Crazy Survey findings or lack there of.

[Finalee]

On a former trawler the surveyor indicated bilges dry and pumps working properly. I was not able to attend to verify. Several weeks later I find water in the center bilge. The pump is floating on a 4x4 running like mad. Easy fix and no major leaks. Just saying!

 

[saltshaker]

On a former trawler the surveyor indicated bilges dry and pumps working properly. I was not able to attend to verify. Several weeks later I find water in the center bilge. The pump is floating on a 4x4 running like mad. Easy fix and no major leaks. Just saying!

I had a surveyor note that my Davit was not operational and needed repair. Same with the Jacuzzi pump. Both had the breakers off. Same surveyor noted all 6 bilge pumps and switches in working order. In the recommendations section of the report he stated that there were only 4 bilge pumps and one more should be added. He also said that zincs on the stabilizer fins needed replacing. Fins are FRP and no zincs were installed. I could go on and on about this one. Needless to say I'll never use him again.

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

....or maybe listed props as four bladed under the picture of the three bladed wheels.

 

[SEVEN]

Always always always do your own survey once they are done. Although most surveyors are really good they do miss a lot of things. Just think about all they have to check in just a few hours. I have found so many things that were missed, however it makes it a much safer boat.

 

[Tinman]

Just had a survey with items noted as inoperable because he did not know how to operate them and did not ask for assistance. Said my Stb engine was a gallon low on oil, he misread the dip stick. LOL

 

[Timeout]

I had one who came charging out of the bilge and shut down a sea trial due to "Oil filters leaking all over!!". Turned out to be the crap cans from the air box drains. Even after I told him what it was, he insisted that I didn't know what I was talking about and the fearful owner limped back to the dock. Not sure what Detroit model has a single 1/4" line going to the filter Same surveyor listed lots of stuff inoperable but most all were not turned on. All 3 bilge pumps were apparently fine but the forward one did not even exist, just an unattached hose and cut wires. Said shaft bearings needed replaced, 10 years later, and they're still fine. That's when I thought I should get in the survey business....

Yes, I did my own survey, but this bad one caused a lot of headaches with the insurance company wanting me to show receipts for fixing stuff that wasn't broken.

 

[Bob Bradley]

I had to go round and round with my insurance comp because the surveyor noted a non functional sea water temp gauge. These are used to find temp breaks for fishing and have no bearing on the operation of the boat. Not really the surveyor's fault, but the insurance company was insisting that I fix it.

 

[saltshaker]

...Yes, I did my own survey, but this bad one caused a lot of headaches with the insurance company wanting me to show receipts for fixing stuff that wasn't broken.

That's the big problem with a bad survey. The surveyor I used when I bought my current boat was so bad I was concerned I'd have issues with insurance. I go through a potential purchase myself before going to survey so I know the majority of the issues ahead of time. This guy was so bad I thought I might need another survey for insurance. Fortunately I had Tom Slane with me at the survey and sea trial. We went through the survey items after the surveyor left and documented all the errors and proved items working that he condemned. Tom was able to get him to correct his report but I doubt I could have done that on my own. If I was a typical buyer and had a broker who wasn't as mechanically inclined as Tom, the deal probably would have died. One more laughable item, he claimed the bottom was covered with blisters. He pointed that out at the haul out. Tom and I both thought it looked like a paint and fouling issue. We went to lunch while the bottom was washed. When we came back the blisters were all gone and the trace coat was showing. When I commented that the blisters were gone he told me it was because they dried out while I was at lunch. He was paid $1300 for his "expertise."

 

[Outrageous65]

Sitting at the dock surveying boat twin 1350hp engines running for 30 minutes and at 1250rpm for last 15 minutes. The following conversation..
Surveyor " ok take her up to wide open "
Me " What "
Surveyor " Open them up, put them on the pins "
Me " for how long "
Surveyor " 15 minutes or untill I tell you to slow them down "
Me " Get off my boat "
Surveyor " Your going to fail the survey I have to test the engines "
Me " Go survey someone else's boat "

Anybody else ever heard or done this? I felt stupid like I was missing out on something, but I wasn't going to try it.

 

[capttonyf]

Sitting at the dock surveying boat twin 1350hp engines running for 30 minutes and at 1250rpm for last 15 minutes. The following conversation..
Surveyor " ok take her up to wide open "
Me " What "
Surveyor " Open them up, put them on the pins "
Me " for how long "
Surveyor " 15 minutes or untill I tell you to slow them down "
Me " Get off my boat "
Surveyor " Your going to fail the survey I have to test the engines "
Me " Go survey someone else's boat "

Anybody else ever heard or done this? I felt stupid like I was missing out on something, but I wasn't going to try it.

He wanted you to run them WOT for 15 minutes,,,,, in neutral??? WTF,,,WHY? Those engines would be SCREAMING at the Governors at like 2500+ RPM with No load on them. Did he give you a reason why. That just doesn't sound right, or good in any way. I've seen Mechanics test no load RPM for a few seconds just to see if they'll turn up and it sounds scary as hell to. 15 minutes? I wouldn't have asked him to leave I would of tossed him.

I don't even like the way motors sound at Full throttle under load at sea. That's why I'll do WOT only every so many trips just to make sure they'll turn up and maintain a safe temperature but after a minute at most I bring them back down to Cruise RPM. I'd say a minute is pushing it, usually only for a few seconds once they hit 2300+ RPM. It's only occasionally that I'll hold them there a little longer to watch the temps and I HATE Doing it.

15 Minutes really,,,,, maybe you heard him wrong. I still can't believe it.

Also Jack, when we purchased ours the surveyor made a big deal about the blisters also. Most were gone after we returned from lunch and any bigger ones that remain and happen to open up during the sanding for a bottom job we have repaired. Any surveyor that doesn't know how most of these old Hatteras have some small superficial blisters makes me wonder where he's been and how long he's been doing this. He kept harping about them before we went to lunch and I told him I bet most of them dry out. He argued with me, I was right. He never admitted it or brought it up again.

Tony

 

[Avenger]

15 minutes is ridiculous. Unloaded, other than testing governed RPM, it proves nothing.

However, despite what you think it sounds like there's no harm in putting them in the corner for a minute or two under load. I do it every time I run the boat after it's up to temperature. That assures that everything is working as it should and I'm not overloaded. I bet if you look at your Operator's Manual it gives similar advice.

 

[saltshaker]

A no load test need only be for a few seconds to see if the hit max no load RPM. When I bought my boat starboard was 100rpm and port 50rpm shy of max RPM on the sea trial. Broker and surveyor blamed the bottom which wasn't perfect but just power washed before the run. We ran the boat for 1/2 hour at WOT. No load test was light on port good on starboard. That helped us find a dead injector and low cylinder for the same hole on the starboard. Port was just a throttle adjustment.

 

[Outrageous65]

Yep 15 minutes, you like me thought I heard wrong. He told me he did this on every survey before the sea trial. I would refuse to kick in the turbos at the dock for any reason. There is a proper way to test an engine and it's under normal operating conditions. If you can't test it the way the engine was designed to operate you learn very little if anything. Finding a good surveyor is probably harder then finding a good boat.