Every used boat has a story.
Some of it is written in the paperwork. Much of it is written in the boat itself.
Learning to read both is the difference between a great buy and an expensive one.
A survey does not tell you whether to buy a boat. It tells you what you are buying.
Start Outside
Walk around the hull slowly. Look at colour, gelcoat and repairs.
Look for uneven waterlines, patches of new paint or shiny areas that suggest recent work.
Check chainplates, transom, keel roots and skin fittings for corrosion, cracking or movement.
Then Go Inside
Follow your nose. Musty smells suggest damp. Fuel smells suggest leaks. Chemical smells suggest fresh work.
Lift cushions. Open lockers. Look under floors and behind panels wherever possible.
Signs of rot, staining, silicone repairs, mismatched fittings or hasty finishing all tell a story.
Engine and Systems
Check engine hours. Ask for the service log.
Look at oil, coolant, belts, hoses, wiring and battery condition.
Test every electrical circuit. Every light. Every pump. Every gauge. Every switch.
On sailing boats, examine rigging, sails, winches, tracks and standing rig terminals carefully.
Everything that is easy to test on land is much harder to fix once you are underway.
The Sea Trial
A sea trial is not a joy ride.
Run the boat at cruising speed and wide-open throttle. Listen. Feel.
Check temperatures, oil pressure, engine response, steering, trim, bilge behaviour and any unusual sounds.
Ideally, put the boat through the manoeuvres you will actually use it for — berthing, drifting, holding station.
Get a Professional Survey
A qualified marine surveyor sees things an owner does not.
Moisture readings, hidden repairs, structural issues and safety gear compliance are all part of the report.
The cost of a survey is small compared to the cost of the wrong boat.
- Have you walked the boat inside and out slowly, in good light?
- Have you tested every electrical and mechanical system you could?
- Has the boat had a proper sea trial in realistic conditions?
- Have you engaged an independent qualified surveyor?
- Are you buying with clear eyes about what needs attention?
- A used boat inspection is about clarity, not perfection.
- The boat itself tells much of its own story if you look carefully.
- Sea trials should test the way you will actually use the boat.
- An independent survey is essential, not optional.