Absentee Survey

[Hard A Lee]

Has anyone had a survey done on a boat when you were not there? I would like to be present during the survey, but if scheduling doesn't work out how have other people handled this? Anything I can ask the surveyor to do to make me feel more comfortable?

[Mike OReilly]

Yup. I was not there during the survey for the boat we currently own. Obviously it worked out well for me.

I had a long chat with the surveyor after he was done, and after we received the report. I would definitely rather had been there in person, but like I say, it worked out well for me.

[vjm]

I did. I actually did not see my boat at all until it showed up on the truck. My surveyor did a good job, missed one thing which was less than I expected (they just can't get everything), and I am thrilled with the boat. Lots of pictures and video are essential.

[barnakiel]

I surveyed boats many times. Only one time the person who ordered the survey was around. I had to ask him to stop bothering me or else pay me the extra time I spent answering his questions rather than doing my job.

It is OK and regular not to be there.

b.

[Cheechako]

I have always been there for a survey. Nearly every time I have pointed things out and asked related questions. Each time I felt it would not have been considered or noted had I not questioned it. Surveyors are human, they get distracted by some things, overlooking others. Of course if they missed it, they missed and don't know they missed it!

[gjordan]

If you are not going to be there, you better really check the surveyors background and if he has much (any) connection with the broker or the yard that the boat is in. There are very good surveyors and a few very bad ones that will have a clouded vision if the broker wants to get the boat sold. The second boat I bought, I used the surveyor and boat yard that the broker recommended. I was not present. What a screaming mistake that was. There were only about 6 things on the recommended fix list and the only thing the yard did right was putting on the bottom paint. Everything else they did wrong, but I was so green that it took me a couple of years to figure out that the work was so poor. You might want to use the search feature here on the forum and look up Boatpokers posts. There are other good surveyors on here but I dont know the names. Boatpoker has a long list of things to look for that you should be aware of, even if you are not going to be there. If the boat has a class association , or yahoo group, you can probably get yourself aware of the common problems that come up with that particular design. Keep us posted on how it turns out. ____Grant.

[gjordan]

Hard A Lee, you might want to give the type of boat and maybe the location (unless you are concerned with someone from here buying it out from under you) so that people familiar with that type of boat could give you some advice on the boat or a good surveyor in that location. Just thinking out-loud. ____Grant.

[Teknishn]

I just had an absentee survey done. Surveyor was recommended by two seperate individuals. While the survey results were encouraging and I have since purchased the boat, the survey report itself had numerous constradictions (i.e. electrical systems inspected but not tested....VHF radio and bilge pumps tested as Good, among other contradictions). The surveyor obviously was a hull specialist more than a technical systems guy. So check your surveyor's qualifications. But I do have a question here myself....Is it standard procedure for a surveyor to state in the final survey report that said report may not be legally shared with any other indvidual except for the use in applying for insurance purposes? I found that statement odd.

[meridian28]

Sharing report has been discussed before. You paid for it you can do what you want with it.


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[Hard A Lee]

Thanks for all the replies! The boat is a Tartan TOCK in Annapolis. I was hoping to be there for the survey, but timing just isn't going to work out. The surveyor has a good reputation. I know he's done some surveys for the selling broker before, but I don't think they have any kind of relationship I need to be concerned about...

[barnakiel]

T.O.C.K. ?

The boat designed by S&S and inspired by / inspiring to, designs like Nauticat, Waquiez Amphora and Amphitrite. All these were designed with plenty of good design and tradition still present.

I have not seen a TOCK up close but I always admire them online. Looks like a very good cruising boat.

Great catch. I hope she will be sound and you will get her.

Cheers,
b.