How to survey?

[Foxtrot]

I have no clue what I'm doing when it comes to sorting out a pre-sale survey because I never thought I'd get to this stage! So here's some questions:

 

- How much is it going to cost me for the survey? (not including lifting the boat, we'll get to that later.)

 

- How do I find a surveyor?

 

- Will I have to be present at the survey?

 

- Do surveyor's work weekends?

 

-Whats their availability? (days, weeks, months notice etc.)

 

-And finally for all you eager beavers, how much would it cost to have the boat lifted and what sort of options should I expect to have (crane, dry dock etc.)?

 

Thanks in advance. Could not put a value on how much help you guys are.

 

Foxy

[Grace and Favour]

If you mention what area the boat's in, then I expect members in that area may well recommend a good/reliable/suitable surveyor

You can have a complete boat survey - or just the hull. (opinion differs on which is most suitable, though if it were a boat I was buying, I would most probably go for the full survey)

Some surveyors work weekends, some don't.

Survey costs may differ according to the part of the country - - (I believe that they are dearer in London - like most things)

So do dry-docks, cranes etc......

So - again, if you give us a clue to the area, members will doubtless recommend operations that they have had good experience of

[Cheshire cat]

A full survey including pulling the boat from the water and putting it back is costing me £1100 most of which goes to the surveyor. The hull survey only shaves off a couple of hundred so I decided to have a complete survey.

 

Edited to add that is in the north west

Edited September 11, 2014 by Cheshire cat

[Foxtrot]

If you mention what area the boat's in, then I expect members in that area may well recommend a good/reliable/suitable surveyor

You can have a complete boat survey - or just the hull. (opinion differs on which is most suitable, though if it were a boat I was buying, I would most probably go for the full survey)

Some surveyors work weekends, some don't.

Survey costs may differ according to the part of the country - - (I believe that they are dearer in London - like most things)

So do dry-docks, cranes etc......

So - again, if you give us a clue to the area, members will doubtless recommend operations that they have had good experience of

I'm looking at boats everywhere so trying to get a general idea. Most are in the midlands, either side of the peaks.

[Alan de Enfield]

If you budget for £1000 per survey/lift you will be 'about right' - you may get a bit of change or you may have to find a few extra pounds.

 

Boatyards that have a trailer that simply slides under the boat and is pulled out by a tractor will be considerably cheaper for a lift out that a boatyard that has one of these 'walking sling lifts', or, has to hire in a huge crane.

 

A cruiser lift-out may work out more expensive (or cheaper) than a narrowboat depending on the boatyard facilities.

[YamYam]

A full survey including pulling the boat from the water and putting it back is costing me £1100 most of which goes to the surveyor. The hull survey only shaves off a couple of hundred so I decided to have a complete survey.

 

Edited to add that is in the north west

How things move on. My survey cost £220 incuding a crane lift but that was 16 years ago (ironically exactly to todays date). That was in Northampton. I'll have to start saving up for my insurance one in 2020

[Naughty Cal]

If you budget for £1000 per survey/lift you will be 'about right' - you may get a bit of change or you may have to find a few extra pounds.

 

Boatyards that have a trailer that simply slides under the boat and is pulled out by a tractor will be considerably cheaper for a lift out that a boatyard that has one of these 'walking sling lifts', or, has to hire in a huge crane.

 

A cruiser lift-out may work out more expensive (or cheaper) than a narrowboat depending on the boatyard facilities.

Interesting you say that as i was just amazed by some of the prices quoted.

 

Our marina isnt one of the cheapest in the area and lift out for ours is £80. If its held on the yard trailer and relaunched within 2 hours thats it. If its chocked ashore its then £80 to put it back in. Our full survey was £300 some 7 years ago but we know someone who has just used the same chap and he was charged £300 for a full survey so he would seem to have held his prices. So say £460 for a full survey.

 

They pull the narrowboats out on a similar trailer but charge slightly more, from memory its £120 each way.

[John V]

Last lift out for an inspection that I paid for was for a 55 foot (ish) survey vessel in Hollyhead can't be sure of the exact price, as I paid for it then claimed it back so I haven't got the receipt. That was around £200 for a lift and hold (couple of hours) and re-launch

[Erin42]

My survey plus lift out was about £600 quid. I was present at both of the surveys I've had done and glad I was - I asked lots of ququestions.

[john6767]

Not sure of the costs, but I would have said less than £1000 in the Midlands, perhaps £800 including lift, but I would certainly say that you should be there for the survey, you can ask questinos, and you get a much better impression of the surveyors opinion than reading a report later. It cost a lot of money and is worth taking a days holiday if you need to, that is what I did.