Marine Surveys

Marine Surveys

We provide marine surveys for small craft under 24 metres, including sailing yachts, motor cruisers, RIBs, and sports boats. Our approach is professional, practical, and friendly, delivering clear advice tailored to your vessel and how you use it.

Our Survey Services

Pre-Purchase Surveys
Detailed, independent inspections to help you make an informed and confident purchasing decision, whether for private or commercial use.

Insurance & Valuation Surveys
Surveys and inspections to support insurance requirements, agreed values, and ongoing cover.

Technical Inspections
Comprehensive assessments of vessel condition, safety, and regulatory compliance for insurance, sale, flag state, or classification purposes.

Casualty & Incident Investigations
Clear, objective root-cause analysis with well-structured reports suitable for owners, insurers, and legal professionals.

Specialist & Operational Surveys
Including heavy lift and towage approval, cargo condition surveys, and operational readiness inspections.

Why Commission a Survey?

When purchasing a previously owned vessel, it is essential to understand its true condition and whether it meets your expectations and operational needs. By commissioning a survey with us you benefit from many years of practical marine industry experience and a report that provides an accurate, honest assessment of the vessel.

We also offer clear guidance on recommended repairs, priorities, and likely costs, helping you plan with confidence and, where appropriate, renegotiate the purchase price armed with reliable information.

Survey Limitations

While every survey is carried out thoroughly and with care, there are inherent limitations to any marine survey. We are always happy to discuss your specific requirements in advance and are very flexible in tailoring the scope of the inspection. Should you require additional services—such as a full inventory check, mast-down inspection, or detailed engine survey—please let us know and we will be pleased to accommodate where possible.

Our standard survey limitations generally include the following:

• Rigging
  In most cases the mast remains stepped. As a result, rigging is visually inspected from deck level only, and we are unable to comment on the condition of upper sections.

• Sails
  Sails are inspected in situ, with attention to stitching condition and the general state of the sailcloth. For a more detailed assessment, sails must be hoisted and subsequently removed for inspection in a sail loft or similarly clean, flat environment. We will hoist sails where wind conditions and vessel location permit.

• Windows and Hatches
  Windows and hatches are not tested for watertight integrity or potential water ingress. However, we do inspect for visible signs of leakage or deterioration.

• Tanks, Systems, and Equipment
  Water tanks, plumbing, heads, skin fittings, seacocks, fuel tanks, and fuel systems are visually examined in situ. All general equipment commented upon in the report is assessed by visual inspection only.

• Access and Dismantling
  No fastenings are removed for examination, and no dismantling is undertaken beyond the removal of normally accessible panels. Areas that are covered, unexposed, or inaccessible—such as concealed woodwork or internal structures—are not inspected, and therefore we cannot confirm that these areas are free from defect.

• Gas Systems
  Inspection of the gas system is limited to a visual external inspection without dismantling or pressure testing. Where possible, systems may be lit to confirm basic operation. No “work,” as defined by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1994, is carried out.

• Stability and Design
  Our surveys do not assess vessel stability, performance, or overall design, as these aspects are typically addressed under separate regulatory or classification requirements.

Please feel free to discuss any specific concerns or additional inspection requirements with us prior to the survey so we can ensure your expectations are fully met.

All our work is subject to our terms and conditions.