Joe Coons
At the May meeting of the Wheel and Keel Club local marine surveyor Mike McGlenn gave a presentation regarding what a surveyor does, what he charges, and how he can help the boater. Mike's talk, combined with my experiences as a broker regarding the use of surveyors, stimulated this month's Boating Tips.
It amazes me how often the opinion of somebody's boating buddy can influence a boat owner's crucial boat maintenance or ownership decisions! So often these comments are without foundation, and cost owners thousands of dollars in mis-spent purchases, or later extensive losses when a boat is sold. And yet, when someone suggests that one of these owners "check with a surveyor", the response is all too often "they're too expensive".
Here's a fact to ponder: In my own relatively recent experience with five surveys on three boats, using all three of the above surveyors (plus one other), never have I failed to save more than the cost of the survey!
Three of the surveys were "purchase" surveys, when I was getting a new (for me) boat. One survey was an "valuation" survey, in order to refinance my boat during those low-interest days several years ago. One survey was done while I was having some major work done on my boat.
In two of the purchase surveys, the surveyor found discrepancies that I would have otherwise overlooked. I was able to go back to the sellers, and lower the price in an amount greater than the survey's cost. The surveys more than paid for themselves.
One purchase survey, I regret to say, was done by a guy whose principal qualification was that he was an "old timer". I didn't do any checking on him, either, but took the first recommendation I got. It later turned out that he had become jaded about pleasure boats, and didn't think they were as important as the vessels belonging to his commercial fishing friends. He pretty much certified my new dream boat as having only a few minor problems. Within six months of buying it, I had spent over $5,000 on major repairs!
I was irked when my bank wanted a new survey on that boat three years later. I saw this demand as expensive. But a thorough survey was done and guess what: The surveyor identified several potentially-serious problems that were developing, and he suggested ways that by dealing with them immediately, I could save a lot of maintenance money. The "irritating demand" turned out to be a good investment.
In 1994 I had some work done on my boat installing additional water tankage. After the yard had installed the platforms for the tanks, I had a local surveyor stop by the boat and inspect the yard's work while he was "in the neighborhood". I simply paid for a hour of the surveyor's time. He made a suggestion or two, and reassured me that the project was being done in a professional manner. I could pay the yard bill confident I was getting my money's worth!
My personal experience has been reinforced every time I have a survey done for one of my customers as a boat broker. The survey is always worth what it costs, when done by a competent surveyor!
Here in Bellingham, there are six marine surveyors in the yellow pages. Of these, there are three professional surveyors that are widely used: Matt Harris, of McEwen, Reasoner & Harris; Mike McGlenn; and Peter A. Zuanich of All-Sound Marine Surveyors. All my surveys, except the bad one, were done by one of these men; I have used all three personally. Each of them travels widely around the region and the world(!) to serve their customers.
Selecting a surveyor is not difficult. Ask other boaters who they have used. Ask brokers. And then, talk to the surveyor himself. Ask to see a copy of one of his surveys, so you can see how clearly he presents his analysis of a vessel, and whether he gives the reader some sense of importance to his "Findings and Recommendations" for the vessel. You should check to see if the surveyor is a member of "NAMS", the National Association of Marine Surveyors (Harris and McGlenn), or "AMS", the Accredited Marine Surveyors (Zuanich). These professional societies test their members, and establish codes of ethics to which their members must subscribe, and help you determine the surveyor's commitment to quality work.
One last thing: sometimes, reaching a surveyor is hard, for it's most are "one-man" businesses with answering machines or message services, and obviously, they have to go to their work, we can't bring our boats into the office! So be patient, and wait for a call back. Try again if they don't respond to your first call. It will be worth the trouble!
Happy, and safe, summer boating!
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