About Jim

 I am Captain Jim Elfers and I have spent my entire career in the recreational boating field as a Certified Marine Surveyor,  independent buyer agent, yacht captain, author, and delivery skipper. I perform marine surveys from Eureka to Oxnard with the Bay Area as my home base including Alameda and Richmond. PHONE   650-834-6780

Google "Best Marine Surveyor Northern California" to see my #1 Yelp ranking and see why I believe a truly independent marine surveyor who is loyal to you can save you thousands of dollars and help you avoid costly mistakes. Read about my background below: 

Mandalay Marine is my small company with a big goal- to handle your insurance survey, marine transfer survey, or to make your next yacht purchase as stress-free and enjoyable as possible. My background:

-Obtained first USCG Mariner's License in 1988, pioneered sea kayaking charters 1989-92 in California's Channel Islands National Park.

-Began running twin diesel yachts to Mexico for the winter season, starting with a Fleming 50 trawler and working up to 90-footers.

-Worked as a columnist for the San Diego Log and in 1993 published my first Mexico cruising guide- The Baja Bash.

-Moved to Los Cabos, Mexico 1994-2012 and started surveying yachts in Taiwan and Mexico, and ran a boatyard in La Paz.

-Consultant for Marina Costa Baja in La Paz, Mexico and then hired as design consultant and operations manager at Marina Puerto Los Cabos.

-After 18 years running yachts and businesses in Mexico returned to California in 2013 to work as a yacht buyer agent and surveyor.

-Wrote second book and became the #1 ranked (per Yelp San Francisco) marine surveyor in Northern California.

-Graduate of Stanford University, owner also of West Coast Yacht Delivery.