Getting a boat surveyed is not something that we do every day. Sometimes it
takes extra time to make sure it is done right. You will want to ask other
boaters who has had their boat surveyed. Finding the right surveyor is very
important. You should only use a surveyor that knows the type of boat that
you have. Getting a houseboat surveyor to do a sedan cruiser may cause you
to lose money on a sale of your boat. The same thing is also very important
when buying a used boat.

If there is anything wrong with a boat most of the time a good surveyor will
find it.If you can you should ask the person doing the survey what it takes
to make sure the boat will pass everything they check. If you can get a Coast
Guard inspection before the survey that give you a idea of what is needed.
Most of the time there is no charge for this service. I have told by a
surveyor if they see a up to date Coast Guard sticker, it makes their job
easier to do. The Coast Guard sticker is always a good thing to have when you
are wanting to sell a boat.

I will now tell about the things the person doing the survey will be checking.
The surveyor will start by looking at the hull of the boat.They will check the
outside and the inside .If they see any cracks or loose supports ,they will
write it down. If they see any water any place it should not be, this can go
against you on a survey. You should always repair any water leaks on a boat.
This is one reason why all water pumps need to be checked often.

The next thing the surveyor will at will be the electoral system. All your wires
should be hooked up right. If you have a bunch of wires hanging loose around
the motors or other electoral boards the surveyor may not want to finish the
survey until all wires are repaired. This could cost you more if they have to
come back a second time. At this time all wiring will be checked. All lights will
be checked with this check.

The last thing to be checked will be the motors and transmissions. The surveyor
will be looking for things like oil or gas leaks. This check will also include
exhaust lines and mufflers. The generator will checked also. If all the motors start and run good, this is a plus. If the boat has outboards instead of straight
drives, they will be checked at this time. This should cover everything .