Boat Purchase Question

Floridays

Floridays

New Member
Nov 25, 2010
26
St Petersburg, Fl
Boat Info
2003 36Ft 360 Sundancer
E-80 Raymarine
Engines
Mercruiser 8.1 I/O
If you buy from a well known dealer, do you still need to have your own surveyor?
 
absolutely. Not only for your own protection but in many instances it's needed for financing & insurance too. not to mention it can be leverage for you in the deal.
 
Yes, unless you know all there is about boats and have all the equipment to ensure the boat is in good order. The money is well spent on a good survey. If he finds one thing wrong you should be able to lower the price to cover the work.
 
I depends upon the age of the boat, the dealer involved, there terms of your purchase contract and whether or not there is any warranty remaining.
 
Some well known dealers - are not so - hot service wise. I think a survey is often your best bet - depending on the type of boat you are buying.
 
Dealers aren't surveyers... they sell boats. Some are very knowledgable but they want the sale... 'conflict of interest' almost.
As Frank pointed out there are circumstances where you may not get a survey (I haven't on a lot of my boats).
If you do get one... in almost every instance, the cost of the survey is deducted from the purchase price because of 'items' discovered during the survey.
If the survey comes back 'bad' and the boat has major issues... you've just saved a bunch of money and grief.
My insurance company did not require a survey on my '06 or '07 but boats older than... I think it was around 15 years... they do.
 
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Yes. I learned the hard way.

I bought from a dealer in Indianapolis. Brownie's Marine. I did not get a survey thinking the dealer had looked over the boat and told me it was in great shape. Looking over it myself I agreed and bought myself an early Christmas present 4 years ago.

The boat came with a 30 day warranty that would start the day the dealer de-winterized the boat. I slipped my boat in April when our slips were open and took the boat out 5 times. About 10 days after the warranty expired the alarms sounded. The marina where I kept my slip told me the lower unit blew. There was not a lot of oil around the unit or in the water and they figured that the boat probably did not have much oil in the lower unit to start with. I took the boat back to the dealer figuring they would fix it and give me a break. No, not at all $1,700 later.

This boat was older than my last boat and that one had a lower unit reservoir, so I had figured this one did to. Never assume, major mistake on my part for not checking the lower unit before I put it in the water, after which is impossible.
 
You don't need a surveyor if you're buying a 1960's Bayliner 19'er with a blown engine and missing its lower unit. In this case you know pretty much what you're getting.

Other than that, find a good surveyor. You will save yourself money and you won't be sorry.
 
Thank You to all who replied. I think I will get a surveyor. The dealer has assured me that the boat will be in tip top shape when I take delivery, I feel that someone independent from the dealer will be in my favor and give a good assessment of the boat. I also don't want to piss off then dealer.

Does anyone know if dealers frown :smt009 on surveyors.

Thanks
 
Does anyone know if dealers frown :smt009 on surveyors.
Click to expand...
NO unless they have something to hide from you.

Plus its your money so protect it in every way you can. :thumbsup:

Wouldn't you be pi$$ed off if your dream boat needed $9.000 in repairs and you didn't know it. :smt021
 
Take lots of pictures and look at them very carefully when you get home. Put your camera behind things you can not get too. Look for water stain on wall liners and ceiling and water in storage areas. If it has cedar closets look for water stain and smell the area for nice cedar smell. Engine room put your camera under engines and take lots of pictures. Look for salt deposits at cooling line connection point and at muffler connections.
 
Floridays said:
... I also don't want to piss off then dealer.

Does anyone know if dealers frown :smt009 on surveyors....
Click to expand...


Let this be your last worry. Dealers job to sell the boat and your job is to check everything (this includes hiring proffesionals to help you) and to make sure you buy it in the shape you were expecting it.

The other part, and very important one, is that some insurances and/or banks REQUIRE to have the survey done. So, in this case you HAVE TO survey her.

This thread will help you to get better idea of possible situations 400DB Upgrade Went South – Buyers Be Aware
 
I did not get a survey when I bought my repo boat last year... I did have a stipulation that I could have it surveyed, and I had a sea trial... In my case, I felt that was getting such a good deal that even if both engines were bad, and I had to replace them, I was still ahead... What I did do was contact some friends of mine at the Marinemax store that sold the boat twice, and I got the maintenance records. MM was not selling the boat, so they had nothing to hide. As it turns out, now that had the boat going on two summers, I got a great boat. In retrospect, knowing what I know know from CSR boaters, I should have gotten the survey. When I sold my '96 300DA, in 2004, the buyer had it surveyed... Seeing what he did, I thought it was a waste of money, but guy buying my boat was new to boating, and for him I guess it was worth the $1,000. I would recommend getting all the maintenance records for your boat, and get a surveyor that you can get reliable references. The surveyor should be one that is familar with the model you are buying...
 
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