What happens during your survey?

The process covered here is for a pre-purchase survey to give you a flavour of how we work. The details of other survey types may vary, but the principles and values expressed hold for all types of survey.

“With upfront clarity about the level of service and no hidden costs, Maple Marine carried out an excellent, well documented survey that left me in no doubt as to the quality of the vessel I was going to purchase. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them or use their services again in the future.”

Before the survey happens

The first stage of the survey process involves putting together an agreement for undertaking the survey. Our yacht surveyors use the Yacht Designers and Surveyor Standard Agreement and Terms of Business as the basis for our agreements with our clients. If you want us to send you a copy of the agreement we use, then please get in touch.
If the timescales are not too short, this agreement and your invoice will be sent to you in plenty of time before the survey so you have the time to familiarise yourself with the terms. These documents will normally be emailed to you so you have them quickly.
Before we go to survey the boat we will ask for some particular information in order to tailor the presentation of your survey to what you need. For example, we will ask where you intend to keep the boat, and how you intend to use it, so that we can tailor the recommendations for the location and they way you will be using the boat. Some items, like the material used for anodes will result from this information, as well as as helping assess the consequences of some defects.

On the day

Often the most interesting part is the out of water part, and is the bit of the boat that is rarely seen. Most of the clients who turn up to surveys come for the out of water part and a short period with the boat in the water to discuss the important issues so far.
We will let you know what time we intend to get to the boat, and what time we expect to be finish. That way you can plan if and when you want to get to the marina when we are there.

The reporting phase

When we know what our schedule is likely to be around your survey, we will let you know when we are expecting to be able to write your report. This is often done the day following the survey.
If for any reason we find we cannot deliver it when we thought we were going to then we will let you know as soon as I can.
The report usually takes as least as long to write as the survey takes to do.
Once written, and proof-read, we will call you to go through the findings, the recommendations and what they all mean in practice, so that you have an understanding of the issues and the reasoning behind the recommendations before you get the report. There are less shocks that way!
Once we have gone through the recommendations and you are satisfied that you understand them, the report is sent by email.