by
Stuart M Roy
Naval Architect - Yacht Designer
YACHT & POWERCRAFT DESIGN SERVICES



A experienced designer, because of the nature of his work, could well be the very best person to survey a yacht or motor boat for you. Whilst working on a new design every component is carefully and accurately drawn and dimensioned, the materials are specified and the method of construction considered. A designer can use this skill and experience to “see inside” a component, such as the rudder of a 25 year old GRP yacht, and immediately know how it was made and what type of materials would have been used.
Backed by extensive professional qualifications, this “inside” knowledge of yacht and boat designs, from the late 1960s until the present day, plus academic studies into the ageing and corrosion of materials, and the use of modern electronic surveying instruments, enables a designer such as myself to offer an expert and dependable service as a surveyor.
Surveys are often carried out as pre-purchase inspections, but are also performed to establish the general condition of the vessel, to assess damage, to check for osmosis, to confirm compliance with regulations, to establish a valuation, to satisfy insurers or to monitor the quality during the building process. I can survey any yacht or motor boat built from GRP, FRP, steel, aluminium, traditional wood construction, wood-epoxy or plywood. Surveys on sailing catamarans and other multihull craft are conducted regularly and I am familiar with a very wide range of boat types.
It will take at least half a day to carry out a careful inspection of an average sailing yacht, plus a further day and a half to prepare a full written report of around 15 pages. This report will be sent immediately by email as a pdf file and a printed copy put in the post. During the survey I will use a camera to record any suspect areas or components and these pictures will be included in the report. A typical survey and detailed report for a 25ft boat will cost around £270 plus travelling expenses, but valuations are available at no extra charge. Catamarans are charged at the same rate as equivalent length monohulls and special low prices are available on sportsboats and speedboats. The cost of a survey will be money well spent if defects are discovered before the vendor’s price is paid. A couple of years ago a client who had already had his provisional offer accepted on a secondhand yacht paid me £200 to carry out a pre-purchase survey. As a result of the survey report and the recommendations included, the client was able to negotiate a further £1000 off the purchase price - money well spent on a survey.
Osmotic blistering or “osmosis”, such as this patch found on a 22’ sailing yacht (2), can affect any GRP boat, often being very costly to overcome. A careful survey, including the systematic use of a moisture meter, is essential before the purchase of any second-hand GRP yacht. A damage survey will determine whether the broken deck moulding on this small yacht (3) can be repaired economically. Imperfections which have appeared near the waterline on the hull of a 25 year old GRP motor cruiser are being examined by the surveyor (4).
I can normally carry out surveys at 48 hours notice, 7 days a week, on any boat on the south coast of the UK, including Weymouth, Poole, Christchurch, Lymington, Beaulieu, Cowes, Hythe, Southampton, Hamble, Bursledon, Warsash, Fareham, Haslar, Gosport, Portchester, Portsmouth, Port Solent, Langstone, Emsworth, Hayling Island, Chichester, Itchenor, Dell Quay, Littlehampton, Shoreham, Brighton and Newhaven. Inspections and surveys have also been performed in Wales and on the River Thames. I have numerous letters from clients expressing their appreciation for my fast, efficient and thorough service. Click here to read some of these comments from clients. For a survey quotation please email or telephone me with the type of boat and its location. Survey Quotation
Surveys of Yachts & Boats
Yacht & Powercraft Design Services Ltd
Email: info@yacht-designer.co.uk
Tel. 44 (0) 1489-583346 Fax. 44 (0) 1489-583346 Mobile 07803-724317
Osmotic blistering on a 22‘ yacht
A damage survey will determine whether the coachroof on this yacht can be repaired.
A survey is essential when buying a used
SURVEYS
at 48 hours notice
7 days a week
on South Coast UK
Please call for prices
and availability....
01489-583346