16 Tips To Make Sure Your Boat Is Ready For Survey

If you are selling your boat, here are some ideas that might make your sea trial or survey go a bit easier:

1. Run your engines. Make sure your engines start easy, are not overheating, and are not
producing excessive smoke.

2. Do you have enough fuel?

3. Check all your fluids: oil, transmission, coolant.

4. Check your battery water level.

5. Have your bottom cleaned a few days before the sea trial. A boat that doesn’t perform well on the day of a survey will scare away buyers.

6. Are your transmission and throttle cables smooth?

7. Have you used your windlass or electric spotlight lately?

8. If you have a sailboat, open the roller furling, check your winches, hoist your main/mizzen if possible – a bird’s nest or bee nest dropping out of your sails won’t make for a good showing.

9. Is your steering loose? Does it need fluid?

10. Have you tried your sea cocks lately? Surveyors will always check, and insurance companies require working sea cocks.

11. How old is your oil? If your oil is over 6 months old or over 100 hours, change it; then make sure you put some hours of use on it. Never change your oil the day before a survey, as surveyors do not like to see fresh oil; brand new oil raises suspicions.

12. Do your bilge pumps work?

13. Take a long hard look at your engine room. Can the engines be touched up with paint, corrosion cleaned, hoses replaced, diapers under the engines, etc.?

14. Are the fuel filters clean?

15. Have you replaced your zincs lately?

16. If you were a boat buyer, would you be impressed by the condition of your boat?