What should I expect from a marine survey report?

What is a Condition and Value Survey?

•Simply put, a Condition and Value Survey (C & V) is a report which details the current condition of a boat and estimates its value.

The surveyor will complete a thorough visual inspection of the boat to insure it conforms with accepted marine standards as a safe floating platform. Some non-destructive testing, such as sounding the laminate with a hammer or testing with a moisture meter, may be included.

The survey report will cover the areas inspected and include recommendations regarding problem areas. It will also include a current market value estimate.

Basis of the Survey• You should be aware of the guidelines a marine surveyor uses for his

comparisons, such as: "The mandatory standards promulgated by the United States Coast Guard (USCG), under the authority of Title 46 United States Code (USC); Title 33 and Title 46, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), and the Voluntary Standards and Recommended Practices developed by the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) have been used as guidelines in the conducting of this survey. "

• This tells you the exact information the marine surveyor used as a baseline for his comments and recommendations. Also be sure you understand how the marine surveyor determined the market value and/or replacement value for the boat and what those values mean.

What good does it do me as a boat owner?

•Most importantly, the survey helps determine the overall condition of your vessel, that it meets the safety criteria which safeguard your passengers and crew. For individuals buying or selling a boat, a Condition and Value Survey helps determine the actual value of a craft. The survey also helps the insurance company determine that they are underwriting a safe working platform.

Remember that you are hiring a surveyor for his or her objective opinion of the condition of the boat and its value. You may not agree with the final findings in either regard but you have benefited from their professional opinion.

What components are examined?

• The hull, decks, overall cosmetic appearance, structural integrity, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and propulsion systems are examined as well as the electronics and navigation equipment

Bottom and Hull Sides

Delamination or Inflated Moisture in Core

Blisters, Condition of Bottom Paint

Wooden Hulls• Provide a different set of challenges.

Typically they are old and suffer from the various forms of degradation unique to wooden hulls; from worm damage and decay,

to degraded fasteners and delignafication from bonding

Running Gear - Prop nuts tight, tips sound, blade dezincification, shaft zinc, strut and cutless bearing

ABYC recommends, “The distance between the forward end of the propeller hub and the aft end of the last strut bearing shall be limited to one shaft diameter.”

Deck, Core, Stanchions, Scupper Drains

Anchor Windless

Backing Plate ? Fuse or Breaker?

Cockpit, Scupper Drains, Hatch Gutters

Lack of Attention to this

Will lead to this

Interior Structure, Bulkheads, Stringers, Frames

Interior Joinerwork, Leaks in windows, Hatches and Port Lights

• Gaskets supple, all dogs sound, with no gaps when tightened

CO and Smoke Detector• For gasoline propelled vessels and those with liquid

propane gas stoves, a CO monitor is required by ABYC;

• NFPA recommends, “All vessels 26 feet or more in length with accommodation spaces intended for sleeping shall be equipped with a single station smoke alarm that is listed to UL217 for recreational vehicles and is installed and maintained according to the device manufacturer's instructions “. As this is a relatively inexpensive commodity capable of a huge safety return, it is the opinion of this office that a smoke detector is installed to accommodate these recommendations.

Mechanical Systems

• Engines• Fuel System• Exhaust system• Steering System• Stern Gear• Ventilation

Engines

• Securely Mounted, annual maintenance performed, inclusive of raw water impellers

• Clean and Free from oil• Linkage Free• Hoses sound

Damaged hose caused by lack of maintenance to raw water pump impeller

Fuel system• Tank Composition and Condition - Is it properly supported • The interior of older steel tanks should be inspected• Fuel fill hoses are not cracked, are grounded and double clamped• Supply lines and vents are provided with adequate support• Fuel Filters, Manifold

Exhaust• Connections Tight, double clamped, hoses

sound, no rust streaking at manifolds and risers• Lagging on un cooled components

Steering SystemFree movement of quadrant from stop to stopStuffing tube recently packedSupport Secure Notable leaks in hydraulic fittings

VentilationFederal Regulations Stipulate *for gasoline powered vessels):

A powered ventilation system is required for each compartment in a boat that has a permanently installed gasoline engine with a cranking motor for remote starting.

A powered ventilation system consists of one or more exhaust blowers. Each intake duct for an exhaust blower must be in the lower one-third of the compartment and above the normal accumulation of bilge water.

ABYC recommends, H-2.5.4.1 There shall be at least one powered blower for each gasoline engine used for propulsion.” Because the safety benefits far outweigh the cost, we recommend providing an additional blower as part of the engine ventilation system.

Stern GearStuffing Box Double Clamped, No cracks in boot, no excessive leaks, Packing in good condition or recently re-packedShaft run not too long without support

Electrical System• DC System – Batteries Secure, Wires supported, breakers and fuses

where appropriate, appliances ignition protected where appropriate, Battery charger grounded, and suited to battery size and number

Buss Bars in place of excessive terminationsSwitches provided for battery banks with a CCA rating

greater than 800 amperes (Group 24)

Electrical System• AC - Shore Power connections, Transfer switch Double

Pole Breakers, within 10’ of connection Wires Neatly Run, Reverse Polarity, GFCI, Ignition Protected, where appropriate

• Galvanic Isolator or Isolation transformer

• Excessive amperage on one circuit

• GFCI outlets

Scorched Wire Termination

Plumbing

• Bilge Pumps – Secure, operational, adequate pumping capacity?

• Bilge Alarm? • Hoses Sound?

Through Hull Fittings• Freely operable, and free from extensive Verdigris• Above water discharge fittings sound

Habitability

• Liquid propane gas stoves – hoses and copper lines sound, solenoid control valve

• Heads – Required holding tank & tank composition and condition, hoses sound

• Fresh water system – water heater secured, ignition protected (if in gasoline engine compartment), pressure relief valve

Navigational and Electronic GearAdequate for the intended operational area

Running Lights

Recreational vessels are required to display navigation lights between sunset and sunrise and other periods of reduced visibility (fog, rain, haze etc.). The U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Rules, International-Inland encompasses lighting requirements for every description of water craft. The information provided here is intended for power-driven sailing vessels less than 20 meters

Clear and Unobstructed

Fire and Safety Equipment

All recreational boats must carry one Type I, II, III or V PFD (wearable) for each person aboard. For Type V PFDs to be counted they must be used according to their label requirements. Any boat 16ft and longer (except canoes and kayaks) must also carry one Type IV (throwable) PFD

PFDs must be Coast Guard approved, in good and serviceable condition, and of appropriate size for the intended user. Wearable PFDs must be readily accessible, meaning you must be able to put them on in a reasonable amount of time in an emergency (vessel sinking, on fire, etc.). They should not be stowed in plastic bags, in locked or closed compartments or have other gear stowed on top of them. Throwable devices must be immediately available for use.

Off-Shore Life Jacket

Near-shore Buoyancy Vest

Type III Flotation Aid

Legal but Questionable

Visual Distress SignalsAll vessels used on coastal waters, the Great Lakes, territorial seas, and those waters connected directly to them, up to a point where a body of water is less than two miles wide, must be equipped with U.S.C.G. Approved visual distress signals. Vessels owned in the United States operating on the high seas must be equipped with U.S.C.G. Approved visual distress signals. The following vessels are not required to carry day signals but must carry night signals when operating from sunset to sunrise:

* Recreational boats less than 16 feet in length.*Boats participating in organized events such as races, regattas, or marine

parades.*Open sailboats less than 26 feet in length not equipped with propulsion

machinery.*Manually propelled boats.

Red Flare Parachute Flare(hand-held/day and night) (day and night)

Orange Smoke Signal Floating Orange Smoke Signal

(hand-held/day only) (day and night)

Red Meteor(day and night)

Orange Flag (day only)

Arm Signals(day only)

Electric Distress Signals(night only)

Fire Extinguishers

Minimum number of hand portable fire extinguishers required:

Vessel Length No Fixed System With approved Fixed Systems

Less than 26' 1 B-1 0

26' to less than 40' 2 B-1 or 1 B-II 1 B-I

40' to 65' 3 B-I or 1 B-II and 1 B-I 2 B-1 or 1 B-II

For the CME, Halon units to be counted toward the minimum requirements must be inspected and tagged by a recognized authority within 6 months of the examination. The pressure gauge is not an accurate indicator that Halon extinguishers are full. The units should be checked regularly.

All portable extinguishers must be mounted in a readily accessible position. The Auxiliary requires at least 1 B-1 handheld fire extinguisher on all motorboats and sailboats (without motors) 16 feet or longer.

Sailboat Rigging Age of shrouds Condition at mast base Condition of Swages and Compression Post Possible Crevice Corrosion in Chain Plates

ValuationMarket value is generally the price of the vessel would bring on the open market, that price agreed upon between a willing buyer and a willing seller, with neither being required to act and both having reasonable knowledge of the relevant facts.

Evaluate Market conditionsIdentify Comparable Listings - The concept of “comparable”, noted as vessels of similar vintage, and serving the same function with similar capacity

Questions?