Surveyor recommendations for FT Lauderdale area? Also for inspecting 671TI's?

[LCA078]

Looking at a possible boat in the FT Lauderdale area and wanted to know if anyone recommends a good surveyor. Won't do a sea trial (not yet), just need a solid inspection of a boat dockside to see if it's worth me flying out for further discussions. Also, looking for a mechanic to check out the DD 671TI's. Again, no sea trial so I understand it won't be the optimal situation. I figure with the price of a roundtrip ticket/hotel/car/incendentals now, getting a good guy or pair of guys looking at the boat will be a much better deal than me flying out and trying to find issues myself.

[Paul45c]

Back in 2002 I used a Miami surveyor named Allister Dredge (http://mys.us.com) and it was nice to see he's still in business. Allister was what I hoped, prompt and fairly detailed.

In '07 when I was purchasing another boat, I used a surveyor that I thought was fantastic -- Bob Agle. No question he was the best I ever used. He stayed on the boat all day long and seemed willing to sit half the night discussing the boat's issues if I wanted him to. Extremely meticulous and a very nice guy. I would bet he'd make the drive over from Cape Coral (about 2 hrs. away from Lauderdale), too.

Robert E. Agle - Accredited Marine Surveyor 2003
Accurate Marine Surveyors
5214 SW 11th Avenue
Cape Coral, Florida 33914
239-945-0617 -O & R, 239-691-5254 -Cell
accuratesurvey@boatbob.com

[Angela]

For Detroits, I highly recommend Bob Sacks. He does nothing but Detroits and he's a straight-shooter. If it's not broke and doesn't fixing, he won't tell you it will just to generate business. He has got to be the most honest guy I've come across in the marine business and that's really saying something. He is well seasoned with these motors. He's in Broward County (Fort Lauderdale area). I have two numbers for him, although I seem to recall that one wasn't good, but I'm not sure about that (could have been on an older phone). I just press "Bob" on my phone and get him. The numbers I have for him are: 954-435-5400 and 305-332-1545.

[LCA078]

Thanks for the recommendations. I'll try to call them today/tonight when I leave the office.

Any other recommendations from anyone else?

I'm more concerned about the 671TI's as they are said to the be 485hp versions...or time bombs from the little I know about DD's. Supposedly these were overhauled recently and have less than 100hrs since overhaul. I hope a good mechanic can look at them (and hopefully the receipts/paperwork) and tell me what life is left in them.

[Paul45c]

485 out of those 426ci motors are indeed grenades. You'll likely have less than 2-stroke outboard longevity out of them...probably considerably less. And Johnson & Towers were the only ones I remember doing the marine conversions in that hp -- another strike against them. Covingtons are what most of the Hatt DD's use, and you get what you pay for.

[wsdemmer]

Mathew Jones.
He did a great job with my Hatteras.9566833484. Matt did the same for me. He looked at a Chris Craft for me and I decided not to continue with the survey because of the condition of the boat.

[Bugsy]

Ron Doerr.....954-562-7587

Friendly with Bob Sacks who is a Detroit specialist. Ron is a surveyor who is very knowledgeable about diesel engines. I understand that brokers fear his name.

You can mention "Bugsy" but I doubt that will help!!

[SeaEric]

+1 on Ron Doerr. He is an engine surveyor, not a repair mechanic. So he is NOT looking for repair work when he looks at a pair of motors.

[captddis]

+1 on Ron Doerr. He is an engine surveyor, not a repair mechanic. So he is NOT looking for repair work when he looks at a pair of motors.

No but you will be repairing them when he is done!

[Hat52MY]

I used Malcolm Elliott at Florida Nautical Surveyors when I purchased my boat. He went through it with a fine tooth comb. Worth every penny. He did a great job, lots of experience with Hatteras boats, has a extensive background in the marine industry & an outstanding reputation. I will use him again if/when I buy another boat.

FLORIDA NAUTICAL SURVEYORS
Malcolm Elliott
http://www.floridayachtsurveyors.com/
2727 NE 32nd Street, Ft Lauderdale, FL 33309,
Tel: (954) 801-2140