Scope of a Marine Survey Report: Pre-Purchase and Insurence Surveys and Appraisals

Guidelines used for a survey will be the Rules and Regulations for Recreational Boats, as excerpted from the United States Code (USC) and the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) published by the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC), as well as the Standards and Technical Information Reports for Small Craft, also published by the ABYC, and NFPA 302: Standard for Pleasure and Commercial Motor Craft, published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). For sail boats the Safety Recommendations for Cruising Sailboats (SRCS), published by US Sailing will be used to the extent they are applicable.

Analyses of inherent design and stability characteristics as performed by a naval architect are beyond the scope of this survey.

If the vessel will be exported to a country outside the US, the Client/Buyer will be responsible for complaince with the Rules, Regulations and Standards, applicable in their country, which may be different from the Rules, Regulations and Standards used in this survey.

Vessels that will be exported to the EU must undergo a Post Construction Assessment (PCA) by a "notified body" in order to determine if the vessel meets the Recreation Craft Directive 94/25/EC as amended by Directive 2003/44/EC. This can be done in the US or in the port where the vessel will enter the EU. A PCA is not part of this survey.

An assessment whether a vessel is in full compliance with all of the rules, regulations and standards is beyond the scope of the survey.

Hull and deck moldings will be subjected to close visual inspection and random percussion soundings with a light phenolic mallet and to moisture meter testing with an Electrophysics Moisture Meter Model GRP33 and/or a Protimeter Aquant. Rain and freezing temperatures will preclude reliable moisture meter readings.  Moisture meter readings may also be unreliable if the boat will be hauled shortly before the survey.

The interior structure of the vessel will be visually inspected.

Certain parts of the vessel’s structure, systems and equipment can only be inspected after removing bulkheads, joinery, liners, cabin soles, tanks, etc. This would be prohibitively time consuming, potentially destructive and costly to restore. Components requiring access with tools or by disassembly will not be inspected and core material of deck or hull, if any, will not be sampled.

The installation and external condition of machinery, plumbing, electrical systems and equipment will be visually inspected. Complete inspection can only be made by disassembly or by continuous operation. This will not be done. No mechanical tests will be performed on propulsion or auxiliary generating equipment. No compression tests will be performed. No fluid samples will be drawn. No machinery, electronics, ancillary equipment, tanks or fittings will be opened for internal examination. Machinery and equipment will be inspected while operating only when the Owner or the Owner’s authorized representative (Captain, Broker, etc.) is present to operate the machinery.

The inspection of flexible piping will be limited to the condition of its external casing and only where readily accessible for visual inspection.

Batteries and their installation will be visually inspected, but the batteries will not load tested. The external condition of electrical wiring, connections and system installation will be inspected.

If shore power is readily available, the 120VAC wiring system will be tested with an Ideal Circuit Analyzer. Electronic and electrical equipment will be tested by powering up and observing basic function. No measurements will be taken; no calibrations or adjustments will be made. A complete analysis of the vessel’s electrical systems is beyond the scope of the survey.

Machinery and equipment (laundry machinery, heating systems using diesel fuel or gasses, cook tops, ovens, etc.) may be inspected while operating only if the Owner or Owner's authorized representative (captain, broker, etc.) is present to operate the machinery and equipment. If the vessel is blocked ashore or on a trailer, no machinery will be operated.

No spray testing of deck, hatches and portlights will be conducted.

If the vessel is in a state of winter lay-up, operation of a winterized systems is precluded. A haul out, sea trial and a professional survey of main engine(s) and/or auxiliary engines by a qualified engine surveyor is always recommended when the vessel is surveyed for pre-purchase considerations.

Propulsion and rudder shafts will not be drawn for inspection, and no engine/propeller shaft alignment will be checked. Bimini tops, awnings, winter covers, etc. that are not rigged or laid out for inspection, will not be evaluated. Anchor rodes will only be fully evaluated if they are pulled up from the locker and laid out for inspection.

Non-essential equipment, such as TVs, VCRs, CDs, stereos, cell phones, washers, dryers, dishwashers, heater, and air conditioning systems, auto pilot, sat phones, computers, faxes, sonar, etc. will be powered but will not be fully tested. Reverse Osmosis watermakers will not be tested.

If the mast is stepped, it will be viewed from deck level only. Sails that are furled or bagged will not be inspected unless other arrangements are made prior to the survey.