Boat Survey

[lejak]

I recently purchased a boat and had a survey completed. First trip out I went to the engine room and noticed I had a pretty large stream of water from my starboard dripless. The survey noted that there was no leak and had a picture of the dripless with no leak, however the engine was not running. The raw water from the engine cools the dripless so if the engine was not running the leak would have been missed. However once I noticed this I went to the bilge alarm and the circuit breaker had been turned off, and it was noted that the owner disconnected it because it alarmed just from wave action. I think this was a overt act to cover up the issue. I am now faced with a haul out and repair. What liabilities do surveyors have where they miss a major problem?

[djmarchand]

Well, it seems you have two beefs: one with the surveyor for not checking the gland for leaks while running, and another with the seller for covering it up by turning off the bilge alarm.


I think you should write separate letters to each party, stating what was found and demanding specific payment to fix the problem. The surveyor may have been negligent and the seller may have committed fraud. You may have luck with both, but if not then suck it up and forget about it.


Sounds like at worst you are in for a haul out and dripless seal replacement job. Not cheap but doesn't justify litigation.



David