Boat inspector recommendations? (austin, tx)
HumbleEmpire
hp, I believe). I seen many recommendations to have an inspection
done before buying a used boat. How does one go about finding a boat
inspector? It's only $10k, and I heard that you'd only have a
"survey" done on a more expensive boat, but I still should get an
"inspection", correct? Should I just start calling around to boat
mechanics? I am totally new to boating and have zero connections.
And there's no heading in the yellow pages for inspectors, as far as I
can tell.
Any help would be GREATLY appreciated. I think my husband is fine
with paying $10k with no inspection, but I'm sweating bullets. :-)
Thanks.
Jim King
marine surveyor from Galveston would charge time and mileage from Galveson
round trip. I have three suggestions:
1. Yes, find a seasoned boat mechanic, pay him to do an inspection and give
you a report on trailer, boat, engine, drive components. Steer away from
friends and family for this job. If friends or family wanna help, ask them
to give you a list of things that should be checked.
2. But first, do some learnin' about buying a boat - see amazon.com for a
book on buying a boat. You, the purchaser, need to be the first step of
inspection.
3. And any offer to buy is contingent upon lake or sea trial, where you
see if it floats, turns, runs, shakes, etc.
Search category: "marine surveyor" state=tx at alta vista yellow pages:
http://yp.superpages.com/sform.phtml?SRC=altavista&STYPE=S
May you find a happy boat,
J K
"HumbleEmpire" <my_e...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:cd7de9de.02060...@posting.google.com...
HLAviation
I'm a real live Marine Surveyor and I live in N. Texas.
http://hometown.aol.com/hlaviation/
Skipper
Is that NAMS or SAMS, or do you just call yourself a marine surveyor?
http://www.acms-usa.com/directory.html
As you can see, real *certified* marine surveyors are not really found
on the Texas Oklahoma border where you live.
BTW, why did you ask me about tools?
--
Skipper
Skipper
http://www.namsurveyors.org/membership/usa.htm
http://www.marinesurvey.org/usa.html
--
Skipper
HLAviation
>
I was SAMS until about 6 years ago when I moved away from the coast and don't
do it that much any more. Not worth paying the dues when you're not active in
the field. BTW, All SAMS & NAMS really is, is a marketing tool. There's a bit
of a background and knowledge qualification, but mostly money.
>As you can see, real *certified*
There is no such thing as *certified* that has any regulatory meaning or
bearing. It's all private industry with no legal commission.
>As you can see, real *certified* marine surveyors are not really found
>on the Texas Oklahoma border where you live.
I lived on the water in California for 10 yrs, Florida for over 2 yrs, and
still today spend 240+ days a year on the water. I put 5 boats like you see on
my page through Coast Guard and ABS, or DNV inspections in the last year and a
half. I have run boat rentals and charter businesses with both sail and
charter boats. My surveys on over a hundred vessels have been accepted by both
banks and insurance companies (in reality, this is the REAL certification for
surveyors). I know more about the marine industry at all levels than you ever
will.
>BTW, why did you ask me about tools?
>
Just curious.
http://hometown.aol.com/hlaviation/
Ian Mallinson
the boat ie. osmosis checks, structural integrity, saftey aspects, I
dont know the system in the states but here in the uk it is very
difficult to get a boat insured without a survey being carried out by
a accredited suveyer. I can get you loads of contact here in blighty
but they wont be alot of use to you over there, so my best advise to
find one is contact an insurance company who specialises in boat
insurance and ask who they recomend or where you can find a
respectable surveyor. after all is said and done $10k may not be alot
but it it is to me and it is fairly easy for someone crooked or
ignorant to sell a boat with a fault that you cant spot (first day out
big lump of filler drops out of bottom of hull and boat sinks or the
sawdust that was put in the engine and gearbox to shut up the bearings
finaly wreaks the whole lot!) doesnt matter if you payed 50c for it,
it would still be an inconvinence to swim home!
with a survey done you can be confident in your boat and have fun. (ps
get a spare outboard just to make sure you come home :)
Ian
my_e...@hotmail.com (HumbleEmpire) wrote in message news:<cd7de9de.02060...@posting.google.com>...
Skipper
>> Is that NAMS or SAMS, or do you just call yourself a marine surveyor?
> I was SAMS until about 6 years ago...
> ...I know more about the marine industry at all levels than you ever
> will.
Uh huh. No doubt.
BTW, did you ever purchase that ice-class research vessel you were
dealing for last year? You know, the one on the boating repo site.
>> BTW, why did you ask me about tools?
> Just curious.
Sure, right!
--
Skipper
HLAviation
>dealing for last year? You know, the one on the boating repo site.
>
Nope, when we looked at it it just had to much bad plating and bulkheads on it.
Some of it was over 40% wasted. Would have cost too much to get it back to
class.
>>> BTW, why did you ask me about tools?
>> Just curious.
>Sure, right!
>
Why else? You brought up toolboxes and it just made me wonder.
Joe Kovacs
>I'm looking for a used boat and have found an 1995 18' Chaparall (190
>hp, I believe). I seen many recommendations to have an inspection
>done before buying a used boat. How does one go about finding a boat
>inspector? It's only $10k, and I heard that you'd only have a
>"survey" done on a more expensive boat, but I still should get an
>"inspection", correct? Should I just start calling around to boat
>mechanics? I am totally new to boating and have zero connections.
>And there's no heading in the yellow pages for inspectors, as far as I
>can tell.
There are no boat inspectors. He's called a 'boat surveyor' or
'marine surveyor', and will be listed in the Yellow Pages under
these headings.
Yes, you should definitely have any boat like that surveyed
before you close the deal.
If these listings aren't in your Yellow Pages, look in there for
someone who sells boat insurance, phone them and ask for a
recommendation for a surveyor.
Your boat's on a trailer, right? There'll be a Yellow Pages
listing for boat surveyors in a nearby city on a lake or coast.
Phone him and trail the boat to him.
--
Joe Kovacs
Port Colborne Ontario Canada
HumbleEmpire
BillS
Jim King wrote:
> Real live marine surveyors are found in coastal areas, not inland. A real
> marine surveyor from Galveston would charge time and mileage from Galveson
> round trip. I have three suggestions:
>
Did you know Austin has 5 big lakes within 60 miles, 2 of those within 10
miles. Boats in the 50-70' size range are present, but most cruisers are in the
20-40 foot range on Lake Travis. There are Hundreds of House boats in the
30-50' range on Lake Travis, and every one of those requires a survey if
changing hands and financed by a bank. There is even a Marine surveyor section
in the yellow pages with multiple listings. I have had good luck with Tom
Pollock.
BillS
N.L. Eckert
I would highly recommend getting a survey if only for your own piece of
mind. But, if you're financing this boat, the bank will no doubt want a
survey done by a qualified surveyor. Your insurance company will want a
copy of the survey, also.
Happy boating, Norm
Ron M.
boated over every square inch of the place.
Those guys are right - be REAL careful what you blow $10,000 on.
That's a heck of a lot of money. If that boat's not in as good a
shape as you think it is, you're going to find out why they call a
boat "a hole in the water you throw money into." $10,000 for a
7-year-old 18 foot boat is pushing the envelope.
I can't think of anybody better than Phil Wiles at Austin Outboard
Service, out on highway 71, next to the Exxon at 71/Hamilton Pool
Road. He's worked on my boat often, and is absolutely trustworthy,
and knows boats ike the back of his hand.
One problem you might encounter is lag time - most boat repair places
are swamped this time of the year, and it might be a couple of weeks
before anybody can even look at it, no matter where you take it.
Ron M.