3 Reasons to Have a Pre-Purchase Survey Before Buying a Boat
Posted on: 6 January 2021
If you're about to buy a new boat, you need to check the vessel over to make sure it is in the right condition for its price. Even if you're an experienced sailor or already run a fleet of commercial boats, you won't necessarily have the knowledge you need to make a thorough job of this.
It helps to bring in a marine engineer to survey the boat. What are the advantages of commissioning this kind of report?
1. Check the Current Condition of the Boat
During a pre-purchase inspection, your engineer checks your boat over. They will make sure it is sea-worthy and safe; they ensure that it meets all current and relevant regulations and compliance standards.
They look for problem areas and damage. They can check the hull of the boat and all its equipment and machinery. If necessary, they can even inspect the boat in a dry dock or in the water. They can take it out to see how it performs.
The report you get helps you check that the boat is in its advertised condition. It helps you spot problem areas that might not be obvious to you or to the current owner of the boat. It also tells you if the boat has had any major repair work done in the past.
2. Evaluate Future Work
A boat might be in good condition now, but it might not stay that way for long. It can have areas of concern that you might need to work on in the near future. These might not be immediately obvious to you, but they might come to light in a survey.
For example, the hull of the boat might be showing signs of rust. Its engine might not have much efficient working life left.
If you know about maintenance work, repairs or upgrades that you might need to make, then you can work out how your costs are likely to increase in the future. This helps you evaluate if you should go ahead with the purchase.
3. Decide Whether to Buy the Boat
A pre-purchase inspection report gives you a clearer picture of the condition of the boat. It tells you whether it is worth the money.
In some cases, you might discover some damage or a problem that makes the purchase less attractive. You can choose to walk away or negotiate with the current owner. They might reduce the price or agree to have some work done before the sale.
To find out more about how a pre-purchase inspection works, contact local marine engineers.
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