Southern Cross Survey
Independent Marine Surveys
Power & Sail to
65ft
Telephone: 877-889-7020 toll free
Email: inquiry@southerncrosssurvey.com
Southern Cross Marine Survey provides:
Pre-Purchase, Insurance & Bank Valuation Surveys and
Damage Estimates for Pleasure Boats to 65 ft.
Southern Cross Marine Survey services the state of Florida
Links: www.westmarine.com http://www.boatinglinks.com/
Frequently Asked Questions
About Yacht & Pleasure Boat Surveys
"What will a survey cost?"
If you want a cheap or quick survey, then buy a cheap boat, and an oar, and a life jacket, and a tool set.
You'll want to make sure you life insurance is current, and you've notified the next of kin before you set sail.
Your boat is your primary safety device while on the water, as well as an investment in your time and your wallet.
Rather than asking "How much will this cost?" Perhaps the question should be, "How much are my guests lives worth?" "Can I afford to die because I didn't get this checked out? or, "How much can I afford to spend on unseen repairs?"
The cost of a typical pleasure craft is comparable to that of a home. Would you consider purchasing a home without a thorough inspection?
A completed signed survey agreement and payment by cash, check or valid credit card are required before beginning the survey.
"Why should I have a survey?"
Buying any boat (even new) is a risk. The older the boat and the lower the price the greater the risk.
Some models and types withstand time, maintenance or lack thereof, groundings, abuse, neglectful owners, and punishing oceans and lakes better than others. That is not to say expensive is better, even the most prestige names in the industry will not compare to a lesser name if the vessel has been abused.
A survey can not provide a guarantee that the boat is completely free of defects (probably no boat ever is). What a survey should do is provide an experienced eye and professional opinion to improve the odds of a successful outcome for you.
"Why do I NEED a survey?"
In most cases you need a survey to:
Purchase, Finance, or Insure a vessel
This type of survey is commonly called a Condition and Valuation Survey (C&V)
Other occasions a surveyor may be engaged are: Repairs or refitting (writing specifications, supervision of work)
To assess damage after an incident.
The C&V survey should:
Provide a thorough description of the vessel.
A detailed written report should be prepared on the yacht, it's configuration, equipment and discrepancies or variance from USCG requirements, ABYC, and NFPA standards as well as good marine practice.
It will include a list of "Recommendations" needed to bring the vessel up to standard. It will probably point out things, both good and bad, that you may not have not noticed.
Determine the condition and approximate fair market value.
The survey should provide you with an informed opinion, not influenced by immediate financial or emotional considerations.
If you are experienced and knowledgeable, you will appreciate the usefulness of this "second opinion" even if you already have a good idea of the vessel's condition and value.
Your lender and insurer will want this independent evaluation from a surveyor who does not have a vested interest in the vessel when deciding on the amount to lend or insure. However, they may also choose to use a somewhat higher or lower figure than the survey valuation depending on their experience and policies.
The survey will assess safety and suitability of the yacht for the intended service. The survey opinion, supported by detailed observations provided in the report, should help you decide whether the vessel is suitable for you. Naturally, Insurance underwriters will also be concerned with safety recommendations in the survey, since this will affect potential liability claims. Don't think of the survey as expensive "red tape" forced on you by an insurer or lender. Make the effort to get a good survey. It won't cost you, it will save you money.
"What is a pre-purchase survey?"
The purchase of any used vessel involves some risk of potentially costly defects.
Our inspection and report, based on knowledge and experience, will help you to reduce this risk. However, some such defects may not be discovered in a survey and we cannot offer any guarantee that the vessel is free from defects or guarantee of future performance.
Comprehensive Inspection -
A pre-purchase survey is a comprehensive overall inspection of the yacht. On a typical mid-sized production yacht the on site inspection will take a full day. Research and writing will take another full day. However, a typical C&V or pre purchase survey can NOT be a complete investigation of every detail of every system (which would probably take days or weeks). For example, we generally cannot disassemble machinery and cabinetry, remove paint, or bore holes.
The pre-purchase survey will, in almost all cases, include:
Inspection of the topsides, rigging and interior spaces. All normally accessible parts of the boat will be examined.
Haul out and inspection of the bottom, prop, rudder, etc. (ONLY IF REQUESTED BY CLIENT, ADDITIONAL CHARGES MAY APPLY)
Examination of design features, modifications, and structural integrity.
Visual inspection of engines, generators, fluid levels, fuel, steering, electrical, sanitation, and other systems.
Inspection of safety equipment.
Check compliance with the voluntary recommendations of the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) as well as USCG regulations.
Examination of the ships papers, registration, and hull numbers.
Evaluation of cosmetic appearance and overall maintenance.
The normal pre-purchase survey will NOT include (unless previously arranged):
Removing screwed or nailed paneling, liners, carpeting, etc.
Opening, pressure testing, or sampling tanks.
Disassembly of engines, electronics, and machinery, or testing with specialized equipment.
Destructive testing, such as drilling holes, removing paint or gelcoat, etc. (It is unlikely that sellers would routinely allow any of these. However, based on what we do see, we may recommend further testing, sampling, or dismantling for inspection.)
If you know ahead of time that you need these specialized services, we can arrange to have them done as part of the survey. This, as well as any destructive testing, will of course, require the permission of the owner/seller, and will be done by a qualified tech.
For pre-purchase surveys on larger powerboats with high performance engines, we usually recommend that an experienced mechanic perform an engine inspection in conjunction with our survey.
Valuation - A "fair market value" of the yacht will be estimated by research using:
Comparison with other similar boats recently sold as listed, standard reference publications (BUC, NADA) comparison of similar vessels listed for sale in current publications and internet brokerage sites.
Written Report -
There is no standard report format used by all surveyors. Our reports follow the guidelines of the "SAMS Recommended Survey Report Content" Manual (1997) and include:
A detailed description of the yacht, and its systems.
Notes on conditions which affect the yacht's value and suitability for its intended service. Recommendations regarding safety, necessary repairs and maintenance. Estimated replacement cost. Estimated current fair market value of the yacht. Photographs of the boat and any unusual features or problems.
"What if the boat doesn't "pass" survey?" (Pre-purchase)
We do not "pass" or "fail" boats on survey. We report our findings and give our recommendations and an opinion as to the "fair market value". YOU, as a buyer, determine whether the boat meets your requirements. The surveyor does not make insurance or financing decisions. They report observations which insurance or financing companies may take into consideration to arrive at their decisions.
"What is an "insurance" survey?"
Our insurance surveys are done as completely and carefully as any other survey. In most cases, we will only agree to do a reduced cost "insurance survey" on boats we have previously surveyed for the same client. A so-called "insurance survey" is done to determine the condition and value of a boat which is to be insured. When buying a boat, our pre-purchase survey will also serve to obtain insurance.
"What is your report like?"
Ask to see a sample survey report. Any good surveyor should be able to arrange for you see a sample of his work from which the identifying names and numbers have been blanked out.
Our reports for pre-purchase surveys vary in length from about 8 to 15 printed pages of text depending on the size and complexity of the boat. Additional diagrams and photographs (usually digital images) are attached. As noted above, the contents include:
A detailed description of the yacht, and its systems. Notes on non-standard conditions. Recommendations regarding safety and maintenance. An informed opinion regarding replacement cost. Approximate current fair market value. Photographs of the boat and unusual features or problems.
"How quickly can I get the survey report?"
A boat large enough to require a survey is a major purchase. It should not be an impulse buy. The surveyor needs time to write a thorough thoughtful report, and you need time to read and consider the information. You should receive the report in five to seven working days after the inspection. Our surveys reports are individually written documents, not just checklists and inventories between fancy covers. It takes several days after completion of the onboard inspection to do research for the valuation, write, format, and print the report. This is an important part of the process and rushing will affect the quality of the product.
"What will a survey cost?"
We aim to be the BEST. We know we are not the cheapest. You are paying for knowledge, experience, and integrity not just a sheaf of paper with a "rubber stamp". Our usual fee is $15 per foot up to 30 ft, $19 per foot from 31 to 35 ft, and $22 per foot for 41ft and above. Power or Sail. For surveys more than 100 mi. from our offices there will be a nominal travel charge.
"Who gets the results of the survey?"
As the buyer, you commission us to do the pre-purchase survey. We work only for you, and have no connection to any other party in the sale. We provide ONLY YOU with the results of the survey. We do not reveal our opinion of the fair market value to the broker, seller, or any one else, until you authorize disclosure and only to those parties you authorize.
"Should I, the buyer, attend the survey?"
We strongly encourage buyers to attend the survey. Often the notes and recommendations in the written report will be more meaningful to you if we are able to point out the item in question while actually on the boat. We can also answer your questions in person and add comments which might not be significant enough to include in the formal written report. Either the owner, broker, a captain or some other person authorized by the owner should be present to operate the boat and equipment. (We will be observing and inspecting, which we cannot do if we are operating.) However, we do not confer with or report any results to them - only to you. A good broker or captain will stay out of the survey process except to facilitate the inspection by operating the boat and equipment. The survey is business not play. We hope the survey will be a pleasant experience. But, we generally discourage the attendance of persons not having a direct interest in the purchase since they will distract us both from getting as much out of the survey as we can. This is not the time to bring friends, miscellaneous relatives (unless they are to be co-owners), small children, or pets.
"What about a sea trial?"
A sea trial is an excellent idea, up to one hour of underway time is included in the standard survey price if it is done at the time as the survey. We will be glad to do more extensive trials but the extra time will involve additional cost. We do not operate the boat during the survey or sea trial. The owner, his broker, or a hired captain should be present to operate the boat. We would not be able to give proper attention to surveying and inspecting, if we were also operating the boat. We could not leave the controls to check the engine room, bilges, etc. while underway. The buyer should make a "trial sail" with the seller or broker prior to the survey. On this trial you can determine your personal comfort level with the operation of the vessel and take notes on anything that you may question. If the boat's performance is generally satisfactory to you, you can proceed with the expense of a survey. We do want to be on board to see the engine started. Often this can be done, and we can check general operation while on the trip to the yard for haul out or on the return trip. We can also check any items you may have noted from your "trial sail".
"How do you inspect rigging and sails?"
The rigging is always given a close visual inspection from deck level. This is the most common practice among surveyors nationally, including those of us who specialize in sailboats. An inspection aloft can also be made a part of our survey. This does involve additional time and difficulty so we do need to make arrangements in advance. In most cases, the deck level inspection will reveal the most serious problems, since it is here that the corrosive effects of saltwater are the most pronounced. To assess the yacht's overall condition and value, the deck level inspection is generally adequate, and there are several reasons it may be desirable to have a full inspection made by a rigger made at a later time. Beginning an offshore passage, an extended cruise, or a season of racing without inspecting the rig aloft would be foolish. You may wish to have this done by a rigger you chose, or later when more time can be devoted to it. If the boat is to be decommissioned for transport, the rigger recommissioning the boat should make a complete inspection. However, we will be happy include inspection aloft as part of any survey for a modest additional charge. Unstepping (lowering) the mast is required for a complete inspection. Due to the expense involved this is almost never a part of a pre-purchase survey. Disassembly of fittings and internal parts such as pins, sheaves, and socket type terminals (stem balls and T's) as well as inspecting the heel and mast step can really only be done when the mast is down. In northern climates where boats are hauled for the winter, the masts are often surveyed on benches. In southern waters many boats go a decade or more without unstepping the mast. We, like many other experienced sailboat surveyors, feel that an inspection with the mast unstepped should be made about every five years.
Sails are inspected for general condition as they are found furled or bagged.
This is normally adequate to determine value for a pre-purchase survey on a typical boat. Of course, if possible, sails will be set on a sea trial or unfurled at the pier if weather permits. On racing boats with large inventories of high-tech and expensive sails we will make inspections in a sail loft. Before extended cruising or offshore passages we recommend that the sails be given a complete inspection in the loft and any defects be repaired by a professional sail maker.
"What if the boat has blisters?"
Most cases of blisters are not "fatal". Generally, bottom blisters represent an annoying and somewhat costly maintenance or repair item. In a hull with solid glass lay-up (i.e. no core), there is rarely any urgency to have blisters repaired. Most fiberglass boats will ultimately get blisters. This is especially true of boats on the Gulf Coast, Florida, and the Southeast, where boats are kept afloat in relatively warm water year round. Blisters may occur between and within any of several layers. Paint/gelcoat, gelcoat/skin-out mat, or within structural laminate. They may also occur beneath "barrier coats" or previous blister repairs. Lately we are seeing a lot of this. Blisters can be diagnosed after they appear, but there is no reliable way to predict when or where they will appear. Moisture meter readings taken during a "quick haul" cannot be used as a predictor of future blistering potential with any accuracy. Some models have more problems than others but there is considerable variation. You may be better off buying a boat with blisters than buying a boat previously repaired to a poor standard. Assuming the price reflects the condition, you can then have the blisters repaired properly.
"Do you use a moisture meter?"
We own and use a Marine Moisture meter. We probably will not use it on the bottom of the boat during a standard pre-purchase survey (unless it is a dry-stored boat). They are useful to assess moisture intrusion into cored decks, or in wood cored transoms or Stringers. Most people, including many surveyors, do not understand the workings of moisture meters or the constraints necessary to achieve a reliable reading on a boats hull. Moisture meters for use on fiberglass hulls are essentially radio transmitters/receivers. The measurement actually being made is dielectric constant or AC conductivity, which is affected by type and thickness of bottom paint, trapped water in the paint, thickness of gel coat, thickness of laminate, resin/glass ratio, as well as absorbed water. The "Code of Practice for the Measurement and Analysis of the Wetness of FRP Hulls"* specifies the methods necessary. These include: The hull surface must carefully cleaned. A large number of random 4" x 4" areas of the hull must have paint or other coating removed down to the gel coat. The vessel should be out of the water at least 24 hours. Minimum number of measurements must be = approx. one per sq. meter (3.3 feet) or 50-100 on the average 35-40 foot boat. * International Institute of Marine Surveyors (1998) Witherby & Co., London, 17p. Few sellers will allow the paint to be scraped as necessary for an accurate determination. Generally buyers are also not willing to pay costs necessary for the yard to first block the boat and scrape the paint, then repaint the bottom for this analysis. If there are reasons to suspect a serious moisture problem, such as water intrusion in a cored hull, the meter may be used to try to qualitatively determine the extent of damage.
"What are my responsibilities as the buyer?"
After contracting for the survey with us, the buyer should make arrangements with the repair yard for a "quick haul" and pressure wash. Often the broker will coordinate this for you. The buyer must also make the necessary financial arrangements with the yard (usually payment at the time of haul out). We require payment for the survey before delivery of the report. Generally it is easiest to pay by check or cash at the time of the survey inspection. In cases requiring unusual travel or other expenses we may require payment in advance. If you do not wish to have the boat placed on the hard, that is fine, your survey will reflect that some portions could not be completed, and depending on the size, age, general condition of the vessel, along with the consideration of the financial investment you're about to make, the insurance company, financial institution, and your spouse will most likely take that into consideration as well. (we're not saying you need to have a 10k boat hauled, but if you're laying out 150k, wouldn't you like to see the wetted surface?)
"What are the seller's or broker's responsibilities?"
All normally accessible compartments should be open and unobstructed. The boat should be reasonably clean, and extraneous possessions should be removed. The ships papers or title and registration should be available. The seller, the broker or other representative of the seller should operate the boat, engine, or other equipment on sea trial and to deliver the boat to the yard for the haul out.
We would love to hear from you, please give us a call, at 1-877-889-7020.
Southern Cross Survey
Member ABYC, and SAMS
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