while the factory fixes the hull? Tap out every inch of that hull!!!
$10 per foot? I am having a 38' surveyed on Thursday and am paying $836. That's $22 per foot and the going rate in NY. If you can get a good survey on a 22' for $220 get it!!!
You are paying alot of money. Last year I payed $500 for my 46' Hatteras to be surveyed because I wanted a higher insurance value.
I'm in the insurance business, and generally on a newer 22' like that described, a full-blown survey seems overkill. Our company provides a two page self survey form that satisfys the underwriters and lenders.
Is a surveyor necessary? 
