Preparation - Pacific Crossing Notes: A Sailor's Guide to the Coconut Milk Run - page 16

Finding a Surveyor
Whether you're interested in a pre-purchase survey, an insurance renewal, owner's con-
sultation, damage assessment, or a value appraisal, you must first locate a credentialed sur-
veyor. In the United States, the accrediting agency is the National Association of Marine
Surveyors, which requires that members show adequate experience and pass an extensive
test. Look for a surveyor who is past the associate status and has full certification. Next,
check where your surveyor's experience lies. Some specialize in wood, aluminum, or steel
hulls, or even in tall rigs. The right surveyor will carry the tools needed for the job at hand
and have experience in the appropriate area.
Equally important is talking with the surveyor to see if you're compatible. As Tony Theri-
ault points out, it's a job that calls for strong communication and people skills. A good sur-
veyor is a person you can trust to help make important decisions, and who can bridge the
potential divide between a buyer and a seller (in a pre-purchase survey, the buyer hires the
surveyor).
Once you have found a surveyor, make sure you clearly specify and agree on the scope of
the survey - the more detail, the better. In a pre-purchase survey, will the surveyor go aloft
to look at standing rigging? To what extent will the electrical system be examined? Be sure
to describe your level of experience so that the surveyor knows whether to assume you
have a high familiarity with boat systems or not.
Explain what exactly you want to achieve in the survey so that the outcome will match
your expectations. A consultation, for example, may be requested by an owner who sus-
pects trouble in a particular area, or it might extend to a full survey that will guide an up-
coming re-fit. Then the surveyor can provide a realistic time and price quote and you can
both plan accordingly.