Stuart M Roy BSc(Hons) MSc PGDTech CEng FRINA
Naval Architect and Surveyor
Naval Architect and Surveyor
Fellow of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects
Chartered Engineer
Chartered Engineer
Tel. 01489-583346 Email: info@yacht-boat-survey.co.uk
About Yacht and Boat Surveys
Money well spent
An experienced naval architect, because of the nature of his work, could well be the very best person to survey a yacht or powerboat for you. Whilst working on a new design every component is carefully and accurately drawn and dimensioned, the materials are specified and the method of construction considered. A designer can use this skill and experience to “see inside” a component, such as the rudder of a 30 year old GRP yacht, and immediately know how it was made and what type of materials would have been used.
Backed by extensive professional qualifications, this “inside” knowledge of yacht and boat designs, from the late 1960s until the present day, plus academic studies into the ageing and corrosion of materials, and the use of modern electronic surveying instruments, enables an experienced designer such as myself to offer an expert and dependable service as a surveyor.
Surveys are often carried out as pre-purchase inspections, but are also performed to establish the general condition of the vessel, to assess damage, to check for osmosis, to confirm compliance with regulations, to establish a valuation, to satisfy insurers or to monitor the quality during the building process. I can survey any yacht or motor boat built from GRP, FRP, steel, aluminium, traditional wood construction, wood-epoxy or plywood. Surveys on sailing catamarans and other multihull craft are conducted regularly and I am familiar with a very wide range of boat types. Osmotic blistering or “osmosis”, can affect any GRP boat, often being very costly to overcome. A careful survey, including the systematic use of a moisture meter, is essential before the purchase of any second-hand GRP yacht. A damage survey will determine whether broken components can be repaired economically.
It will take at least half a day to carry out a careful inspection of an average sailing yacht, plus a further day and a half to prepare a full written report of around 15 pages. This report will be sent immediately by email as a pdf file and a printed copy put in the post. During the survey I will use a camera to record any suspect areas or components and these pictures will be included with the report. A typical survey and detailed report for a 25ft boat will cost around £275 plus travelling expenses, but valuations are included at no extra charge. Catamarans are charged at the same rate as equivalent length monohulls and special low prices are available on sportsboats and speedboats. When buying a boat, commissioning a survey will be well worthwhile if significant defects are discovered before the vendor’s price is actually paid. After spending around £300 on a pre-purchase survey, many of my clients find that they are able to negotiate a further reduction of £1000 to £1500 from the agreed purchase price as a result of the survey findings - money well spent on the survey.
I can normally carry out surveys at 48 hours notice, 7 days a week, on any boat on the south coast of the UK, including Weymouth, Poole, Christchurch, Lymington, Beaulieu, Cowes, Hythe, Southampton, Shamrock Quay, Hamble, Bursledon, Swanwick, Warsash, Fareham, Haslar, Gosport, Portchester, Portsmouth, Port Solent, Langstone, Emsworth, Hayling Island, Bosham, Chichester, Itchenor, Dell Quay, Littlehampton, Shoreham, Brighton, Newhaven & Eastbourne. Inspections and surveys have also been performed in Wales and on the River Thames. I have numerous letters from clients expressing their appreciation for my fast, efficient and thorough service. Please click on menu item above to read some of these comments from clients.
