4 Things To Prep Your Boat For Survey
Don’t Sleep on Your Survey.
The most important step in the closing process is frequently taken for granted. If you’re selling, consider these four basic steps to best prepare your vessel for inspection.
Clean your boat for an improved impression.
Clear your strainers to reduce the risk of overheating major components.
Fill your fuel tank to the most effective level.
Flush your black water tank to remove odors.
This list will feel simple. You’ll say, “Of course I would do these things. Who wouldn’t?!” But I’m making the list for a reason. These actions are frequently overlooked, and they can cost your big money.
1 - CLEAN
Even though your contract is signed, you have one more sale to make. You’re selling the surveyor of your boat’s quality, so make sure your asset is clean. You’d be surprised at the lack of attention to this detail. A $200 wash could be the difference between a surveyor thinking the boat is well-maintained, or thinking its a piece of shit. Overall cleanliness has a HUGE subconscious affect on the surveyor’s overall perception of your boat and therefore, the quality of the report. Your boat could run perfectly, but if its dirty, the surveyor will look just a bit harder in each area, and inevitably find items which would’ve never been on the survey had you given your boat a bath.
2 - CLEAR
If you’re building a list of where to start. Start with your major systems. Engines, generators, air conditioning, et al. These are the complex mechanical elements who run hard, and run hot. Each of these systems likely has a strainer — a large filter carrying cooling water— which, when clogged, can cause high pressure faults, overheating and even system failure. Any of these outcomes are RED FLAGS in a survey report. Clear your strainers the day before survey. You’ll guarantee good cooling flow and the best chance for your complex systems to meet expectation.
3 - FILL
Let’s start with the obvious. Make sure your boat is filled with fuel for survey day. But if you want to get strategic, your tank should be at 50%. Sea trials are all about meeting manufacturer performance marks, and less weight yields better performance. Therefore, a light fuel load gives you a better chance of meeting your marks. A gallon of diesel weights about 7.1 lbs, so do the math. A 50% fuel tank can shed serious weight to improve performance, while not sounding any alarms with the surveyor. Running with a tank under 50% isn’t a crime, but if your performance is questionable, you’ll be asked to run again with a larger payload just to make sure there are no issues. So don’t just fill your tank, fill it right.
BONUS FILL: Don’t miss your water tank. It’s tough for a surveyor to test deck showers, sinks and toilets without fresh water in the tank. Your water tank should be filled to 100%.
4 - FLUSH
My favorite forgotten stage of preparation. Make sure to flush your black water tank. No one wants to spend hours checking your boat’s systems while it smells like (you know what). Go the extra mile and clear it out. It’ll gain you a few brownie points should you need them.
While the list above may seem very seller-focused, it’s also important to understand if you’re on the buying side. You want to see your future boat in the best possible condition. If your arrive to survey day and the boat is dirty, it can be difficult to see paint deformities, engine room imperfections and much more.
If you’re buying, I recommend sending this list to the selling broker to make sure they prepare the boat correctly. A vessel well-prepared for survey gives everyone a transparent and fair viewpoint on the asset under consideration.
Good luck!
About the Author
Reed Nicol is a licensed yacht broker with experience in all corners of the marine industry. He’s worked as an executive and sales director in yacht manufacturing and distribution, has structured commercial charter operations, and designed and executed notable refits. Read more about Reed’s marine journey, his love of helping 1st time boaters and his entrepreneurial spirit here.
Reed Nicol [Licensed FL Yacht Broker #11926]
201-264-6356 | Reed@RNMarine.com
