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House Boat Surveys - are prices cost of marine houseboat surveyors worth it?

by Craig
(Seattle, Wa)

Houseboat Surveyors for marine surveys on house boats.

Houseboat Surveyors for marine surveys on house boats.

We're thinking about getting a house boat survey, and are the cost of marine houseboat surveyors inspections worth the price?

We are looking at a few older houseboats, and some are steel and fiberglass. Are budget is limited, so we don't want to spend our money needlessly.

Do you recommend getting a marine survey done before purchasing a used houseboat?

Appreciate any help, Craig



Reply - Answer
Well Craig, welcome to the houseboat forums, and congratulations on your decision on buying a houseboat.

When it comes to your question about getting a marine surveyor to do a survey on your prospective houseboat purchase, my opinion and recommendation is YES, and it is definitely worth the price or cost.

Depending on the size of boat, surveys are generally under a thousand dollars, and can very often uncover serious or necessary structural repairs or conditions.

Insurance companies usually ask for a recent marine survey to be supplied when it comes time to insure your houseboat. Many marinas nowadays require proof of houseboat insurance coverage before granting docks and slips.

I know the cost or price of a boat survey seems as an extra negotiable expense, even before you bought the boat, but they are worth their price in gold when they save you from buying a financial wreck.

Personally I wouldn't buy a used houseboat without getting a houseboat inspected by a qualified marine surveyor, who can supply me with a full report on the condition and estimated value of a vessel.



Lastly, hopefully some of our readers will share and post comments about their houseboat surveys and marine surveyor experiences. Feel free to use the "Click here to post comments." link found near the bottom of this page.


Thanks again for sharing, IAN - from www.all-about-houseboats.com

If you're still looking for information, you can try our search function, found at the bottom of the left Nav bar.



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Comments for
House Boat Surveys - are prices cost of marine houseboat surveyors worth it?

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Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Surveys
by: Stardust 1

We were new to buying a houseboat and bought a 1972 steel Stardust Cruiser and our insurance company required a survey and it was the best thing we did.

He spent half the day in the engine compartments teaching my husband all about the engines and generator.... We learned so much about the good and bad of a used boat and what needed to be fixed.

Be prepared, insurance company may not cover until items are fixed. See if the owners have a recent survey (2 years or less) and that will save you the cost.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Is the Cost of Survey Worth it?
by: Graduate of SAMS

I was in the first hundred graduates of the SAM surveyor school. That was 20 years ago. Since then SAM has grown a good reputation.

Fact is not all marine surveyors will do the same job for you. As in all industries there are the top 20%, the lowest 20% and those in-between.

1. Do not use surveyor suggested by the Seller.
2. Talk anonymously to a few marine insurance issuers?
3. "I've got a good buddy" or "my surveyor was great" is not really definitive. YOU do your own due-diligence.
4. Before I graduated as a Marine Surveyor, I bought a boat in Florida and had a Surveyor from Texas drive to Pensacola to do the survey.
a) He was not local.
b) He had a "straight shooters" rep with insurance and sales people.
c) He wrote very lengthy and detailed surveys.

I actually did very few surveys after graduating as I was older and became a surveyor to learn, in detail, how to NOT make a mistake in buying a power boat with twin Diesels as I had been sailing for 30 years and lacked enough knowledge that I would have become a sitting duck for a Broker. Got lucky on the Broker and found the "perfect" boat for me.

IF you pick the right Surveyor ... You will never have more bang for your buck. Pick wrong and you are a floating potato chip.
Good Luck

Reply - Answer
I want to thank you for the great surveyor tips, and that it is definitely worth it.

IAN from www.all-about-houseboats.com
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Houseboat Surveyor in Kentucky
by: Robert C.

I would like to recommend a marine surveyor I hired 2 days ago to survey a houseboat on Lake Cumberland in KY. His name is Bill Burke of Northwood Marine Services 866-678-4963, 270-350-1416 or bill (at) northwood-marine.com.

He was prompt, thorough, professional and fairly priced. If there was something he could not test or inspect, he told me. He returned a 10 page document, with pictures, to me the evening of the day he conducted the survey. Excellent


Reply - Answer
Robert, thanks for taking the time to share this valuable information with others.

IAN from www.all-about-houseboats.com

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