AW BYRDE & ASSOCIATES

Yacht  Surveys & Small-Craft Surveys

Associate Member of the Yacht Designers & Surveyors Association

Survey Preparation

Pre-Survey Preparation

A structural survey requires:

• The boat to be either securely struck off ashore, or held in crane or hoist slings for a minimum of an hour in the case of GRP; wooden boats will almost always have to be seen when struck off ashore.

• Fouling growth to be cleaned from the hull bottom and fittings below the waterline.

• Full safe access to the yacht - including all keys etc.

• Ideally, the owner's personal gear and effects, stores etc to be removed as far as is practicable.

• Preferably a serviceable battery or batteries.

• In the case of wooden boats, it would be of assistance if the Yard could be warned off to remove and replace fastenings as required. This is, however, no longer common, and it is more usual to identify items that need dismantling for subsequent further inspection.

I reserve the right not to start a survey if in my opinion the vessel is presented in a dangerous state such as to present a risk to myself or other Yard users, or to curtail a survey if it subsequently becomes apparent that such a risk exists. However, fortunately I have yet to come across a yacht in that state.

It is not usually possible to make an effective survey of a boat when dried out alongside a wall, because a significant amount of the hull and keel will be inaccessible. However, if that is the only option I will do my best - but the limitations will be clearly set out in the report. I would not recommend it for pre-purchase boat surveys. Usually Insurers specify a full out-of-water survey, but if that is quite impractical you should get their approval for the alternative before going ahead with a survey alongside.

I also ideally need sight of:

• The Broker's Sales Particulars or inventory

• Any available Service Records

• Warranty documents if appropriate

• Invoices to confirm major repairs or renewal of equipment etc that may be listed in Sales Particulars (e.g. for new standing rigging, an osmosis repair, etc)

• Equipment manuals (if available)

• Yachts built or put into service after 16th June 1998, when the Recreational Craft Directive came into force, must have a Hull Identification Number (HIN) and a CE-Mark plate, and the Owner's Manual should be presented together with the Declaration of Conformity. Normally the Broker would be expected to confirm the documents were available.

Please note that it is not part of the Surveyor's remit to check ownership title documentation. That should be done by the Broker. The report will of course list any Yard Numbers, Builder's Plate Numbers, Hull Numbers, Part-1 Registration Tonnage Board etc that may be found during the survey.

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Copyright © 2005 AW BYRDE & ASSOCIATES.

AW Byrde & Associates is the trading name of Stonebarrow Surveys Ltd, Company Number 4783927 Registered in England. Office Address: Stonefield, Kimmeridge, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5PE United Kingdom

Last modified: 02/22/09