Surveys

We have surveys normally for two purposes. We want to find out what problems the boat we are looking at has. Or, the blooming Insurance Company wants one done before they'll touch her!

The first story is mine and was for insurance. It was the first time Maeling had been surveyed in her 28 years. I used John Minehan from Drummoyne (fair, tough but not a mate). It took some aligning of the stars to get the boat slipped and him there at the same time. He explained "My report will be for what I see on the day, its $20 per foot". Later I had a long conversation with the Insurance man giving me the reasoning why they wanted things done

1. PVC sink Skin fitting they have been known to age in the sun – fret at the flange joint and fall apart.
2. Sink discharge Needs non-return valve – low on the waterline, when heeled on port tack is deep in the water and sucks like a venturi
3. Anchor Clench The bitter end of the anchor line requires a lockwired 5/16” shackle secured to the strong point. My buoyed end is not acceptable.
4. Anchor hatch Locking device Surveyor didn't discover the concealed lock – Required to stop the anchor self-deploying in seaway.
5. Vent Hatch crazed Top layer crazed in sun – The hatch is now covered when moored. Watching brief on the item
6. Double clamps all hoses onto seacocks require two hose clips. They can fail without warning due to corrosion.
7. Anchor hatch Vent bung Covered in Maeling's “Going to Sea” procedures or when entering rough water.
8. Toolbox securing device Tool drawer stack is attached by concealed bolts. Drawer locking bar was not fitted when surveyed on slip
9. Bronze engine inlet gate valve Replaced with stainless steel. Bronze are prone to failure in the stem.
10. Water Fill hose crushed Used only as a vent – no action at present
11. Fire Extinguishers out of date Bought cheap at SALE. Next time check date stamp on the base
12. Fire extinguishers need to be more prominent Bit too tidy, though they are well signed
13. Log Paddle wheel missing – Insurance is to 200 Nm. You need a basis to work out Dead Reckoning Navigation
14. Battery cover needed Cover to be made and fitted to prevent accidental shorting of terminals
15. Auto Bilge required Insurance hope the battery will extend the floating time of the boat – I don't entirely agree having seen owners unaware how badly their boat is leaking.
16. PVC Lifelines Replace the near new lines – PVC covered wires cannot be inspected for failure. Can't argue with the insurance company.
17. Stern bearing clips Adjusters presently in a line, need to be staggered – makes sense but I don't know why.
18. Exhaust pipe chafing on rudder stock - Lagged with fibreglass tape.

The Survey was followed a few days later by an in-water test with a torch – forward and reverse at high power checking engine mounts, bilge spaces, rudder stock, and exhaust.

Nothing major was found but it was a costly nuisance. On the positive side it was good to have an expert cast his eyes over the boat and not find a great deal wrong. I think he would have done a good pre-purchase survey.

Shawn C28 Werrina also recently had a Survey pre-purchase which didn't go so well.

Where to begin? I live on the mid North Coast of NSW and had spotted a good looking Compass 28 in Brisbane. Basically the Surveyor was hired to be my senses. I was clear that he needed to be able to be my eyes and ears, relaying information to allow me to assess the yacht. What I got was a survey they read more like an inventory, when asked a detailed question the only response I could get was "acceptable for age".

I tried to read between the lines and used my intuition as well as scrutinizing all photos I had along with careful questioning of the broker in order to determine the risk of purchase without seeing the boat first hand. In the end the Surveyor played very little part in my being able to decide what condition the yacht was in.

Things missed for example:

· The rudder was split down the back, He did discover two blisters but there were about eight I had to get repaired.

· Stanchions were loose and not mentioned

· Bilge pumps had broken hoses

· Batteries were reported as secured with ropes but were just set in place and the rope he looked at was just the rope handles.

· Diesel had water in sediment/separation bowl

· Bilge pump not secure, wrong size through hull fitting (leaking)

· Loose track for spinnaker pole, spinnaker pole cracked

· Halyards crossed in the mast, exit blocks on mast undersized,

· Turning blocks in wrong location,

· Traveller broken,

· Main bulkhead water damaged (this was mentioned but I was told was dry ) upon my arrival I could feel the moisture with my fingers and am sure would be through the roof on a meter)

· Port hole light fastener broken,

· No storm Jib,

· Yacht smelled musky but was told had no smell (I could smell it as I first climbed up the ladder to first view the yacht and she was opened up for the whole day already (I have since cleaned her and rid it of the mold that was present.

· There were holes and leaks not cited,

The general appearance was that although the owner has spent a lot of money on the yacht he basically did no maintenance. When I first went aboard, I entered the yacht to find everything just piled in it like a tip. I could go on and on and on. Now I asked the surveyor a lot of these questions specifically and before hiring was assured his survey would allow me to assess the condition of the yacht without being there. What I got was a list of what was on the yacht and if I pressed him for details of facts all I received was a vague answer, pressing further resulted in nothing.

Anyway in the end I test sailed the yacht, she was far from ready to go, I had to spend a week plus over $2000. I knew I had to spend on stuff the surveyor did cite (Anti fouling 2 blisters and small delam on side of rudder were essentially the only issues cited)

Anyway I'm past it in the sense, I'm happy to have the yacht and happy with my purchase. I've tended to all the issues and am over it. However I plan to lodge a formal complaint to the surveyor's accredited associations. My friend that accompanied me is a veteran shipwright and boatbuilder and could not believe the "in your face items the surveyor did not cite". Not to mention I clearly explained that I needed a detailed analysis of the yacht with the intent of going offshore.

Not only was I told by the broker that the yacht had been to sea but was told the previous owner cruised the coast a lot with her. Now once I started to go through the yacht it was clear she has never been to sea since her overhaul. (Later I was told by many at the marina that the owner has only used her about 3 times in like 5 years)

My opinion is that when the owner used her he just puttered around with the engine on nice days and unfurled the headsail to cruise downwind. This opinion is based on how all the rig was set tangled and wrongly aligned. It made it near impossible to set the mainsail and was unsafe if you did before we addressed it all. Anyway enough of my ranting, she is now a fine yacht and I will just keep working on her till I get her to my standard.