What do you need to be a marine surveyor?

[Djyox]

I was thinking for all the crap surveyor stories I've heard, I'd like to help out my local fellow boaters with some surveying (that is, as long as I put more effort into it than the current batch of local surveyors, which shouldn't be hard). I was looking into NAMS/SAMS but there has to be a course or something to get started right? I mean, I can't just start a business and say I'm a marine surveyor, give me money, right?

I'm only thinking about doing this part time, and strictly local. It would be mostly small runabouts and some cruisers maybe up to 60' (I'd be mostly small stuff tho).


So, anyone got an idea of where to point me in the correct direction? If I can do any of the course work online, that would really help, because I'll be in Afghanistan for the next year, and need something to do while here!


Thanks in advance for your help.

[flabum1017]

A hammer and a notepad

[rev.ronnie]

There is no specific requirement to BE a marine surveyor. There are associations that you can be accredited through after passing their courses. Technically, anyone with a sound knowledge of boats and the mechanical workings can be a surveyor. I do provide this service through my business, but am not certified through on of the organizations. With 25 years in the business, I feel I can do a fair and thorough survey of watercraft, and can accurately report my findings. This is pretty much what it is all about.
The biggest thing I stress is; I can only report on what I observe, not to assume that anything not specifically included in the report is in satisfactory condition just because I have not reported otherwise. This is very important when surveying boats that are in the water or in slips. Below water line inspections must be done in dry dock.

Word of advice; do houseboats and cruisers in the morning before the engines have been run for the day...it gets hot as hells furnace in the engine compartments.

Good luck with whatever you decide. I know there is a market for that in our area. I would do it more, but it is pretty time consuming and my time is better spent in the machine shop in the summer. I have friends in the insurance business that I deal with and the occasional out of town buyer. Insurance companies are nice, because they sometimes have surveys done on fire damaged boats, only to find there were engine or structure problems and the owner most likely torched the boat. You should see the owners face when you bring a battery, starter and compression gauge and find his blown up engine in the mess, or find it all cracked from a winter freeze. They usually withdraw the claim.

[Djyox]

I was looking on the some of the organizational websites, and I was having a hard time finding how to get certified. I have a good over all understanding of what to look for in used boats, what to look for in the hull, how to check compression or do a leakdown test, etc.

I was expecting to start as a here and there kinda deal, and on smaller boats. Thinking back to every time I go to check out a used boat how what the owners idea of what is "completely solid" and what the boat really is when you step inside and your foot just about goes through the floor. And then thinking about how many first time boat owners have come to look at boats I was selling and have no idea what they are looking for.

I doubt an insurance company would take me on, so I'm not setting my expectations too high. Thats why it would just be a part time, and keep my cost to the customer low.


Hey Ronnie, I sent you a PM.

[rev.ronnie]

The funny thing about doing a survey is when the owner is there and you're digging up things with the boat. They seem to think you should report things as they "could be" with a little work, or how they "were at one time". You just honestly rate what you see, when you see it. You can't really offer any futures or reflect back on how nice something probably was 10 years ago. It can be fun, and it can be a nasty, sweaty, hot job too.

That survey I sent you was for a boat that was described by the owner to be a one owner boat, needing only a waxing and interior cleaning to be "brand new" again.

[waterboy222]

$295 plus shipping and handling...
http://www.navsurvey.com/

I took the course about 6 years ago.. Learned a LOT more about wooden boats than I'll ever need to know. And MOST of us here could pass the test without even reading the book. But they do come in handy as GREAT reference materials. Plus you get a certificate for your wall that no one cares about, but it looks cool on your biz card.

[Djyox]

Thanks waterboy! I'll check into that!

And Ronnie, thats exactly what I'm trying to do, is help the fellow boater from getting ripped off because they don't know what they are looking for. I can't count how many boats I've gone to that were solid, and once there, I was pushing my finger into the keel and water was squirting out, of course the seller "Oh, just a little fiberglass on that, its super cheap to repair" HA!

[Djyox]

Waterboy,

I checked into it, they want $1995 for the package price. Must have beefed it up since you took it, or just decided to up the price. Thats a bit more than I wanted to spend, but maybe I'll contact them for some type of military discount!

EDIT: Oh, nope, I found the start up guide! $295 as you said!

[waterboy222]

Thats the easy part.. Learning all the USCG minimums, maximums and regulations is what the hard part is. How close can your charger be to your battery? How many cu ft fire supression is needed based on width and length? etc etc etc.. I could go on all day.. Thats where those books come in REALLY handy.. I did maybe 30 surveys when I was doing it. I quit because its too hard to lose friends in that industry. The owner wants you to survey his new boat and claim the value super high, and he wants you to survey his trade-in to make sure hes getting what he wants for it. But you're working for whoever signs your check, so lots of peoples feelings get hurt if youre really and truly an HONEST surveyor..

[waterboy222]

http://www.navsurvey.com/surveyor_test.htm Heres a quick test to find out if you're still interested or not..

[Djyox]

I'm motivated to be honest about surveying. I'm not doing it to make friends, and I'm not real close with anyone in the industry. I'm just a boat lover, and I believe in being fair. People can scream at me all day, and I can just sit there and take it (army taught me that one ).

I see it as putting my reputation on the line each time, and will not add value or take away value just because it will help someone. I believe in being honest, that way everyone knows you as "that honest guy".