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Old 22-05-2015, 13:14   #1
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Broker and Surveyor recommendations

Hello,
I am planning on flying to Florida soon to look at some catamarans in Titusville, Ft Lauderdale and Marco Island for a week. I am looking for recommendations for boat brokers and Marine Surveyors. And generally do they travel across FL? Is it easy to work with one person for all locations? How booked out are surveyors and brokers? I would rather see the boats first and determine which one I want surveyed and then be around to shadow the survey in progress.
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Old 22-05-2015, 13:24   #2
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Re: Broker and Surveyor recommendations

Hi ED-M - I can recommend a good cat broker if you PM me, but why do you think you need one? Are you a novice? Otherwise, contact the listing broker of boats you research yourself. Be your own broker and you may be able to reduce the selling price because the listing broker won't have to share his/her commission with anyone.

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Old 23-05-2015, 03:40   #3
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Re: Broker and Surveyor recommendations

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Ed.
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Old 23-05-2015, 04:54   #4
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Re: Broker and Surveyor recommendations

My advice:

create a short list of boats in which you are interested by going by yourself and having a look. This site, Marine Survey 101, will give you some tips in how to eliminate obvious problem boats:
Marine Survey 101, Do your own marine survey

Then, once you have a short list, it's well worth flying in the best surveyor you can find. BTW, never choose a surveyor who is recommended by a broker. Our experience was extremely good with Mike Firestone of Port Aransas TX - he is experienced with multihulls in particular. Mike is very busy, you'll probably have to wait on him (which tells you something) but give him a call and see how he'll work out travelling around.

We used to have a Farrier trimaran, and thus we are friends with the dealer of Windcraft Multihulls, Don Wigston. Don helped us with the boat purchase (even tho he's a Corsair dealer) acting as our broker both on the sale of our Farrier and on the purchase of the new cat. Don is honest and decent in a world full of people who aren't.

Be damned careful who you hire as broker and surveyor. I am acquainted with a case in which a fella is spending a year or more and thousands of dollars on a refit he should have known was coming at purchase. b. WARE
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Old 23-05-2015, 05:14   #5
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Re: Broker and Surveyor recommendations

Broker: Kevin Welch 321.693.1642
Survey: Michael Cunningham 321.622.8132
Kevin's very knowledgeable on catamarans.
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Old 23-05-2015, 08:40   #6
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Re: Broker and Surveyor recommendations

Vet the surveyor you select well. Ask to see some copies of some previous reports it may give you an idea of what they provide. If I appear cynical it's because I paid for one years ago and received a typed report of what I had told him. JMHO
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Old 23-05-2015, 09:16   #7
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Re: Broker and Surveyor recommendations

727-403-5456/Gary Monnell, Whitaker Yachts in Palmetto, Fl. Excellent firm with a stellar reputation among Island Packet owners.
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Old 23-05-2015, 09:30   #8
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Re: Broker and Surveyor recommendations

I too will recommend Kevin Welch with Edward Yacht Sales. Further I will caution you to be careful about the surveyor you choose. We had a very bad experience with one from the Daytona area recently. Kevin knows who he is.
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Old 23-05-2015, 16:29   #9
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Re: Broker and Surveyor recommendations

I highly recommend Kirk Muter from Edwards Yacht Sales.
He is the only one I would ever trust with recommending or dealing with any boat for us.
954-649-4679

Good luck!
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Old 25-05-2015, 06:30   #10
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Re: Broker and Surveyor recommendations

namsglobal.org


usually two weeks notice is more than ample.


arrange with a boatyard a noon hang to have the surveyor inspect the bottom.


do not take anyone the broker recommend
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Old 25-05-2015, 10:44   #11
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Re: Broker and Surveyor recommendations

Just the luck of the draw but I've had a couple of very good surveys from NAMS and a couple of unhelpful ones from SAMS. NAMS has much more rigid criteria for certification.
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Old 25-05-2015, 11:56   #12
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Re: Broker and Surveyor recommendations

Thank you for all the recommendations. I will be making some calls next week. Greatly appreciated!
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Old 25-05-2015, 19:02   #13
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Re: Broker and Surveyor recommendations

I’ve employed many “marine surveyors” in England and American to look at boats I’ve bought, or not bought, and I wouldn’t give you twopence for any of them!
All of them missed some crucial issues, which I spotted, or found out to my dismay afterwards.
Why do you think they have disclaimer clauses in their agreements?
Whether novice or not, you are far better to get informed and take a long hard look at any boat you fancy, by yourself, or with somebody you know is on your side, and not being paid.
I visited the last boat I bought five times, and practically took it to pieces. The selling broker became really pissed, but I got to the bottom of the major faults, and negotiated a fresh deal myself.
The last broker I was forced to engage, for an insurance quote, was mentioned on this thread, and he came up with a ridiculously reduced value for my boat, which screwed me on the insured value. My boat is now under insured in the event of a total loss and I can’t do anything about it—except engage a new “surveyor” and bribe him to give an increased value. Believe me, they are "persuadable".

My advice is to keep well away from all of them.
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Old 26-05-2015, 05:52   #14
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Re: Broker and Surveyor recommendations

Thanks Moon Chaser. He wasn't surveyor I've heard of before your incident but I'm aware of him now. He doesn't seem very competent in handling a boat.
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Old 11-06-2015, 06:23   #15
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Re: Broker and Surveyor recommendations

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cadence View Post
Vet the surveyor you select well. Ask to see some copies of some previous reports it may give you an idea of what they provide. If I appear cynical it's because I paid for one years ago and received a typed report of what I had told him. JMHO
As a surveyor, I agree. Interview the surveyor, ask to see copies of previous reports, verify his professional affiliations. There are very good surveyors out there that treat their businesses and trade like a skilled craft, and others that run their business like a money hustle and know very little about anything boat related. Trust me I have seen both.
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