Finding an Honest Surveyor

[wsbarnard]

Has anyone ever asked a surveyor if you can tag along to another survey job to see the care they take in inspecting someone else's boat? I've never heard of this being done but it seems like an easy way to see the surveyor in action before you pay them.

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by wsbarnard

Has anyone ever asked a surveyor if you can tag along to another survey job to see the care they take in inspecting someone else's boat? I've never heard of this being done but it seems like an easy way to see the surveyor in action before you pay them.

That is not up to the surveyor. It is up to the person who hired him. Even If it was ok'd by the client I would still refuse. While the client is paying me he is welcome to hang over my shoulder and question me all day long I simply don't have time to clamber around a non-payer, continually have to ask him to move out of the way and please don't play with the circuit breakers while my fingers are in there and spending my time and my clients time answering his questions ...... absolutely NOT.

[Terra Nova]

And just be a general distraction from the job at hand.

[Lepke]

The theme of this thread seems to be than surveyors do a poor job. I don't think that's true. I've been dealing with surveyors since the early 1960s. Most did an excellent job. But rarely do they find every little questionable problem. An owner has days, weeks and years to explore his boat. The surveyor only has a reasonable amount of time to inspect and still stay in business.
Much of what the surveyor looks at is based on their experience. It's a little like a doctor, finding a problem they can't see, and the patient doesn't speak.

[wsbarnard]

Originally Posted by boatpoker

I simply don't have time to clamber around a non-payer, continually have to ask him to move out of the way and please don't play with the circuit breakers while my fingers are in there and spending my time and my clients time answering his questions ...... absolutely NOT.

Thanks for providing the surveyor's perspective on this. Out of curiosity do you ever have troubles with sea trials where the captain has tried to bring guests and turn it into a mini cruise? I feel like this could present a lot of the same problems while you are trying to survey the boat, except its the paying customer inviting these extra people on board. Again, I've never heard or seen someone do this, just wondering how you have/would handle this situation.

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by wsbarnard

Thanks for providing the surveyor's perspective on this. Out of curiosity do you ever have troubles with sea trials where the captain has tried to bring guests and turn it into a mini cruise? I feel like this could present a lot of the same problems while you are trying to survey the boat, except its the paying customer inviting these extra people on board. Again, I've never heard or seen someone do this, just wondering how you have/would handle this situation.

I have some thoughts on this on my website. The third article on this list

[JPA Cate]

Okay, I agree my idea was poor.

Boatpoker, what advice do you have for newbies seeking a good surveyor? How can they winnow the wheat from the chaff? My concern is that many places, surveyors are not required to have professional standards, so a check with a body won't do them any good.

Thanks for helping.

Ann

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by Ann T. Cate

Okay, I agree my idea was poor.

Boatpoker, what advice do you have for newbies seeking a good surveyor? How can they winnow the wheat from the chaff? My concern is that many places, surveyors are not required to have professional standards, so a check with a body won't do them any good.

Thanks for helping.

Ann

I can not speak to anywhere other than North America so for what it's worth try How To Become A Marine Surveyor
( a somewhat facetious title )

[Stakaman]

I have the same problem finding a serveyor which I can trust in Greece ..everybody knows everybody and I have the feeling that they aren't relayble enough and some time I am not sure who's side they serves !!
I thinking of moving from monohul to cat and if anyone knows any info for honest surveyor at greece please let me know!!

[JPA Cate]

Originally Posted by Stakaman

I have the same problem finding a serveyor which I can trust in Greece ..everybody knows everybody and I have the feeling that they aren't relayble enough and some time I am not sure who's side they serves !!
I thinking of moving from monohul to cat and if anyone knows any info for honest surveyor at greece please let me know!!

Bless your heart, Stakaman! I hope someone there can help you, you really need input from the Med. Disregard input from the US, 'cause mostly, they don't know what is happening in Europe.

Ann

[FilBrown]

Originally Posted by Stakaman

I have the same problem finding a serveyor which I can trust in Greece ..everybody knows everybody and I have the feeling that they aren't relayble enough and some time I am not sure who's side they serves !!
I thinking of moving from monohul to cat and if anyone knows any info for honest surveyor at greece please let me know!!

Hi!
I haven't had a survey done on a boat in Greece yet but it will happen sometime soon.
I've looked around for a while for a good surveyor around Athens and particularly one that speaks English. Walsh Marine's name comes up quite often.

Although I have had no dealings with the company (as yet) I have seen a few of their surveys on a number of yachts which seem to very comprehensive and detailed.

Their full details;
Walsh Marine
72 Kolokotroni Street
Piraeus 185 35
Greece
Tel: +30 210 483 9603
Mob: +30 6941 602 677
Walsh Marine
Email: survey@walshmarine.gr

Hope this is some help

[Juho]

Originally Posted by Stakaman

I have the same problem finding a serveyor which I can trust in Greece ..everybody knows everybody and I have the feeling that they aren't relayble enough and some time I am not sure who's side they serves !!
I thinking of moving from monohul to cat and if anyone knows any info for honest surveyor at greece please let me know!!

One option is to call in a surveyor from some other European country that you trust more, if that fits within your budget. Flight tickets are not that expensive, and the surveyor would be independent with good probability.

[Stakaman]

Originally Posted by Juho

One option is to call in a surveyor from some other European country that you trust more, if that fits within your budget. Flight tickets are not that expensive, and the surveyor would be independent with good probability.

This is likely the best option have !!

[Dulcesuenos]

I'm not sure how it is in other countries but in the US, there is no regulations on who can do a survey. There are alot of surveyors out there right now doing "surveys" with no credentials etc and nothing is or can be done e about it. I see boat owners all the time who hired a surveyor and never checked them for the single credential or E&o ins. Almost like the medical field in FL lol

[Shrubb]

Hello all,
I appreciate all the advices above, since I am looking for a surveyor in Florida before a purchase. Certainly the gathered information will be useful, some of the given contacts seem quite accurate for my needs.
As a feedback I can give a name for those who need a surveyor in Greece : Robert Blottière is established in Istanbul, Turkey, and has a good reputation for surveys in Greece and Turkey. He speaks fluent English and Turkish. I had a pre-purchase survey on a boat in Turkey and was satisfied.
expert maritime Turquie
(English translation available)