Marine survey Services

Welcome to our services and rates page. Our goal is to provide the very best in what we do. We strive to deliver a simple, easy to read, thorough, and non - biased report of your desired vessel. We strive for our clients to be satisfied with our work and reporting. If you have a special circumstance or would like a special quote for services please feel free to contact us and we will be more than happy to work with you. Here is a detailed list of our services:

Pre-Purchase Marine Survey - An extensive vessel inspection when considering the purchase of any new or pre-owned boat or yacht regardless of its age, condition or reputation. The survey will reflect the appearance and functionality of the vessel. The survey includes: Hull structural integrity using a commercial grade FM wave moisture meter and percussive hammer sounding, DC/AC electrical components and wiring, the drive system, fuel system, Thermal imaging and mapping of the engine or other propulsion modules, inventory and operability of all electronic and navigation equipment, on board support systems, and additional safety equipment. The evidence of previous maintenance, or lack of, is also noted in the survey. An out of water bottom inspection and an operational sea trial is included with the pricing. This survey is concluded with an overall condition rating and a fair market value of the vessel. If a sea-trail is not scheduled for the same day as the hull survey an additional trip charge of $150.00 may be assessed.

Note: A marine engine survey is a separate charge and is not included in a pre-purchase survey price.

Marine Engine Survey - An inspection and evaluation of the vessel's engines so the prospective buyer or boat owner understands the true condition of the engines on board the vessel and what repairs and / or maintenance may be required to get the engines up to good working order. This inspection is very important in determining a more accurate value of the vessel based on the engine's overall condition and performance. Some problems may not be visibly or even noticeably apparent during a marine survey until the engine survey is performed. A good thorough marine engine survey can save a significant amount of money if problems are found before the purchase or a complete failure of the engine(s) occur. I can perform engine surveys on most marine diesel, gasoline outboard and inboard engines. Some of the tests conducted during a marine engine survey are:    

• We can perform computer engine diagnostics on most Evinrude and Yamaha outboard engines, and some Mercury Marine engines built by Yamaha from 1999-2020.  With the OBD plugs and software constantly changing, as well as the lack of standardization by the multiple manufacture this is sometimes a hit or miss situation.  In order to identify if we can run computer diagnostics, we would need the engine serial numbers in order to make an accurate assumption for this service.
• Engine ignition analysis. These tests are the newest and most comprehensive for spark ignition diagnostics. We use a GTC505 Engine Ignition Analyzer which quickly and easily detects engine RPM and spark parameters; it’s useful for checking for ignition system faults and misfires.
• Fuel injector analysis. The newest, quickest, and easiest-to-use diagnostic tool for fuel injectors is our GTC605 Fuel Injection Analyzer. The ‘605’ quickly determines an injector’s performance on the engine, avoiding time-consuming injector removal and re-installation.
•  Borescopes (also known as endoscopes) are small cameras, usually on the end of a ‘gooseneck’ or cable, that can be inserted into small spaces such as spark plug holes, glow plug holes, intake manifolds, and exhaust manifolds, to examine the engine’s insides. A Borescope is great for inspecting hard-to-get-to areas and parts.
• Thermal Imaging inspection. There are numerous benefits to thermal imaging in many industries. In the marine industry there are many advantages to thermal imaging. Some of these advantages are; No contact is needed. Keeps the surveyor out of danger and enables the ability to examine moving and high temperature components in an engine room with engines being operated. Enables the surveyor to examine high voltage electrical components without touching wires. It is real time. Allows fast scanning and recording of stationary targets. Thermal patterns can be seen. What this means to you the buyer is it significantly reduces time and money spent on a technician or mechanic. Because of thermal imaging, time is saved disassembling and troubleshooting a component or going through miles of wiring on a boat or yacht to find the problem. The thermographic image can find the temperature anomaly quickly. Enhances the marine survey report. Our company provides this service at no additional cost on all marine surveys. Thermal imaging on components such as engines, transmissions, tanks, electrical systems, electrical devices, hulls and decks can determine if malfunctioning components, leaks, or delamination may exist within the vessel prior to the purchase
• Battery Load Test.  We use an Autool battery load tester to verify the proper working parameters of the batteries conveyed with the sale of your boat.
• Compression/Leak-Down testing testing is often held up as the best way to detect major issues in an engine. This is because compression issues usually cost more to fix than fuel or (spark) ignition issues. Compression testing should always be done on a warm engine, because engines work best when warm, and parts often fit loosely when cold.
• Engine oil analysis, also known as oil sample analysis (OSA), involves collecting a small oil sample from an engine and sending it to a lab for analysis. The analysis examines the oil for various indicators, including: Excessive levels of certain metals (like iron, copper, or tin) can indicate wear and tear on engine components. The presence of dirt, water, fuel, or coolant in the oil can point to leaks or other issues. The analysis can assess the oil's viscosity, oxidation, and other properties to determine if it's still performing its lubricating function effectively. (OSA) lab work usually requires a 2 week return time from the lab. 
• Visual inspection, as Yogi Berra once said: “You can observe a lot by just watching.” An engine’s appearance is usually quite telling of how it has been used and maintained.

***All of that being said, a quick recreational marine engine survey will usually be 1.5-3 hours of shop time, and a more thorough survey (possibly including a compression test) will usually be more like 3-6 hours of billable time. A commercial or industrial marine engine survey will take somewhere between 2 and 8 hours. Our billable shop rate for these services is $120.00 per hour, with a minimum rate billed of 1 hour. 

Insurance Marine Survey - This survey is performed to assist the insurance carrier in the determination of the risk involved for a particular vessel. Their interests include structural integrity, safety, as well as its intended use. Many insurance companies require a survey on a particular boat or yacht before offering coverage. The vessel's fair market and replacement values are included in this survey. 

Valuation Inspection - This type of inspection is performed in order to obtain adequate data or information solely for the determination of the fair market value of the vessel. This inspection is often required for financial considerations, estate matters, charitable donations, or litigation. 

Sailing Rigging Inspections & Repairs - We have the equipment and ability to ascend and inspect all of your standing rigging equipment giving you a complete report without the costly expense of stepping the mast.  We can repair or replace any of your mast head equipment that is broken or out of date, this includes but is not limited to masthead lights, spreader lights, vhf antennas, wind speed/direction equipment, broken halyard line retrieval.

Corrosion Survey - This analysis is performed to see if the vessel's underwater metal fittings are being adequately protected against galvanic corrosion by the existing anodes and bonding protection systems that are currently in place. This analysis will also check for any stray current (also referred to as electrolysis) that may be occurring around the vessel or coming from the vessel itself with the use of a commercial grade corrosion meter. A determination can be made if the vessel's underwater metal fittings and parts are being properly protected, are freely eroding or are being overprotected. All tests associated with this survey are non-obstructive.

Hull Thickness & Pontoon Tube Inspection  - This test uses a Ultrasonic Thickness tester to measure and inspect the hull (usually metal) for any weld degradations, as well as plate thickness in key areas on steel hulls and identify any deficiencies due to corrosion or damage.  A standard pontoon tube should typically have a wall thickness between 0.08" and 0.125" depending on the manufacturer and boat model. We check around seams, welds, and attachment points where the tube connects to the deck, as these areas can be prone to wear and potential thinning. We look for signs of corrosion, pitting, or significant scratches that might indicate compromised metal integrity, and check if the tube wall thickness is relatively even on both sides of the pontoon. 

Carbon Monoxide/Gas Fume Air Analysis - This test measures the carbon monoxide (CO) gas in parts per million (ppm) from 0 - 1,000 that may exist in the air inside a compartment or room on board a vessel. The test is performed by a digital electromechanical gas specific sensing device and is used to scan and detect traces of this deadly gas in boats, yachts or commercial vessels. This test is commonly conducted for suspected elevations in CO gas in vessel accommodation spaces and for any suspected leaks in repaired or replaced raw water exhaust or propane gas systems. 

Report Processing - All Surveys and Tests are emailed to the client after completed (usually within 48 hours). Printed survey reports are in a bound report cover, and mailed first class through the USPS.   

*All of our vessel surveys and inspections are non intrusive. We leave the vessel the way we found it.

*A signed Terms of Service form needs to be reviewed and signed by client before commencement of survey.  Please see the link attached to our Legal files tab to print, sign, and email back to us.