EghamSurreyTW20 8ED

Yacht and Smallcraft Surveyors in Surrey

Phone Number: 01784 464 899

Mobile Number: 07860 254369

Yacht Inspections Surrey, Kent, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Greater London

The market for luxury sailing and motor yachts is growing as more and more money is funnelled into the pockets of the super-rich and high net worth individuals. Yacht tourism is also an increasingly popular sector of the travel and tourism industry, with more people chartering private yachts for tours on their holidays.

However, as yachts become more popular, professional yacht inspections become a more important part of yacht management. Yachts are usually categorised by size segment, meaning your yacht will be classed as small, medium or large.

Additionally, your yacht will not be categorised similarly to other maritime vessels, given that yachts are designed with luxury and quality in mind.

Most other maritime craft are built for practicality, so, as you can imagine, having your yacht inspected is very different to having your fishing boat inspected.

Understanding a Boat Condition Report 

When you request a boat survey from professional services, such as those Cetec Marine Ltd offers, you aren't simply getting the subjective opinions of the marine surveyor. When you read a boat condition report, the analysis carried out follows strict guidelines when judging the condition of your craft, looking at specific elements of your vessel to make an overall determination.

Following official regulations, our boat surveys cover all aspects of your boat, from the smallest safety equipment and systems to navigation systems, lighting, sanitation, engine condition and electrical systems. Professional regulators have determined these elements to be the most crucial to the safe use of yachts and boats.

Our marine surveyors will assess them in detail to give you the most accurate boat condition reports possible. Cetec Marine Ltd yacht surveyors adhere to boat inspection standards maintained by professional associations such as the Royal Yacht Association (RYA) and Yacht Designers and Surveyors Association (YDSA).

These professional bodies provide comprehensive survey recommendations about the design, construction and inspection of luxury yachts to ensure consistent quality and fire safety standards. 

What to Expect From a Yacht Survey Report 

Yacht survey reports are written summaries generated by our professional team of yacht surveyors.

Whether you are in the pre-purchase stage of owning a yacht or want a thorough update about the condition of a yacht you own, yacht survey reports are invaluable to yacht management.

They will include a full description of the yacht in question and an evaluation of its onboard systems.

Alongside appraisals on the yacht's condition, we will also include recommendations, listed in order of importance, about improving or properly maintaining the vessel's condition.

Yacht Inspection Surrey, Kent, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Greater London

Our detailed reports also provide accurate valuations for the yacht and the items found within it, providing a fair market price for the sale.

It is usually best for yacht owners to be present during an evaluation to see the condition of the craft and items for themselves so we can explain the important elements of yacht management. 

What's Included in Yacht Surveys for Sailing Boats

Yachts are primarily used for pleasure cruising or racing and are often kept in harbours, marinas or waterways. Again, yachts are not like sailing boats used for practical, working purposes. Therefore their fittings and materials are usually higher in quality than other craft.

This includes the hulls, which for smaller yachts are typically constructed from glass reinforced plastics (GRPs) or fibre reinforced plastics (FRPs), with larger yachts being constructed from aluminium. They vary in length from 30 feet upwards. Our marine surveys are conducted with these facts in mind.

Yachts are luxury pleasure vehicles, and their materials, items and condition are all pointed toward this purpose.

Therefore, a yacht inspection will usually consist of the following:

The hull above and below the waterline has to be inspected, which means hauling your yacht out of the water onto a dry slipway, usually done in boatyards or marinas. For GRP and FRP hulls, a moisture meter is then used to determine whether there is any water between the layers of the hull, while aluminium yachts only require a visual inspection.

We will also review any history of paint or finishes applies to the hull's exterior. Alongside the hull itself, plenty of items and fittings are attached to the yacht's exterior.

These include:

  •  Propeller
  •  Propeller shaft
  •  Rudder
  •  Trim tabs
  •  Stabiliser
  •  Bow thruster
  •  Stern thruster
  •  Ports
  •  Openings
  •  Seawater pumps
  •  Inlet/outlet for engine cooling and air conditioning

Aluminium boats will have sacrificial anodes made from zinc along the exterior hull. These are checked for their condition to see if they need replacing.

Depending on the size of the yacht in question, we can conduct several different types of interior inspections. However, most consist of checking the accommodation and washing facilities. 

This can mean just a single air-conditioned room for smaller yachts, while larger yachts will have whole bathing facilities and multiple rooms with possible en-suite washrooms.

Other differences include smaller yachts containing music systems, televisions, refrigerators and other amenities attached to their accommodation areas.

On the other hand, larger yachts will have full-sized kitchens with ovens, microwaves, induction burners and fridges. They may also contain water coolers and washbasins, not to mention sundecks and relaxation areas.

As you can imagine, larger yachts have more interior spaces and amenities to check. There's plenty to inspect, from grand lounge areas to entertainment systems and extensive air conditioning. We can also check all of your furniture, upholstery, fittings, lighting, and other deck features.

It is also valuable to have moisture meter readings of your deck as part of responsible yacht management.

Inspecting your engine room is a crucial element of any boat inspection. There are typically two engines on a yacht, and if you are not having a sea trial conducted, your engines will be run while idling for a set amount of time. Our boat surveyors will also check your boat's generators while idling.

Other engine room checks include:

  •  A/C plant and chiller visual inspection
  •  Bilge pump visual inspection
  •  Seawater cooling pump visual inspection
  •  Cooling water, seawater and lube oil leak checks
  •  Firefighting arrangements visual inspection
  •  Engine room bilges visual inspection
  •  Engine crankcase oil test
  •  Battery condition check

Sea trials are typically conducted for a couple of hours, with one of these hours used to run your yacht's engines at full power for the entirety of the hour. Of course, if you keep your yacht in a marina, running at max power may not be possible.

We check for engine vibrations and noise levels during a sea trial, oil temperatures and pressures, RPM and cooling water temperatures and pressures. Besides the physical operation of your engines and systems, we will also measure the knots your yacht can reach and its handling and turning circle. 

Reversing, bearings and bow thruster movements are also key checks our surveyors will make during an inspection, not to mention your bridge equipment functionality and fuel consumption rates.

There is a selection of documents for your yacht that Cetec Marine Ltd surveyors will need to review, including:

  •  Engine running hours
  •  Time since the last overhaul
  •  Historical engine overhauling reports
  •  Historical auxiliary engine overhauling reports
  •  Repair history
  •  Vessel certificates
  •  Dock reports (including cleaning, coating and marine growth reports)
  •  Pre-purchase survey
  •  Painting and coating review

Yacht Survey Checklist

  •  General description of the vessel, with dimensions and registration
  •  Keep
  •  Hull under the waterline
  •  Topside above waterline
  •  Rubbing strake
  •  Deck moulding
  •  Sole boards
  •  Coach roof
  •  Hull/deck join
  •  Cockpit
  •  Bulkheads
  •  Structural stiffening
  •  Internal mouldings

  •  Standing rigging
  •  Running rigging
  •  Spars
  •  Sails
  •  Covers

  •  Bilge pumping equipment
  •  Firefighting arrangements
  •  Navigation lights
  •  Lifesaving equipment
  •  Emergency equipment

  •  Fuel systems
  •  Engine condition
  •  Installation safety

  •  Freshwater tanks and delivery system
  •  Gas system installation
  •  Electrical system installation
  •  Accommodation in general
  •  Heads
  •  Heating and refrigeration
  •  Electronic equipment
  •  Navigation equipment

  •  Main companionway
  •  Access and accommodation areas
  •  Ports and windows
  •  Stanchions, pushpit, jackstays, lifelines and pulpit
  •  Ground tackle
  •  Mooring arrangements
  •  Rigging attachment points
  •  Deck gear and fittings
  •  Boarding ladders and davits

  •  Stern gear
  •  Rudder and steering system
  •  Skin fittings
  •  Hull apertures
  •  Cathodic protection

How to Choose a Yacht Surveyor

There are two main points to choosing the right surveyor for your yacht.

The first is to ensure they have the appropriate experience and qualifications to survey the style, size and construction of the particular yacht you have in mind.

The second is to ensure they will produce clear insurance survey reports that are easy to understand.

These written reports will contain an honest summary of the findings and details you need to know regarding your yacht, whether you are negotiating a purchase price or looking for coverage from insurance companies.

How To Choose A Yacht Surveyor

Besides these considerations, you may also want to ensure your chosen surveyor is a member of an accredited standards association, such as the Yacht Designers and Surveyors Association or the International Institute of Marine Surveying.

If you can't find a good surveyor yourself, a professional body, such as these organisations, has lists of accredited members in different countries and locations to find the right one.


If you require a yacht inspection in Surrey or the surrounding areas get in contact today. Call 01784 464 899 for yacht inspections in Surrey, Greater London, Berkshire, Sussex, Kent and Hampshire.


Cetec Marine Ltd

7 Malet Close
Egham
Surrey
TW20 8ED