If you are looking at buying a boat one of things you may want to get is a survey. This is a complete rundown of your prospective new vessel by a qualified boat surveyor. The survey will list in great detail all aspects of a vessel along with whatever in the opinion of the surveyor is in need of repair. It’s a handy and sometimes required item for any boat buyer.
For a cheap ass boat like the Fritter, a survey is not something of a particular need. You can pretty much walk around and see what is what and what is needed. But if you are buying an expensive vessel, or one where you will be getting a boat loan (and you know how I feel about loans), or if you will need insurance, then a survey will be required.
Surveys are not cheap. They require a lot of detailed work by the surveyor and you will be charged accordingly. The survey is not a recommendation to buy or not to buy a vessel, it is simply a description of the condition of all aspects of said vessel. It also helps to limit unwanted surprises later after you have paid your money and then find out that the boat is not seaworthy.
If you want to take a shot at doing your own survey, it can be done, but…most lending institutions and insurance companies will require a professional surveyor. It all depends on the circumstances of the vessel in question. But for you DIY’ers here are a couple of apps to help you with the process…
Sailboat Survey – Long Haul Software
Motorboat Survey – Long Haul Software
It is a good way to find things that may affect your decision to buy the vessel. After you get a survey you can make a more educated choice on whether or not the vessel in question is worth the money. Or the lending institution/insurance company may make that decision for you.
Like I said, on a cheap vessel like the Fritter which costs about the same as some big screen tv, why bother. I was able to spend about an hour on the boat to see what I needed to see. Were I looking at some fancy new catamaran or big money vessel, you can bet I would be dropping the cash for a survey. For what I spent to get the Fritter, a survey wasn’t necessary. Let the next buyer pay for it.
Capt. Fritter