How To Prepare Your Boat for a Survey

Preparing your boat properly for a survey is not only respectful to the surveyor, but also allows them to do their job and give you as favorable a result as possible.

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The hull, rudder, keel and prop should be clean and dry. This 1982 Mirage 33 was perfectly prepared. (Photo/ Ray Ville)
The hull, rudder, keel and prop should be clean and dry. This 1982 Mirage 33 was perfectly prepared. (Photo/ Ray Ville)

You’ve decided to proceed with a pre-purchase survey for your potential sailboat and are working with the seller to get their lowest price. A pre-purchase survey is recommended to make sure the vessel is seaworthy and can also add leverage to lower the asking price in the event that some repairs need immediate attention. You’ve agreed with an accredited marine surveyor on a specific date, location and price to inspect the vessel. The surveyor may ask for a deposit to guarantee your inspection date and send you a list of what their report will include. They may also send you what their expectations are in terms of the vessel’s cleanliness before they inspect it. It’s important to respect and adhere to these terms.

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Ray Ville
Ray Ville has been a Navtech Certified Marine Surveyor since 2009. He has surveyed vessels in Canada and the Dominican Republic, where he currently resides. During the summer, he flies back home to Canada and lives aboard his 1982 Mirage 33 in the North Channel of Lake Huron.