I’m with the YachtWorld team. Ask me anything about yacht surveys: what they include, who the surveyor works for, how much they cost, what to expect, etc.
Posted by YachtWorld_Official@reddit | sailing | View on Reddit | 36 comments
OutsideHistorical@reddit
When can you save and favorite a listing on your mobile app!?!
QuestionableSailor31@reddit
How detailed should I expect a pre purchase survey to be? I’m currently looking at a survey from 2 years ago of a boat I’m interested in buying and to me it reads more like a list of things on the boat.
jh937hfiu3hrhv9@reddit
Is surveyor a licensed job, if so by whom? How does one become a surveyor, and is there a cost?
whyrumalwaysgone@reddit
Not OP but anyone can claim to be a surveyor. Brokers and legit folks use the SAMS or NAMS certified surveyors. You just submit a sample survey to SAMS, pay a fee, yell them you are a surveyor for at least 6 months(? maybe longer check website) and you are in.
jh937hfiu3hrhv9@reddit
It would be quite useful if the sailing club had a surveyor for when insurance companies come trolling.
YachtWorld_Official@reddit (OP)
In the U.S., marine surveyors are generally not licensed by a single federal agency the way some other professions are. Instead, credibility usually comes from experience, reputation, and professional accreditation through organizations like SAMS or NAMS, both of which have standards, ethics requirements, continuing education, and accreditation processes.
A lot of surveyors come from marine trades first — mechanics, boatbuilding, naval architecture, captaining, yard work, etc. From there, they typically build experience, complete training, submit reports for review, and work toward accreditation.
There’s definitely a cost involved too between training, memberships, insurance, tools, travel, and continuing education, which is part of why experienced surveyors can be in pretty high demand.
Dockalfar@reddit
How much does yachtworld charge brokers?
Is it true that yachtworld and boat trader are the same company so you essentially have a monopoly on the market?
What do you think of the allegations in this article?
https://www.businessinsider.com/yachtworld-boat-trader-boats-group-monopoly-antitrust-lawsuit-2025-8
NaiveChoiceMaker@reddit
How do you become a surveyor? The guys who do the surveys by me are in their 80s.
YachtWorld_Official@reddit (OP)
Honestly, that’s not uncommon at all. A lot of highly respected surveyors have decades of hands-on marine experience and tend to stay in the industry for a long time.
There’s not really one single path into it, but many surveyors come from backgrounds like boatbuilding, marine mechanics, naval architecture, commercial shipping, yard work, or captaining. From there, many pursue accreditation through organizations like SAMS or NAMS, which involve training, reporting standards, surveys under review, and continuing education.
It’s definitely one of those professions where experience matters a ton. You can learn standards and systems, but pattern recognition from seeing thousands of boats over decades is hard to replace.
jh937hfiu3hrhv9@reddit
What are SAMS and NAMS?
YachtWorld_Official@reddit (OP)
SAMS and NAMS are two of the main professional organizations for marine surveyors in the U.S.
• SAMS = Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors
• NAMS = National Association of Marine Surveyors
doyu@reddit
Is there an international equivalent?
squishyPup@reddit
If I'm shopping and an owner hands me a "recent survey report," how can I spot a fake?
YachtWorld_Official@reddit (OP)
A few things would make me cautious right away:
Refusal to let you contact the surveyor directly
Missing surveyor credentials/contact info
No date, hull ID, engine info, or vessel details
Generic language with almost no actual findings
Photos that don’t match the current condition of the boat
A report that feels oddly “perfect” on an older boat
Missing signatures or valuation pages
A very old survey being presented as “recent”
Honestly though, even if the report is legitimate, most buyers still shouldn’t rely on the seller’s survey alone. A survey is basically a snapshot in time, and boats can change a lot depending on use, maintenance, weather exposure, storage, repairs, etc.
That’s why most serious buyers still hire their own surveyor so the surveyor works for them, not the seller.
squishyPup@reddit
Awesome, thanks and I agree with hiring my own. I would use it more as a red flag indicator, rather than relying on a seller provided survey. If their survey is clearly off, thank them and move on.
casablanca_1942@reddit
Conflicts of Interest:
The boat world is a small world. Everyone knows everyone. How should a buyer ensure there is no conflict of interest between the marine surveyor and the seller/broker?
When I bought a boat, I retained my own marine surveyor. However, it is a small world, and I suspect the marine surveyor was motivated to not antagonize the broker/seller and identify issues that would endanger the sale. Were my concerns warranted?
YachtWorld_Official@reddit (OP)
Your concerns are not unreasonable, and a lot of buyers probably wonder the same thing. The marine industry is a small world, and surveyors, brokers, yards, mechanics, and sellers often know each other professionally.
That said, a reputable surveyor’s credibility is basically their entire career. Organizations like SAMS and NAMS have ethics standards specifically because independence matters so much in pre-purchase surveys.
For buyers, probably the best things you can do are:
• Hire your own surveyor rather than using the seller’s
• Ask about their experience with that type of boat
• Ask whether they’ve worked with the broker/seller before
• Be present for at least part of the survey if possible
• Read the actual report carefully instead of only relying on verbal comments
jakkthund@reddit
How to get the price down? What are the financing options and in which jurisdictions is the financing available?
YachtWorld_Official@reddit (OP)
A lot of buyers try to negotiate after the survey, especially if unexpected issues come up. Major structural, engine, electrical, fuel system, or moisture findings can sometimes lead to price reductions, seller credits, repairs, or even walking away from the deal entirely. Smaller findings are usually more of a normal “ownership list” than a negotiation bomb.
As for financing, that usually depends on the lender, boat age, loan amount, and where the buyer is located. In the U.S., marine financing is commonly available for many used and new boats, though terms can vary a lot for older boats, liveaboards, project boats, or certain hull types. International financing gets more complicated because regulations, registration, taxes/VAT, and lender requirements differ by country.
TangoLimaGolf@reddit
Is a yacht surveyor liable for anything they miss? If I hire a surveyor and they don’t find a glaring structural or mechanical issue do I have any recourse?
YachtWorld_Official@reddit (OP)
That gets into a pretty gray area sometimes. In general, surveyors are expected to perform a competent, non-destructive inspection based on what’s visible and accessible at the time of the survey. They’re not guaranteeing the boat is perfect or that nothing will fail later.
If something major was clearly visible, should reasonably have been identified, and was missed due to negligence, there can potentially be recourse depending on the situation, documentation, and contract terms. But most survey agreements also contain liability limitations and define the scope pretty carefully.
It’s also important to remember that surveys are limited inspections. Surveyors usually aren’t dismantling engines, removing permanent structures, or opening sealed areas just to see what’s hidden inside.
That’s part of why engine surveys, rigging inspections, oil analysis, moisture testing, etc. can matter so much on certain boats.
DarkVoid42@reddit
are you ever going to open it up for owners instead of brokers ?
YachtWorld_Official@reddit (OP)
Glad you asked! YachtWorld now allows private (for sale by owner) sellers to list, via the Boat Trader channel as an add-on.
infield_fly_rule@reddit
Really? Boattrader is a disaster. Two guys in tech support could never even return my call. When I finally reached someone two months ago they said the site was being “phased out”
PilotIsMyPilot@reddit
What’s the career longevity for the average surveyor? Seems like tough work.
YachtWorld_Official@reddit (OP)
The work itself can be pretty physical, crawling through engine rooms, climbing around boats in the heat, spending long days in boatyards, sometimes going aloft on sailboats, etc.
But after a certain point, people are hiring you as much for your judgment and pattern recognition as the actual inspection itself. Probably why so many respected surveyors are still doing it well into their 70s and 80s, as someone here mentioned.
Extreme_Map9543@reddit
Aside from sign official paperwork for insurance companies. What can a surveyor do that I cannot do myself? Sure it make sense to spend an extra couple grand on one if you’re buying a $200k boat. But if you’re buying a boat for $10k do you really need to spend an extra $1000 to have someone look it over?
YachtWorld_Official@reddit (OP)
Yes, that's a very common question.
A good surveyor brings experience, objectivity, and pattern recognition that most buyers simply don’t have unless they’ve inspected a lot of boats themselves. They’re trained to spot things buyers often miss like moisture issues, unsafe wiring, fuel system problems, structural concerns, poor repairs, installation issues, etc. A lot of those problems can look completely normal to an inexperienced eye, but some boat buyers, may be very experienced. So, whether it’s “worth it” really depends on the boat, your experience level confidence, and your risk tolerance.
On a $10k boat, most buyers choose to do a very careful self-inspection plus maybe an engine check from a mechanic instead of a full survey. Others still want the survey because a hidden fuel tank, rotten core, or major engine issue could easily exceed the value of the boat itself.
rickens_jr@reddit
What are some prices on different boats and how do you calculate it? Is it per boat size or labor hours?
YachtWorld_Official@reddit (OP)
It varies a lot by boat type, age, and complexity. Many surveyors quote pre-purchase surveys roughly by length first, often somewhere around $25–$35+ per foot these days, but labor/time absolutely factors into it too.
For example, a newer 35-foot center console with straightforward systems may be relatively simple to survey, while a 35-foot older sailboat with aging rigging, moisture concerns, older wiring, and multiple modifications could take much longer.
Things that can increase cost:
• Older boats
• Larger yachts
• Multihulls
• Steel/aluminum hulls
• Complex electrical or mechanical systems
• Extensive travel
• Engine, rigging, or oil-analysis add-ons
Some surveyors also charge minimum fees, hourly rates, or multi-day inspection pricing depending on the project.
rickens_jr@reddit
Oh nice. We dont have many surveyors in denmark. Its usually for bigger yachts.
the-montser@reddit
Why does your website use so much CPU load? It’s insane.
secondplaceribbon@reddit
Thanks for doing this! Does surveying “strategy” change with different eras of sailboat construction? A common topic I hear is how boats from the 70s/80s have thicker hulls, different material, etc. how does that play into what a surveyor is looking for?
YachtWorld_Official@reddit (OP)
Definitely. A lot of 70s/80s sailboats were built with thicker solid fiberglass and fewer weight-saving materials, so surveyors often approach them differently than newer boats.
With older boats, there’s usually more focus on moisture intrusion, chainplates, bulkheads, wiring, tanks, deck hardware, rigging age, and past repairs/modifications. Some older boats are incredibly solid structurally, but age-related systems and maintenance issues can still become expensive quickly.
That’s why having a surveyor familiar with older sailboats specifically can make a huge difference.
RussChival@reddit
What should we look for in a surveyor to ensure we are getting a quality survey at a reasonable cost? Is there a good current rule of thumb for reasonable cost estimation?
YachtWorld_Official@reddit (OP)
A few things we’d generally recommend looking for are experience with your specific type of boat, clear communication, and affiliations like SAMS or NAMS, since both organizations maintain professional standards and ethics requirements for members.
It’s also worth asking whether the surveyor is accepted by your lender or insurance company, what’s included in the inspection, whether they attend the sea trial and haul-out, and if they recommend separate engine or rigging surveys depending on the boat.
As for pricing, older guidance often cited around $20/ft, but many surveyors in 2026 are quoting more in the $25–$35+ per foot range for pre-purchase surveys, especially on older or more complex boats. Haul-outs, oil analysis, engine inspections, and rigging surveys can all add to the total cost too.
Cheaper older boats can sometimes cost more to survey because there’s simply more to inspect and document.