Surveys & Sea Trials

The buyer’s best friend when it comes to inspecting and evaluating the condition and seaworthiness of a boat is a competent marine surveyor well versed in boat construction, as well as safety and manufacturing laws, requirements and practices.

Hire your own surveyor to be sure the inspection is done with your interests in mind.
BoatU.S. Members can call 800-283-2883 or go to www.boatus.com/insurance/survey.htm for a referral. Don’t use a surveyor recommended by the seller or rely upon a survey report provided by the owner. It could pre-date existing conditions that need repair or gloss over problems that are expensive to fix, even downright dangerous.

Boats should be surveyed both in and out of the water. Haul-out and other fees are at the buyer’s expense. Engines should also be inspected by an independent marine mechanic.

Follow up the survey inspection with a sea trial to see how the boat handles underway. Are there performance problems that make the boat unstable? Does all the gear work properly? All electronic equipment should be tested for accuracy.

Surveys and sea trials that turn up flaws or problems can either allow you to back out of the contract without penalty (see www.boatus.com/guide/b_contracts.asp) or can be used to renegotiate the purchase price of the boat. A survey costs an average of $15-$20 per foot, depending upon the size of the boat, but is not a guarantee against latent or undetected defects.

Boat Manufacturing Standards

Most recreational boats sold in the U.S. must meet the following minimal federal manufacturing standards, some of which don’t apply to canoes, kayaks and inflatables, sailboats without gas engines, or to diesel-powered boats.

• Hull Identification Number (HIN). Identifies builder, model, and year. Cannot be altered, aids in identifying lost and stolen boats.
• Maximum Passenger, Weight and Horsepower Capacities. Applies to boats under 20 ft. Exceeding these capacities will make the boat unsafe to operate.
• Flotation Standards. Ensure that a swamped/capsized boat under 20 ft. will remain partially afloat.
• Fuel Systems. For fuel tanks, hoses, pumps and fills, to decrease risk of fire/explosion on gas-powered boats.
• Electrical Systems. For electrical components, wires and conductors, to decrease risk of shock, fire and explosion on gas-powered boats.
• Ventilation Systems. Requires powered and natural venting to decrease risk of fire/explosion on gas-powered boats, including outboards with installed fuel tanks.

Call the U.S. Coast Guard at 800-368-5647 or go to www.usgboating.org for more information. In addition, industry advisory groups like the American Boat & Yacht Council have established more far-reaching voluntary standards incorporated in the NMMA certification program.