Survey cost?

[charlg]

When I was buying my boat two months ago, the selling broker said he knew a good surveyor. I said have him call me with an estimate. Well, he had the survey done. No big deal, it needed to be done. However, I just received the bill - $504. Seems high for just a visual survey. The boat was out of the water, he only tested the systems that he could run off the batteries. Did not start the engines, no compression checks (the broker had this done for me - no charge), did not remove outdrives, etc, etc.

Is $504 too high for that type of survey? Do I just send him a check and keep my mouth shut?

 

[CSR_Admin]

$504 is about what the survey of a 27' boat costs. How big was the boat, bigger or smaller?

 

[charlg]

$504 is about what the survey of a 27' boat costs. How big was the boat, bigger or smaller?

It was for the 280 SunSport.

 

[witchhouse]

I am paying $450.00 for a 88 30' weekender in Salem, Ma

 

[fwebster]

Standard cost on the Fla coast for a C&V survey with a written report done by a NAMS/SAMS surveyor is $20/ft.........='s $560 for the 280.

 

[charlg]

Standard cost on the Fla coast for a C&V survey with a written report done by a NAMS/SAMS surveyor is $20/ft.........='s $560 for the 280.

It seems to be in the ballpark at $18 per foot. Thanks.

 

[Nehalennia]

I paid $400 for mine which was a similar survey to yours. All the mechanical stuff was worked and inspected through my dealer and known issues prior to the survey and purchase.

 

[Sea Gull]

Charlie, I assume this is a done deal - but a huge object lesson for future shoppers. Never trust a survey commisioned by the seller (or selling broker), there is just too much possibility for conflict of interest. Also, "the broker had this done for me no charge" is like saying I am blindly taking this guy's word for it.

 

[charlg]

Charlie, I assume this is a done deal - but a huge object lesson for future shoppers. Never trust a survey commisioned by the seller (or selling broker), there is just too much possibility for conflict of interest. Also, "the broker had this done for me no charge" is like saying I am blindly taking this guy's word for it.

No, it wasn't like that. I had the benefit od having Frank in my corner, and he helped me through the process. The cost of the survey was never discussed during the sale, so I didn't know if I was being overcharged.

 

[Presentation]

.....the broker had this done for me - no charge....Do I just send him a check and keep my mouth shut?

Something is not adding up here. Normally if something is no charge you don’t send them a check at all.

 

[saltydogz]

I paid around 630 for my boat this past September before I got it and that include a sea trail and the boat was up in the MA area... yours sounds high for the quotes I got. and like Sea Gull said don't use the sellers surveyor apply the same rules that you would use in buying a house. between the websites and calling local boat yards it does it take long to find someone that people seem to use in an area and that they believe in.

Good luck with the boat...I would get the engine looked over good by a mechanic to feel better about the boat.

 

[Pseudomind]

Well I paid that much plus haul out fee of $218.00. I had compression testing done as well as sea trial testing of all systems. I had used him before and he had a reputation as being one of the best.

Actually I paid $640.00, $100.00 was for the cost of the trip for him to come from St. Petersburg, Florida to Daytona Beach, Florida.

 

[rondds]

I think he paid for the survey but the compression check was gratis. I'd like to be present for the free compression check!

 

[Southpaw II]

I shopped for a survey when I bought a boat in Tampa earlier this year...I asked the Broker for 3 names, and I called all 3 before I mad a decision. Going price was about $15 / Ft.