More and more people are familiar with the importance of getting a marine survey. While most people only consider getting an Estero marine surveywhen buying a used vessel, there is a need for boat owners to get frequent surveys on their boats. This is because a thorough survey will help you understand the condition of your boat better and help you give it the best care. As for how often should you get a marine survey, there are several factors that come into play.
How often do you need a survey?
Typically, you should get a fresh marine survey at least once every five years. Even though it’s been less than five years since your last survey, it is highly recommended to get an updated survey that takes into account the new condition and worth if you’ve made any significant changes to your boat.
The type of boat you own will also dictate how often you get a survey done. For wooden vessels, surveys might need to be performed more frequently and out of the water. For wooden vessels, a survey is typically required every two to three years, while certain specialized insurers will increase this need to every ten to fifteen years.
At times, it is not you that needs the marine survey to be done. There are times when you are forced to get a survey done on your boat. This is more so when getting boat insurance or when you need to use your boat as collateral when getting financing. In this case, the answer to how often do I need a marine survey will depend on what you need the survey for.
Insurance companies have been more frequently seeking surveys and limiting the types and ages of vessels they will insure due to a tightening marine market over the past couple of years. Your best bet for ensuring that you get the best insurance coverage is to have a current marine survey. A current marine survey will also guarantee that you get the most protection in the event of a loss. Many marine insurers are okay with a survey report that is 4 to 5 years old. It is, however, ideal that you rely on a survey that has been done within the last 12 to 18 months when getting insurance.
There are many more factors that dictate the answer to the question of how often do I need a marine survey. The rule of thumb is to make sure you get the survey done by an experienced surveyor.