Category: Naples FL Marine Survey

While it is not mandatory, insuring your boat will safeguard your investment in the event of an accident. However, it is good to note that there are certain conditions you have to meet before your boat can be insured. When insuring a boat of a certain age, value, or length, some boat insurance companies will demand that you provide a Naples FL marine survey. The purpose of the survey is to help the insurer understand the condition of your boat and its market value.

There is no simple answer to the question of can you insure a boat without a survey. This is because different insurance companies have varying demands when insuring boats. However, in many cases, you will typically not need to provide a marine survey report if your vessel is new. It is, however, important to understand that most insurers will not cover your boat until you provide insurance coverage. With that in mind, when approaching an insurance company for a boat survey in Naples FL, ask them if they require a marine survey done. This is important because it costs money to get a watercraft surveyed. You need to be prepared for these costs.

What is done during a survey?

As you may already know, a marine survey is a detailed inspection of a watercraft’s interior and exterior. As the surveyor inspects the vessel, he will make notes of all potential issues the boat has as well as provide a list of documentation. The survey report will list the current condition as well as the seaworthiness of the boat. It also gives details on the estimated value of the vessel.

How long a marine survey takes will depend on a number of things including:

• The size of the boat
• Age of the vessel
• Type of survey
• Extended testing such as sea trial and haul-out
• Prior preparation

A marine survey can take a full day if you need an in-depth condition and value survey. However, for insurance surveys, the insurer will mostly provide you with a list of items that need to be inspected. The survey is usually less comprehensive but rather more focused. Always speak with your insurance company beforehand to know what will be required in the survey report.

Hopefully, this post has sufficiently answered the question of can you insure a boat without a survey. The next thing you need to do is find a reputable marine surveyor in Naples FL to perform the survey. The surveyor you hire should be accepted by your insurer.

Naples FL Marine Survey

Anyone buying an old boat should consider hiring a marine surveyor. Getting maritime services before buying a used boat will guide you through the process. In this post, we will be answering the question of how do I choose a marine surveyor. Our focus will be on what constitutes a high-quality surveyor.

Certification and accreditation

While there are no federal or state certifications, licensing, or sanctioning of marine surveyors, it is always good to focus on surveyors that are certified and accredited. There are numerous professional organizations that require rigorous testing, continuing education, and experience for accredited and certified surveyors. The Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors and the National Association of Marine Surveyors are just some of those organizations. Getting a Naples FL marine survey from a boat surveyor that is certified and accredited guarantees you get the most thorough survey report. Ask your target surveyor if they belong to any organization and make sure their membership is up-to-date.

Get recommendations

It can be helpful to get suggestions from other boat owners, yard managers, and other people working in the boating business. However, you must take into account the viewpoint of the person giving the recommendation. As an illustration, consider a broker who has a preferred marine surveyor who might inadvertently ignore some flaws. It is up to you to verify the credibility of the recommendations you get. One way of doing this is by getting recommendations from multiple sources. The marine surveyor that comes highly recommended should be the one you consider. 

Ask the right questions

The most important step in hiring a marine surveyor is to ask the right questions. Start by going through their website and reading as many reviews about the surveyor as you can. Next, you need to ask questions that relate to you. Some important questions to ask include the following:

• Do you work full-time as a boat surveyor?
• What kind of boats have you surveyed?
• Which technologies do you use when conducting marine surveys?
• Can you provide a sample survey report?
• Do you have any accreditation or certification?

The above questions are crucial as you strive to answer the question of how do I choose a marine surveyor. As you ask questions, make sure the responses the surveyor gives are clear and satisfactory. Be wary of any surveyor that is unwilling to share sample survey reports. Surveyors that don’t use any technology when conducting surveys will also not give the most comprehensive surveys.

Price

Last but not least, you need to know how much the surveyor charges for their services. The last thing you want is to be overcharged. Keep in mind that the price charged will mostly depend on the type, age, and size of the boat. Most surveyors charge per foot. Make sure their rates are within market standards.

Naples FL Marine Survey