You have received an offer on your yacht; the buyer is now setting up the marine survey. The survey is a detailed examination of your yacht and can be the make or break aspect of the agreement. Consequently, planning for the particular survey needs to be given top priority.

Marine surveyors look for a spotless, well taken care of yacht; it sets the environment for the survey. I have had quite a few surveyors say to me they are often able to know what they're going to determine by how the boat appears to be like from the dock. A surveyor is likely to discover those things that do not function and notify the purchaser. If items do not operate, any prospective buyer will deduce the worst and almost certainly be looking for an allowance for brand spanking new equipment. It is much easier and cheaper to repair everything before surveying the boat than to pay to have it done later on. In addition, as soon as your vessel is inspected by a likely purchaser, if everything works, your transaction is nearly guaranteed. On the other hand, an extended inventory of non-operable things can very often cause a purchaser to get second thoughts after which the most you may hope for is a much lower sales price simply not to lose the deal!

To begin with

• Make certain the boat is clean and clutter free, it is easier for the surveyor. Understand initial impressions can be significant.

• Next, make certain the vessel is free of clutter and garbage. Dispose of everything not a part of the transaction, both to boost perceived room and to remove any uncertainty as to what's included in the sale. Extra tools, old fenders, filthy lines, that bucket of cleaning chemicals contained in the lazarette… eliminate all of it. It will get in the way of the surveyor doing his duty.

Ensure that all equipment works

To begin with, non-operational equipment issues are usually a red flag for any buyer. If a toilet does not work satisfactorily, a handle is wobbly, or something else is not right, deal with it. You'll probably deal with the majority of these problems yourself, and just a little amount of additional sweat can result in great profit once the surveyor indicates to the buyer he has found little wrong with the boat.

Before you go to survey:

Electronics/Electrical

• Check all appliances, toilets, inverters, stereos for operable condition. Repair as required.

• Check all lights to make sure they operate. This consists of all salon lights and all of the navigation lights. Put back into working order those that don't.

• Check air conditioning and refrigeration systems' functionality and have them repaired if they do not operate properly. A good number of vessel owners never check the return air conditioning filters on their boat's systems.

• Make sure all communication and navigation electronics are in good condition and operating. This also means the compass. Get fixed or exchange those that do not work.

Mechanical

• Investigate your engine room, looking for oil, water or fuel leaks. If they are there a surveyor will surely come across them. You can almost definitely repair these deficiencies at this point more inexpensively than if you have to pay for it to be repaired subsequent to a survey.

• Check engines for any corrosion; wire brush and touch up with paint as needed.

• Check primary engines and generators for oil and water; top them off as needed.

• Make certain batteries are in good condition and topped off.

• Begin and operate all engines. Any hesitance to crank up or defective operation ought to be checked out.

• Run engines up to operating temperatures. Any higher than regular numbers ought to be researched and fixed.

• Check out all engine instruments. Replace inoperable gauges or calibrate as needed.

• Check all raw water hoses for age. If ever the hoses are split, change them. If they are springy they must be replaced.

• Check that all the raw water hoses beneath the water line or pressurized are secured with two clamps at each end.

• Check every hose clamp throughout for deterioration; exchange all that are.

• Inspect all thru hulls for easy functionality and all leaks.

• Check all sea strainers. Clean as necessary.

• Examine exhaust hoses for age wear and tear. Every hose end must be double clamped.

• Inspect propeller rudder stuffing boxes and stuffing boxes for any unnecessary leakage.

• Inspect propeller and rudder stuffing boxes for any decay; rectify as necessary.

• Inspect struts in the boat for all decomposition.

• Bilges need to be unsoiled and dried out; re-paint if necessary.

Tidiness

• Remove all personal non-essential objects.

• Eliminate all non-critical vessel gadgets even if it will be included in the transaction.

Documentation

• Make sure all applicable credentials are present and up to date. The surveyor will need to see documentation or registration papers. Also needed are documents for any dinghys or PWC's.

• Any building schematics or manuals that may be provided may prove to be helpful to the surveyor.

Safety

• Check all U.S Coast Guard safety items mandatory on your class of vessel.

• Flares - make certain they are in date. Expiration dates are written on every flare.

• Fire extinguishers - accurate quantity, and mounted. Must be checked annually.

• Ship's bell on board.

• One approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD) in good condition for each person on board.

• Be sure horn works.

• There must be a copy of the USCG Navigational Rules on board.

• Examine anchor and rode, safety wire, and proper splice within the rode with thimble and bitter end secured.

• If there's an automatic fixed fire extinguishing mechanism aboard, it has to be in date - an annual obligation.

• All bilge pumps and automated float switches must be in functioning order.

• Check and try out all alarms - bilge, fire, smoke, carbon monoxide, engine, generator, and electrical.

• Life rafts will need to have inspection papers.

• Any EPIRB must be functional.

Hull

• Fix any scratched wood and refinish if necessary.

• Get bottom and running gear cleaned by diver.

• Clean and exchange zincs.