Articles
Contact Us
Les Salliotte AMS 576
Downriver Marine Surveyors
2827 2nd St
Wyandotte, MI 48192
Cell (734) 516-1176
Lessalliotte@gmail.com
Downriver Marine Surveyors
2827 2nd St
Wyandotte, MI 48192
Cell (734) 516-1176
Lessalliotte@gmail.com
Services
Rates
My charges are based on a per foot rate.
A 40 foot offshore cruiser has fewer systems than a 40 foot double cabin cruiser or a fly bridge cruiser so the rate per foot will be different. A newer boat will not have as many modifications done by previous owners that require closer inspection so that survey will go smoother.
I've learned about how long a particular type and year of boat will take me to properly survey and adjust my per foot rate accordingly.
Charging by the foot instead of an hourly rate allows me to quote a final cost up front. You know before we start what my services will cost you.
My rates are competitive and I welcome you to shop around but do not hire a Marine Surveyor by price. I have over 25 years experience and almost all on pre purchase Condition and Valuation surveys.
I encourage you to attend, you will learn, we'll talk, you'll see what gets tested and how it is tested.
It will be the best money you've ever spent, particularly if we find a problem that could take the pleasure out of pleasure boating.
Pre-Purchase (Condition and Value) Survey
A Pre-Purchase, or Condition and Value Survey, is a complete inspection of the vessel in the water, out of the water, and may include a sea trial. It is used to inform the potential buyer of all that is good and bad with the vessel. It also offers a market value of the vessel and is usually required to obtain insurance or financing.
Guidelines used for a survey will be the Rules and Regulations for Recreational Boats, as excerpted from the United States Code (USC) and the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) published by the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC), as well as the Standards and Technical Information Reports for Small Craft, also published by the ABYC, and NFPA 302: Standard for Pleasure and Commercial Motor Craft, published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
An assessment whether the vessel is in full compliance with all of the rules, regulations and standards is beyond the scope of a survey.
The following is a list of items that will be inspected. This list may not be complete and may include items not tested, depending on the type and style of boat.
The complete exterior of the boat (excepting areas covered by paint) will be visually checked for damage and evidence of repairs.
If repairs are found we will try and determine if repairs are sound and well finished.
The props and rudders will be inspected for damage.
The strut bearings will be visually inspected for wear and/or cracking.
The sacrificial anodes will be inspected.
The hull bottom will be checked for delamination and water intrusion paying particular attention to areas around through hulls and fasteners into the hull.
The hull bottom will be checked for evidence of blisters, bottom paint will not be removed except possibly in small areas around suspect locations.
The deck will be checked for delamination and water intrusion paying particular attention to areas around fasteners into the laminates.
The exterior hardware including bow rail stanchions, cleats, chocks and grab rails will be checked for proper fastening.
Covers (canvas) will be inspected for fit and wear.
Upholstery and carpeting will be inspected for staining and wear.
Accessible frames and bulkheads will be checked for delamination, water intrusion and proper tabbing.
Stringers will be checked for delamination, water intrusion and proper tabbing.
120 VAC shore power system will be inspected for compliance, polarity and GFCI's will be tested.
Bilge blowers will be checked to verify they run.
Bilge pumps will be checked w/float switches and/or manually.
Fresh water pumps will be checked to verify they run.
12 VDC system will be inspected for compliance.
The engine installation will be checked for compliance.
Only areas readily accessible with out the removable of panels, ceilings, or screwed down soles will be inspected.
No lubrication fluids will be checked and/or tested.
Tools used include a small steel ball peen hammer, multi-meter, duplex/GFCI tester, flashlights, mirror, and miscellaneous hand tools such as adjustable wrenches, screwdrivers etc.
All testing will be done in a non-destructive manner.
No holes will be bored nor any core samples taken.
Electronics will be turned on and tested for basic appearance of operation if possible. (Depth finders do not work out of water, batteries must be onboard and fully charged)
Trim tabs will be tested.
Power trim units will be tested.
Certain parts of the vessel's structure, systems and equipment can only be inspected after removing bulkheads, joinery, liners, tanks, etc. This would be prohibitively time consuming, potentially destructive and costly to restore and therefore components requiring access with tools or by disassembly will not be inspected.
Dirt, marine growth, coatings buildup or corrosion may also restrict the surveyor's ability to examine the hull of the vessel.
If the vessel is in a state of winter lay-up, operation of winterized systems is precluded.
Determination of inherent design and stability characteristics is beyond the scope of a survey.
Minor issues, not materially affecting the value of the vessel may not be addressed. Latent defects may exist that are not discoverable under normal inspection methods.
Walk Through
For clients who are from out of town and wish to have a cursory examination done before they travel to see the boat first hand I will do a "walk through" of the vessel.
I will take many digital pictures and send them to you, give you my verbal opinion of the boat, do some minor testing on suspected "deal breaker" areas of the vessel, e.g. transoms on Inboard/Outboard vessels. I'll record the Registration number and Hull Identification Number and determine the manufacturer, build year and or model year of the boat. If the seller is willing and available I can take a picture of the ships' papers. We can discuss any other items that you wish me to investigate.
The fee will be dependant on the size and location of the vessel and how deep you want me to go with my walk through. A portion of my fee will be applied to the cost of a complete survey if the deal proceeds to that point.
Sea trials
Sea trials are conducted at an additional cost. The vessel owner or agent must be onboard to operate the vessel. Ease of starting, idle, ease and noise of shifting into and out of both forward and reverse gears, steering, tracking, temperature, oil pressure, charging system all will be monitored. Fluid levels and appearance will be checked both pre and post sea trial.
Insurance Renewal
An insurance renewal survey provides an inspection and report to satisfy the requirements of the insurance company in order to renew an insurance policy. It is important to find out from your insurance company if an in-water inspection will be satisfactory or if an out-of-water inspection or sea trial will be required.
My charges are based on a per foot rate.
A 40 foot offshore cruiser has fewer systems than a 40 foot double cabin cruiser or a fly bridge cruiser so the rate per foot will be different. A newer boat will not have as many modifications done by previous owners that require closer inspection so that survey will go smoother.
I've learned about how long a particular type and year of boat will take me to properly survey and adjust my per foot rate accordingly.
Charging by the foot instead of an hourly rate allows me to quote a final cost up front. You know before we start what my services will cost you.
My rates are competitive and I welcome you to shop around but do not hire a Marine Surveyor by price. I have over 25 years experience and almost all on pre purchase Condition and Valuation surveys.
I encourage you to attend, you will learn, we'll talk, you'll see what gets tested and how it is tested.
It will be the best money you've ever spent, particularly if we find a problem that could take the pleasure out of pleasure boating.
Pre-Purchase (Condition and Value) Survey
A Pre-Purchase, or Condition and Value Survey, is a complete inspection of the vessel in the water, out of the water, and may include a sea trial. It is used to inform the potential buyer of all that is good and bad with the vessel. It also offers a market value of the vessel and is usually required to obtain insurance or financing.
Guidelines used for a survey will be the Rules and Regulations for Recreational Boats, as excerpted from the United States Code (USC) and the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) published by the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC), as well as the Standards and Technical Information Reports for Small Craft, also published by the ABYC, and NFPA 302: Standard for Pleasure and Commercial Motor Craft, published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
An assessment whether the vessel is in full compliance with all of the rules, regulations and standards is beyond the scope of a survey.
The following is a list of items that will be inspected. This list may not be complete and may include items not tested, depending on the type and style of boat.
The complete exterior of the boat (excepting areas covered by paint) will be visually checked for damage and evidence of repairs.
If repairs are found we will try and determine if repairs are sound and well finished.
The props and rudders will be inspected for damage.
The strut bearings will be visually inspected for wear and/or cracking.
The sacrificial anodes will be inspected.
The hull bottom will be checked for delamination and water intrusion paying particular attention to areas around through hulls and fasteners into the hull.
The hull bottom will be checked for evidence of blisters, bottom paint will not be removed except possibly in small areas around suspect locations.
The deck will be checked for delamination and water intrusion paying particular attention to areas around fasteners into the laminates.
The exterior hardware including bow rail stanchions, cleats, chocks and grab rails will be checked for proper fastening.
Covers (canvas) will be inspected for fit and wear.
Upholstery and carpeting will be inspected for staining and wear.
Accessible frames and bulkheads will be checked for delamination, water intrusion and proper tabbing.
Stringers will be checked for delamination, water intrusion and proper tabbing.
120 VAC shore power system will be inspected for compliance, polarity and GFCI's will be tested.
Bilge blowers will be checked to verify they run.
Bilge pumps will be checked w/float switches and/or manually.
Fresh water pumps will be checked to verify they run.
12 VDC system will be inspected for compliance.
The engine installation will be checked for compliance.
Only areas readily accessible with out the removable of panels, ceilings, or screwed down soles will be inspected.
No lubrication fluids will be checked and/or tested.
Tools used include a small steel ball peen hammer, multi-meter, duplex/GFCI tester, flashlights, mirror, and miscellaneous hand tools such as adjustable wrenches, screwdrivers etc.
All testing will be done in a non-destructive manner.
No holes will be bored nor any core samples taken.
Electronics will be turned on and tested for basic appearance of operation if possible. (Depth finders do not work out of water, batteries must be onboard and fully charged)
Trim tabs will be tested.
Power trim units will be tested.
Certain parts of the vessel's structure, systems and equipment can only be inspected after removing bulkheads, joinery, liners, tanks, etc. This would be prohibitively time consuming, potentially destructive and costly to restore and therefore components requiring access with tools or by disassembly will not be inspected.
Dirt, marine growth, coatings buildup or corrosion may also restrict the surveyor's ability to examine the hull of the vessel.
If the vessel is in a state of winter lay-up, operation of winterized systems is precluded.
Determination of inherent design and stability characteristics is beyond the scope of a survey.
Minor issues, not materially affecting the value of the vessel may not be addressed. Latent defects may exist that are not discoverable under normal inspection methods.
Walk Through
For clients who are from out of town and wish to have a cursory examination done before they travel to see the boat first hand I will do a "walk through" of the vessel.
I will take many digital pictures and send them to you, give you my verbal opinion of the boat, do some minor testing on suspected "deal breaker" areas of the vessel, e.g. transoms on Inboard/Outboard vessels. I'll record the Registration number and Hull Identification Number and determine the manufacturer, build year and or model year of the boat. If the seller is willing and available I can take a picture of the ships' papers. We can discuss any other items that you wish me to investigate.
The fee will be dependant on the size and location of the vessel and how deep you want me to go with my walk through. A portion of my fee will be applied to the cost of a complete survey if the deal proceeds to that point.
Sea trials
Sea trials are conducted at an additional cost. The vessel owner or agent must be onboard to operate the vessel. Ease of starting, idle, ease and noise of shifting into and out of both forward and reverse gears, steering, tracking, temperature, oil pressure, charging system all will be monitored. Fluid levels and appearance will be checked both pre and post sea trial.
Insurance Renewal
An insurance renewal survey provides an inspection and report to satisfy the requirements of the insurance company in order to renew an insurance policy. It is important to find out from your insurance company if an in-water inspection will be satisfactory or if an out-of-water inspection or sea trial will be required.