What are some common misconceptions about marine surveys?
Marine surveys can be a confusing and overwhelming process for first-time boat buyers and sellers. There’s a lot to know and understand when it comes to marine surveys, so it’s no surprise that there are many misconceptions about them. Sun Coast Marine Surveyor is here to clear up any confusion and help make the marine survey process as straightforward as possible. Let’s go over some of the most common misconceptions about marine surveys.
One misconception is that a marine survey is essentially a boat inspection St. Augustine. This couldn’t be further from the truth. A marine survey is an evaluation of only one aspect of a boat—the condition of the boat hull, machinery, and other components. The main purpose of the survey is to assess potential safety issues that could lead to an incident or injury while on the water. Boat inspections St. Augustine may look at more than just the physical condition of the boat, including verifying its ownership history, but a thorough boat inspection St. Augustine is not mandated before purchase or sale.
Another misunderstanding is that a buyer should get a pre-purchase inspection when they’ve already received an offer from the seller. This often isn’t necessary, since the buyer will have the opportunity to inspect the vessel themselves during the sale process. It’s best to schedule a survey after an offer has been accepted, but before closing the sale.
There’s also a common misconception that having a marine survey done guarantees finding all defects with the vessel. While this would be nice, it’s impossible and highly unrealistic. Surveys are conducted using visual observation and simple tools to examine accessible components for defects. Any hidden defects may not be discovered until the problem becomes serious enough that it reveals itself in normal use.
Some people believe that surveying only older vessels is worth their time and money. However, even if a vessel looks brand new, it may still have underlying problems, especially if it was put together improperly or in haste. Every boat should be surveyed regardless of age, so any problems can be identified early on and addressed quickly and properly.
When it comes to getting a marine survey done, it is important that you choose a qualified professional who understands the importance of identifying potential safety hazards in boats. An inexperienced surveyor may not detect critical safety risks that an experienced surveyor will easily spot — making your marine survey ineffective and potentially hazardous. At Sun Coast Marine Surveyors, we are highly experienced in conducting thorough marine surveys and helping our customers identify any issues with their vessels safely.
These are some of the most common misconceptions about marine surveys, but there are many others out there related to boat inspections St. Augustine and other aspects of boating safety. We hope this article has helped shed some light on the importance of getting your boat thoroughly inspected by an experienced professional with Sun Coast Marine Surveyors .r
