How to select a Marine Surveyor... it's more difficult than meets the eye.

 

You just found the boat of your dreams and you set out in selecting a surveyor to give you a report that you can use to get that financing and insurance so you can close the deal and start playing captain.

Your task in selecting a Marine Surveyor is more difficult than meets the eye as you will see in the following examples. Marine Surveying is not a regulated or licensed industry. Anyone can call himself a Marine Surveyor and it will be up to you, the client, whether you think he's qualified or not! Scrutinize liberally.

I have been/am a member of SAMS, US Surveyors, and other Societies and Associations so I'm in a position to explain exactly what that means. It means that the surveyor paid his dues! There might be a partial open book test and some other requirements but it is certainly no proof of qualification although they make it sound like it is! A true measure of qualification is, for example, a seminar or course involving at least several days followed by a closed book test and proctored. If you pass, you become certified in that particular knowledge base. Such certifications are issued by the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC). To earn an ABYC certification you must pass a test after at least a several days seminar. They are not easy and demonstrate proficiency in that particular knowledge base. Then you must re-take that test every few years to maintain competency!

If anything, the positive side of belonging to an Association or Society is that the surveyor is committed enough to the profession to pay dues and belong to an organization. Belonging to a Society is no measure of competency.

On the other hand, The American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) is the authority and final word on non-commercial vessels and the report that you will receive after a survey is based on those standards! ABYC educates professionals in the marine field and ABYC has the final word on boat building and spell out the details of anything marine. Certifications by ABYC are a true measure of competency.

This is what I mean by "More than meets the eye."

What about the surveyor who states that he has taken seminars at national meetings? He may have a long list of titled seminars such as diesel engine inspection, marine corrosion, marine electrical, rigging, etc,, These seminars are good and I don't mean to de-value them but, fellow mariners, we are talking about sitting for an hour to listen to a speaker! National meetings are social events and very weak on educational value. Is that all you demand from your Marine Surveyor?

Also, don't confuse a seminar in, for example Marine Electrical, with being CERTIFIED in Marine Electrical. The seminar simply means he listened to a speaker, CERTIFIED means he took a test and passed after the course... big difference! You can check the ABYC Technician Roster for documentation on certifications and all you need is the person's name. Click on ABYC TECH SEARCH for evidence on certifications.

Then there's the claim that he went to "Happy Woodie's Marine Survey School." Who are they? If you research the school and do not see a clear statement that they are a NATIONALLY ACCREDITED SCHOOL, then that means they're not. As simple as that. And if they're not, then the implication is that their curriculum is not supervised by an accreditation agency. The outcome is not the same as a nationally accredited school requiring real work and dedication. You know what I mean.

What about the surveyor with no website? Then you can't even begin to make a judgment.

What about the surveyor with no RESUME on his website? Then dig a little deeper. Maybe look in "ABOUT US?" You may find something there that sort of somewhat resembles a resume? Be suspicious and start reading and wondering about the fine print. Scrutinize the significance and relevancy of every phrase and claim. Make sure it's not just a collection of empty claims. Check for relevancy to Marine Surveying.

What about the surveyor who claims that his father and grandfather were into boats? Don't laugh, I have actually seen this as a statement of qualification! Cute.

There is an implication that the surveyor with the most education is the most expensive. Here's another surprise... not necessarily and it all goes back to the same advice: DO YOUR HOMEWORK AND RESEARCH, you may be pleasantly surprised!

Sorry to make all this seem like time-consuming work but you need to protect your hard-earned dollar no matter how much of a rush you are to get things going in acquiring the love of your life. Do your homework and select with care!

Hopefully, I have helped you with your education in making realistic asessments selecting your Marine Surveyor. Now you need to take a little time to do your homework and RESEARCH.

Good luck with your purchase!