Surveyor in Seattle ?

[pwilliams]

I'm looking for a recommended surveyor for a pre-purchase survey in the Seattle area. Can anyone recommend someone who specializes in 40-50 monohulls?

There are quite a few to choose from on the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyor website.

Thanks

Pat

[Cheechako]

matt harris for sure. Best there is. Reisner, mcEwen and Harris... bellingham I believe...but he's the best there is. meticulous and not swayed by killing a sale if it comes to that. Not the type to want to prove a lot is wrong with your boat... just factual and knows a lot of boat's design/build history etc.

[Microship]

I have worked as both buyer and seller with Jerry Edwards, of the same firm, and been pleased. I've also heard all good about Matt.

You're wise to ask here... I came close to a disastrous purchase a few years ago, and the broker/hustler tried desperately to hook me up with a certain surveyor. Turned out he was the guy's buddy, and not even NAMS or SAMS. The surveyor I brought in, steel-literate, told me in no uncertain terms to run away.

Since you're in the buying role, a good surveyor on a boat that size will very likely pay for himself by discovering things that should be taken care of before the sale.

Cheers,
Steve

[Maggie-K]

John Sanford from Reisner, McEwen , very meticulous and not in a rush, He was also realistic in what really needed repair and what was just a bargaining chip.

[s/v Beth]

I used Harris and Reisner- felt both of them were good. Yeah, lost a little $$ in surveys, but I am happy with my Valiant...

[senormechanico]

Lynn Reister, Lodestar Marine.

Fantastic survey for the buyer of our previous boat.

[Hiracer]

Originally Posted by Maggie-K

John Sanford from Reisner, McEwen , very meticulous and not in a rush, He was also realistic in what really needed repair and what was just a bargaining chip.

Another vote for John Sanford. I would use him again in a heartbeat.

[Martinini]

Beware-- Just because someone is listed in the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors it doesn't mean that they are any good as I found out the hard way. It just means they paid their money.

[pwilliams]

Thanks for the responses. I sent Matt Harris an email before finding their website at http://www.surveyormarine.com. He sent me his resume and provided a quote for a boat the size I'm looking at. I'll let you all know if we proceed with this purchase and if the buyer accepts our offer.

Thanks again!
Pat

[bluzzin]

If you haven't made a commitment to a surveyor yet, consider Erik Bentzen. He is a lifelong sailor, ocean racer, who also happens to have grown up in a boat yard and is an excellent surveyor. His diligence and thorough work payed huge dividends for us. He surveys boats all over the world but is based out of Seattle.

michael

[eyschulman]

Another vote for Bentzen

[s/v Beth]

Holy Cow- how many surveyors are there in Seattle? Every boat in the marina must get looked at on a regular basis!

[Microship]

Newt - NAMS shows 20 in the neighborhood...

[Hiracer]

Originally Posted by s/v Beth

Holy Cow- how many surveyors are there in Seattle? Every boat in the marina must get looked at on a regular basis!

Well, there are a few boats in the area, both recreational and commmerical.


I know when my old employer purchased a 100' commercial vessel in Alaska, we flew up a surveyor from Seattle. So, at least at the commercial level, Seattle surveyors cover more than just local stuff.

* * *

An aside about John Sanford: He used to own a steel sailboat. That's how he got to this side of the Atlantic. (He's from England.) So he knows how to survey them.

[bluzzin]

Its interesting how no matter what bulletin board you visit Sanford and Bentzen come up. Everyone says don't listen to a broker for a recommendation for a surveyor. That is tough to follow in Seattle where these two guys names just keep coming up. I had decided before I had a boat under contract that either these two would do the survey or Allison Mazon out of Portland OR. Several brokers I talked to all spoke highly of the 3 for sailboats. So I signed the final counter offer that was in front of me and in the next breath the broker said if you need a surveryor here are a couple recommendations...... yup Bentzen and Sanford. BTW the survey saved my its cost and another 5K or so. If we buy another boat I would make the same call again.

michael