How To Prepare For Marine Surveying In Ontario And Everywhere Else

By Stephen Hayes


Boat ownership is a dream for a lot of sportsmen. For those who are lucky enough to have a boat, or are in the process of purchasing one, surveys are a fact of life. If you need a loan to finance your purchase, the financial institution will require a survey. The value of your vessel on an insurance policy will be established by a surveyor's report. When preparing for important marine surveying in Ontario, for instance, there are some simple guidelines to follow.

It is not a good idea to have a crowd of people on hand when the inspector comes to check your vessel. This is not the time to invite your children, grandparents, best friends, and co-workers for a ride. The surveyor needs room to carefully inspect the boat, and that will be hard to do if there are people in the way. Ideally it will only be you and the inspector on the boat during this process. If a pilot, navigator, or manager normally tends the vessel, it is appropriate to have them on hand.

Inspectors are busy people, and you may have a narrow window of opportunity when it comes to an appointment. This is not the time to be late or unprepared. If your inspector is late, that is one thing. If you are late, that is something else entirely.

When you are expecting a surveyor, you want to make sure your vessel is cleaned up and looking its best. Everything should be functioning properly. If the surveyor is coming aboard to check for damage, you need to be prepared to show him or her exactly where the damage is and how it happened. A messy boat will send a message to the inspector that you are not following the maritime tradition of maintaining a vessel in pristine condition.

Removing any unnecessary gear while you are in the cleaning process is a good idea. It will help if the surveyor has a clear passageway throughout the boat. It won't help your cause if the inspection is held up or delayed while you get extra equipment off the boat. Some inspectors won't even begin a survey if the vessel in question is too cluttered to allow for a thorough assessment.

You should have all the tools necessary, on site, to thoroughly inspect the vessel. Your inspector will want the panels removed, and will not bring tools to do the job him or herself. There are liability issues involved. You will have to be able to remove the panels yourself.

A lot of survey reports are fairly technical. When you get your copy, you may have questions. There is nothing wrong with asking a surveyor to explain some of the results and recommendations. They are usually happy to do so.

Sailing and fishing in deep water are pastimes that many people enjoy. Having your own boat and the freedom to come and go when you please is a luxury. It is important that you maintain your investment in order to make it last as long as possible.




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