Process6 min read

Surveys

Who picks the surveyor, who pays for what, where to find qualified surveyors, and how to protect the deal through survey day.

Survey is the single most fragile moment in a deal. The rule is simple: the buyer picks the surveyor, the buyer pays for the survey and the haul-out, and the seller delivers the boat clean, fueled, and ready to run.

1. Who picks the surveyor

The buyer picks the surveyor — always. The listing broker never recommends a specific name from their own pocket, because if that surveyor misses something the firm is on the hook. If the buyer asks for a list, hand them SAMS and NAMS directories and let them choose.

2. Who pays for what

Buyer pays the surveyor directly.
Buyer pays the yard for haul-out, block, and splash.
Buyer pays for the sea trial fuel (unless negotiated otherwise in the PSA).
Seller delivers the boat in running condition — full tanks are a courtesy, not required.

Don't

Don't let the seller pay the surveyor — it compromises the report.
Don't let the buyer skip the haul-out to save $1,500. Bottom findings are the #1 reason deals renegotiate.

3. Where to find qualified surveyors

SAMS (Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors) — marinesurvey.org
NAMS (National Association of Marine Surveyors) — nams-cms.org
For engines: request a separate engine survey from a certified mechanic (MAN, MTU, Cat, Volvo, Cummins — brand-specific).
For rigs (sail): certified rigger, separate from hull survey.

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Drop a sample SAMS/NAMS survey cover page here.

4. The survey day flow

1
T-14 days
Buyer books the surveyor. Broker schedules the yard for haul-out.
2
T-2 days
Confirm sea trial window, fuel level, and that seller/captain is available.
3
Survey day
Broker present for both sides. Take notes on any verbal findings. Do not comment on price or repair estimates.
4
T+3 days
Written survey report arrives. Buyer has the contingency window (typically 5 business days) to accept, reject, or send a repair/credit request.

5. Handling the survey response

The buyer's three choices are: accept as-is, reject and get the deposit back, or come back with a written request for repairs or a credit. Everything is in writing. Never verbally negotiate the survey response — it goes on the amendment.

6. Prep the boat for survey day

Treat survey day like a photo shoot with a clipboard. The surveyor is going to open every locker, lift every hatch, and put eyes on every system — how the boat presents drives how the report reads. A clean, accessible, ready-to-run boat produces a cleaner report, fewer follow-up questions, and a calmer buyer.

Clear lazarettes, holds, and crew areas of paddle boards, dinghies, tenders, fenders, lines, and personal gear so the surveyor can actually reach gyros, steering, stabilizers, pumps, and through-hulls.
Confirm every seacock is free and operable — frozen seacocks are one of the most common priority findings and are trivial to fix beforehand.
Replace or re-certify expired fire suppression BEFORE survey day. Lenders and insurers will require it, and finding out at week three is a deal-killer.
Detail the engine room. A clean engine room reads as a cared-for boat and sets the tone for the entire report.
Top off fuel and water, run the gensets, and confirm every system (AC, watermaker, electronics, nav lights, horn, bilge pumps) actually powers on.
Have current registration, documentation, service records, and manuals aboard and organized. Missing paperwork looks like hidden problems.
Remove personal items and clearly label anything that is NOT included in the sale so the surveyor doesn't waste time inspecting it.

7. Set seller expectations at listing

Tell sellers to remove personal items the day the boat is listed. That prevents 'the coffee machine stays, right?' fights at closing, keeps the engine room presentable, and makes survey day faster. Confirm in writing what's included (dinghy, jet ski, tender) and tell the surveyor in advance what's excluded so they don't waste time inspecting it.