So many questions come to mind after hiring a marine surveyor Estero. Some of those questions revolve around what will the surveyor look at. While the best way to get answers to these questions is to ask the surveyor, there is a certain peace of mind that comes with knowing what the surveyor will be looking for. With so many things required to be looked at, in this post we will be looking at what is inspected below deck. Let’s get started.
Bilge
The first stop is the bilge. This is the area on the hull where the bottom curves to connect with the vertical sides. The surveyor will check for water leakage. The marine surveyor Estero will also look at the keel bolts, and inspect the condition of the hose and bilge pump. Any visible cracking or deformation will be put in the survey report.
Keel bolts
If you are buying a used boat, the surveyor will want to know when the keel bolts were last checked. They will check to see if the boat has an iron or lead keel. Are the bolts cast in place or are they thru-bolted? Keel bolts are not usually replaced. It is, however, a great idea to check their condition at least once every 10 years. If a replacement is needed, the boat surveyor will let you know. While there is nothing you can do during the survey, you can use the condition of the keel bolts to bargain with the seller.
Water staining
The vessel has to be checked for water stains. This is more so when it comes to the underside of the chain-plate connections, windows and hatches. Water stains indicate that there are leaks and if they are not fixed they may end up causing major problems to your vessel.
Rust and corrosion
The surveyor will go below the deck to check for rust and corrosion. These are a major concern. If the rust is too much, the structure of your vessel may be compromised.
Thru-hulls
The boat surveyor will operate every thru-hull to ensure they work. The surveyor will also check for corrosion and look at the hose connections. The thru-hull hose connection must have 2 gear clamps.
Bulkheads
The connection between the bulkheads and the deck/hull has to be looked at. If it is out of place, there is a chance the vessel was involved in a major collision or has other major deformations.
Chain-plates
The underside of the chain plates will be inspected for signs of corrosion or water intrusion. Issues with the chain plate are usually a big deal. The surveyor will recommend immediate repairs.