Category: Marine Surveyor Estero

When hiring a marine surveyor Estero, you expect him or her to give you more insight into the vessel you own or are thinking about buying. But how do you know if the surveyor does a good job? Will he only rely on judgement calls and are those calls sufficient? It is easy to feel like the service offered will not be sufficient. The important point you should remember, however, is that boat surveyors are required to adhere to certain guidelines. Here are some of those guidelines.

Code of Federal Regulations

The CFRs (Code of Federal Regulations) are the first guidelines a marine surveyor Estero is required to adhere to when performing a boat survey. CFRs are also referred to as Coast Guard Regulations. These guidelines list the minimal requirements for safety equipment, sanitation, navigation lights, electrical and fuel systems on a gasoline-powered vessel. For the diesel-powered vessels, the mechanical and electrical regulations don’t apply but has to comply with all other conditions.

American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) Standards

The ABYC are more of recommendations than regulations. They, however, carry very significant weight. This is more so if there is an accident or a failure ends up in a court. These standards are quite extensive. They cover virtually everything on a vessel save for the basic design and construction. With the ABYC standards being so comprehensive, most of the sections will not apply to every boat. Even so, it is good to remember that every system that a boat surveyor sees will be related to the ABYC standards in some way.

Additional standards that a marine surveyor Estero has to adhere to come from the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA). There are also other sources a boat surveyor can use. For example, when surveying the lifelines on racing sailboat, the surveyor may have to consider the Offshore Special Regulations. These are rules for offshore sailboat racing.

Judgement Calls

Away from the set standards, regulations and recommendations, a boat survey must also rely on their own judgement when surveying a boat. This is for the simple fact that the standards cannot account for everything including elevated moisture readings in the deck or wear in the hoses or belts. The toughest calls are when a surveyor is surveying systems on older boat models that don’t meet or are not covered in the standards for modern day boats.

With all the standards a surveyor has to adhere to and all the judgement calls he or she has to make, it makes sense why you should always stick with experienced surveyors. Find a surveyor that has experience working on boats that are similar to yours. You also need to make sure the surveyor you are considering has a remarkable track record.

Marine Surveyor Estero

Every marine surveyor Esterowants you to understand a boat’s value. This is because it is critical in pricing. Setting a starting price can make or break a deal. As a result, pricing is one of the most challenging aspects of selling a boat. Most sellers will often ask, ‘how much is my boat worth?’ While on the other hand, potential buyers would wonder, ‘will I overpay for my boat?’ Nobody wants to pay too much, so it is essential to get a relatively accurate idea of what your boat is worth.

What affects used boat value and price?

The decision on whether to buy a used or new boat depends on personal finances. However, other factors have to be considered. The main ones include the size, age, and model of the vessel. Age and wear are difficult to hide when a boat hasn’t been properly cared for. When determining a boat’s value, there are other factors to take into account. They range from the boat’s condition, location, and equipment.

Condition divides into three major categories; Mechanical, Rigging, and Cosmetics. When inspecting the mechanical condition, a marine surveyor Estero will inspect the engine hours and its performance, battery, hull integrity, and desk status. The surveyor will focus on the sailboat mast, boom, shrouds, stays, and sails with rigging. Lastly, the cosmetic inspection focuses on everything else, including canvas, wood trim, gel coat, etc.

Location plays a part in boat pricing. Where the boat was being used will either increase or decrease the value. If used in a highly concentrated area, the price may be depressed because there is a larger supply of boats. On the other hand, selling in a small population can decrease the number of buyers.

Lastly, a boat that is fully equipped will make a significant difference in the selling price.  This is more so if the electronics are updated. In this case, such a boat will most likely attract more buyers because the boat will be more appealing. If the boat has advanced electronics like satellite communications and radar, these will generally raise the price since they aren’t typical upgrades.

Should I hire a surveyor to appraise a boat before buying?

You often don’t need to have a survey done when buying a new boat. However, if a used boat is under consideration, you may want to hire a specialized marine surveyor Estero. The appraisal survey will be performed to identify your boat’s approximate value and uncover the problems the boat has. For the most part, the purpose of the survey report is to ascertain the marine vessel’s condition and its history. A marine surveyor will inform you of any major or minor repairs, how much it will cost, and more accurately, the current market value of your boat. This information is vital and will most definitely help you determine the boat’s value even in years ahead.

Marine Surveyor Estero