Small Craft and Yacht Surveying
Serving coastal NC, southern VA and northern SC
Surveys and vessel inspections for pre-purchase, insurance renewals, damage, and vessel valuations.
Your report is delivered within 48 hours after I step off the boat
Surveyed in the last 12 months
Why owners and buyers call me
- I work for you. Not the seller, not the broker, not the marina.
- Your report lands within 48 hours after I step off the boat.
- I inspect to ABYC standards, NFPA 302 and applicable CFRs. Where a finding falls under one, I name it and tell you why it matters.
- I come to the boat. Dock, yard, private slip or a trailer in a storage lot.
Request a quote
Six questions. I reply the same day.
Affiliations
What I Survey
I work for you, the buyer. Not the seller, not the broker, not the marina. I have no stake in whether you buy the boat, which is the only reason my opinion of it is worth anything.
I call it as I see it, and I am not worried about ruffling the feathers of a broker, a seller or a marina. Every finding is measured against the standard or regulation it falls under, so it holds up when someone pushes back. This is a big purchase. You are the one hiring me, and you are owed honesty and candor.
Pre-Purchase Survey
The survey you get before you commit. Hull, deck and structure, moisture readings, engines and running gear, electrical, plumbing, tankage and safety equipment: every system on the vessel, inspected against the regulations and standards that apply to it.
Insurance & Renewal
The survey your insurer or lender requires before they will write or renew. Since you are paying for it either way, get something out of it: a professional look at the condition and safety of your vessel and its systems, and everything I find is yours to act on.
Damage Survey
Cause, extent and cost of repair, documented and photographed for your carrier or adjuster. Independent of the repair yard.
Boat Appraisal
An independent valuation for financing, insurance, estates or a dispute, with a full condition inspection behind the number.
Engine Survey
A complete inspection of propulsion engines and generators. I review the health of the engine systems and document what maintenance is due, what has been missed, and what it takes to catch up.
Preliminary Survey
A shorter walk-through before you commit to a full survey. Mostly used by buyers who cannot get to the boat themselves. I verify the vessel against its listing and document what is obvious on a walk-through, so you can decide whether it meets your expectations and is worth moving to a pre-purchase survey and trial run.
I Trained on What Breaks
Most of what goes wrong on a boat is electrical or mechanical, so I went and got certified in those specifically before I started surveying other people’s vessels.
I am an ABYC Master Advisor, certified in Marine Electrical, Marine Systems and Standards, and a SAMS Surveyor Associate with the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors. I trained at the Chapman School of Seamanship in Small Craft and Yacht Surveying, and completed their Damage and Claims Survey courses, basic and advanced.
ABYC standards get revised. Lithium banks, electric propulsion and increasingly dense electrical distribution did not exist in their current form when a lot of surveyors last sat in a classroom. I keep the certifications current because a surveyor working from an out-of-date standard gives you out-of-date information about a boat you are about to buy.
Surveying New Bern · Oriental · Washington · Beaufort · Morehead City · Wilmington · Wrightsville Beach · Hampton VA · Myrtle Beach SC
What Clients Say
Nine reviews on Google, all five stars. Read them on Google
This is my 5th survey on a boat. This was by far the most comprehensive survey I've had done. Andrew is very thorough, extremely knowledgeable, and explains everything he does through the entire process. If I ever need another survey, this is the business I will call.
Andrew went above and beyond multiple times for our purchase. He is knowledgeable, personable, and more than willing to discuss every aspect of the survey. He even stopped by on the weekend after the purchase to help investigate a wiring issue. Top notch service and I'm happy to have a new friend in New Bern. Highly recommend!
Andrew is exactly what I was looking for in a surveyor, communicated throughout the process, on time, thorough, professional, and worked well with all the parties involved (which can be like herding cats at times). If I buy another boat in the area, I will be using his services again.
I had an excellent experience working with Andrew as my boat surveyor. From start to finish he was incredibly professional, knowledgeable, and thorough. Andrew answered every question I had, both before and after the survey, with great detail, ensuring I fully understood the process and results. It was clear that his goal was to help me make an educated and financially sound decision which I truly appreciated. His expertise and dedication gave me total confidence in the survey and my eventual purchase. I couldn't recommend Andrew enough to anyone in need of a reliable and skilled boat surveyor!
Common questions
Do I need to be there?
It is never a bad idea to attend, but about half my surveys are for out-of-state buyers who are trusting the report to tell them the condition of the vessel. Some people come for the whole day, some come just for the trial run, and some do not attend at all.
Does the boat need to come out of the water?
For a pre-purchase survey, yes. I will not commit to one without a bottom inspection. For an insurance survey, the letter from your provider will tell you whether the bottom needs to be inspected.
How long does the report take?
Delivered within 48 hours after I step off the boat.
Should I buy the boat?
I cannot make that decision for you. I lay out the facts, the risks and the positives, and you decide based on your own risk tolerance.
Will you share the report with anyone?
No. It is your work product. You paid me to develop it, so it is yours to do what you like with. Think of it this way: the developer who wrote Microsoft Word does not own it. Microsoft does. They paid the developer to create it for them.
Can I call you after I have read the report?
Absolutely. Our relationship is not over when the report lands. Call me with any question about it.
Tell me about the boat
What it is, where it is, and what you need the survey for. Who reads the report changes what it has to contain, so it is worth a minute on the phone before anything gets scheduled.