Brokers and surveyors - who to trust?

[JBas]

Hi!
So here's a tricky one:
Does anyone know of a trustworthy and reliable broker and surveyor in Guatemala?

Plus: how can you be sure who to trust when buying a boat in a small place where everyone seems to know everyone?

Feels impossible to know for sure your best interests are indeed a priority...

Any piece of advice and knowledge is appropriated!

Cheers!

[EngNate]

IMO, you can trust a boat broker for one thing and one thing only - he will pocket his commission if the sale goes through, and he will get nothing if it doesn't. In a place like that you can be sure that every surveyor is connected with every broker, and every one knows that after the sale you'll be going away. You might be able to get some help from this guy: stevedmarineconsulting.com I have seen one of his reports, on a boat I've done lots of work on, and it was meticulous, the most thorough I ever saw.

[Paul L]

Consider flying in your surveyor if the value of the boat can justify the cost.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Paul L

Consider flying in your surveyor if the value of the boat can justify the cost.

Two threads. Same question. Same answer.

[kimtrang]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

Two threads. Same question. Same answer

Third thread. Is the pope a Catholic?

[danielamartindm]

Originally Posted by JBas

Hi!
So here's a tricky one:
Does anyone know of a trustworthy and reliable broker and surveyor in Guatemala?

Plus: how can you be sure who to trust when buying a boat in a small place where everyone seems to know everyone?

Feels impossible to know for sure your best interests are indeed a priority...

Any piece of advice and knowledge is appropriated!

Cheers!

Honestly, if the value of the vessel doesn't justify flying in a surveyor of your own choice, you'd better be prepared by knowledge and experience to assess the worth of the boat yourself, and to know what you're talking about. You will likely have very little legal regress if you are taken advantage of by the seller. I doubt that they have lemon laws in Guatemala.

[bsurvey]

there are no certified surveyors for yachts in SA


fly in you own guy brokers are not looking out for your interests unless you have retained them to find a boat. even so you'll still need a surveyor

[akprb]

Originally Posted by danielamartindm

Honestly, if the value of the vessel doesn't justify flying in a surveyor of your own choice, you'd better be prepared by knowledge and experience to assess the worth of the boat yourself, and to know what you're talking about. You will likely have very little legal regress if you are taken advantage of by the seller. I doubt that they have lemon laws in Guatemala.

This is closer to the mark. If sub 100K and that far from home (I’ve sailed the Rio Dulce) best to have the skills to survey her yourself.

If just for insurance who cares, get whatever you need to satisfy the Insurance company. If it’s for you then the best person to survey it is you.

If you don’t know where to begin as far as looking her over then might be much more prudent to find a boat closer to home. Boats are for sale in Guatemala for a reason, that’s as far as the dream got before turning into reality.

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by akprb

This is closer to the mark. If sub 100K and that far from home (I’ve sailed the Rio Dulce) best to have the skills to survey her yourself.

If just for insurance who cares, get whatever you need to satisfy the Insurance company. If it’s for you then the best person to survey it is you.

If you don’t know where to begin as far as looking her over then might be much more prudent to find a boat closer to home. Boats are for sale in Guatemala for a reason, that’s as far as the dream got before turning into reality.

+1

[Kiter]

Get everything in writing! Still no guarantee though! I had a terrible experience last year in San Carlos, Mexico with a broker. She was nice, friendly, had my back....promises promises, everything will be taken care of she said..... on and on she went....after closing she was gone. Gone. An American lady who's company was in SD California, called her boss, no help.

Sorry to cast a bad light but "Buyer beware" holds true

You don't want a experience to to start your relationship with your new boat.

Good luck

[KP44]

Originally Posted by akprb

If just for insurance who cares, get whatever you need to satisfy the Insurance company. If it’s for you then the best person to survey it is you.

Very sage advice.

The only survey I had was a SAMS certified surveyor and known as the best surveyor in Seattle. He got everything wrong; 9 feet off on the boat length, said the VHF didn't work because he didn't turn it on, wrong engine specs, wrong anchor rode, and the list goes on.

If it is for insurance, just get what they want.
If it's for you, look at the boat yourself.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by bsurvey

there are no certified surveyors for yachts in SA


...

Huh?

Not sure if you mean South America or South Africa by "SA", but the Ro Dulce is in neither and there are indeed certified surveyors there.

See the other thread start by same OP with same question.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by danielamartindm

.... You will likely have very little legal regress if you are taken advantage of by the seller. I doubt that they have lemon laws in Guatemala.

In Guatemala legal recourse is sort of like playing "paper, rock, scissors"...except in the Guatemalan version its "machete, shotgun, paper"...paper loses every time. [emoji15]

But, if your contract is with a seller from a developed country you might have legal recourse in their home country. Or, specify the legal venue in the contract as somewhere more conducive to legal recourse.

Alternatively, life is cheap in Guate...seller might be willing to man up with the proper "influence".

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

Huh?

Not sure if you mean South America or South Africa by "SA", but the Ro Dulce is in neither and there are indeed certified surveyors there.

See the other thread start by same OP with same question.

That should read "...Rio Dulce...".

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

That should read "...Rio Dulce...".

SAMS Accredited Marine Surveyor in Guatemala ......

Rio Dulce Marine Surveyors
John Mack Brandes ll, AMS® Specialty: Y&SC
c/o Bruno's Hotel & Marina Aldea Rio Dulce, Livingston, Izabel Guatemala
+502 5732 0219-O