What to do if surveyor has not provided survey report?

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by buzzstar

Different countries, different court, different laws, different precedents. You both may be correct.

Sorry , forgot to specify. I am only familiar with Canada and the US.

[meirriba]

Originally Posted by buzzstar

Different countries, different courts, different laws, different precedents. You both may be correct.

If you want to take a surveyor to court it would help if it can be shown that his service was not performed 'in good faith' i.e. he is culpable of gross negligence.

A professional surveyor would have a PI (professional indemnity) insurance. A rather expensive cover by the way.

[Mike_Thor]

Amosjane (and partner).
I think that 'leftbrainstuff' response highlights a key aspect - what is it you expect (from a survey). My advice, having used surveys a lot in numerous professional arena's (including government/military) is that you as the 'user' need to clearly understand what it is you are expecting to get from it. If the answer is anywhere near to 'protection', 'peace-of-mind', 'insurance' etc. then my strong advice is that you need to be very very competent in that field to determine if even an A+ written report delivered on time would actually deliver that (including any caveats). My personal experience with the pleasure craft marine industry as opposed to say the aircraft, military, telecommunications or even domestic motor vehicle industries is that it has for me it is the most unregulated and most inconsistent industry (standards and compliance wise) that I have been involved in for some 40+ years (since joining the military around 1975). That is not to say that all involved are like that but I cannot rely on too much 'at face value' being consistently reliable. As I became more experienced (in life and in profession) it allows me to better understand what I am asking of someone (or organisation) and therefore to better set my own expectations as well as their 'product'. So... in all my own surveys were for the single purpose of my insurance company (which like most I know are reliant on statistics and actuaries not actual material risk in a single instance per se'.) - that is my survey was detailed, included pictures, required a deposit up front, was conducted in a foreign country by someone I did not know (but had the broker recommendation when doing 'due diligence') and was delivered on time (and a copy provided to me over 13 months later when I could not find the original). But it also contained omissions; factual gaps, references to items which were not compliances (i.e. pleasure craft are not required to be compliant to commercial boat standard as is electrical or other types etc.). The surveyor cannot be a 'genius' in all disciplines (e.g. my boat contained carbon-fibre) and he also missed things; some expensive things like significant rot in the hull but then again the vessel had been out of the water for some 14 months so had 'dried out'. This was not a 'fault' of the surveyor even though I later found out that another surveyor had found the hole. I would recommend the surveyor (I have no financial or personal relationship with him and have not spoken to him since that day) but I would explain, as here, what anyone should actually expect. The advice from others here to hire specialist individuals is sound (outside the inherent discipline of the surveyor - they may even recommend one); but I would add that if you are intending to buy a boat; as with a house or other complicated 'system' and that is you must get yourself up-to-speed and be sure that you are not 'relying' entirely on a single (report in this case) to solve all your risks. All the other matters relating to this situation are well covered by other replies. We often hear down under in the Antipodes the term 'Best of British' - we are not actually sure what that means anymore either - but in any case - being your marine adventure but be prepared to 'learn' every day.