Yacht survey programs

[rxcomposite]

I have to agree again with you Alik. There are crooks out there over extending themselves. In the true sense, surveying is pretty much cut and dried as far as it is concerned. One cannot just claim knowledge of the mechanics unless he has been educated on that particular aspect. There are rules and procedures to back them up, whether it is class, statutory, ABYC, or USCG. The school teaches the procedures, how to write a proper report, backed up by documents, pictures, or videos if warranted.

Surveying is also specialization. In cases of accident investigation such as collision, a seasoned ship master surveyor is more qualified as he has intimate knowledge of the rules of the seas and navigational procedures. Unless of course the cause was navigation/communication/mechanical failure in which case the corresponding engineer pitches in.

In cases of capsize, it is the Naval Architect surveyor who can prove the underlying cause, not the ship master. It could be instability of a shifting cargo, stability of the boat, or free surface effect of water ballast, or combinations thereof. It takes a lot of number crunching to pinpoint the cause. After all, it is the NA who prepared the hydrostatics and stability manual of the ship, and has intimate knowledge of the mechanics.

[rxcomposite]

Originally Posted by DCockey

In the US small craft surveyors are not a "new breed", they have been around many decades.

I guess the "new breed" term is relative. There was a time when a ship surveyor works only on ships and "insurable" was the key. Long ago, Lloyds was only an insurance company.

When the private yachts and small boats increased in numbers and the state has to promulgate guidelines in order to protect the interest of the owners, the surveyors and the school that teaches them created a market for Yachts and Small Craft category.

[Steve W]

Anyone in the US have any comments on the courses offered by Navtech in Florida.
Steve.

[DCockey]

Originally Posted by rxcomposite

I guess the "new breed" term is relative. There was a time when a ship surveyor works only on ships and "insurable" was the key. Long ago, Lloyds was only an insurance company.

When the private yachts and small boats increased in numbers and the state has to promulgate guidelines in order to protect the interest of the owners, the surveyors and the school that teaches them created a market for Yachts and Small Craft category.

Sounds like somewhat different use of the term "surveyor"; perhaps due to different parts of the marine industry or different locations.

Small craft surveryors are not regulated by any governmental body in the US as far as I'm aware. The US Coast Guard does not license, certify, recommend or approve surveyors. There are two independent professional associations of marine surveyors with small craft surveyors as members. Members of these associations will sometimes call themselves "certified" in the sense that they have met the requirements of the association of which they are a member.

Employment of small craft surveyors is not due to any state guidelines or requirements. Frequently insurance companies require a "survey" on a boat by a surveyor acceptable to them before they will issue a policy. Small craft surveyors also are frequently involved when an insurance claim is made. And many prospective purchasers will want a small craft surveyor to inspect a boat they are interested in purchasing and use the results of the survey to decide if they want to purchase the boat, and then also use the results during price negotiations.

I've read books from the 1930's which talk about having a "surveyor" inspect a boat which is being considered for purchase so they go back at least that far.

[rxcomposite]

Agree on what you are saying David. I myself do not know of any licensing body for surveyors.

Small crafts are sometimes required by state to be surveyed for (issuance of licence to navigate) on their waters or insurance companies require the boat to be assessed (condition survey) for a fair value or sometimes required by charterers to be assessed prior to hiring so that no previous damage can be charged to the charterer or at least be assured that the boat can fullfill the requirement of the charter.

Such is the business that many independent/third party surveyors thrive.