- Selling
-
by voorheesds
So you’ve prepared and presented your vessel well, we have done our marketing well, we’ve shown the boat a few times and now we’ve been able to generate an offer and signed a sales contract; the buyer is now organizing the pre-purchase survey.
A pre-purchase survey is the culmination and the objective of all of the work that you and your broker have undertaken to sell your boat. It’s the moment of truth. This in-depth examination of your yacht and can make or break a proposed transaction. Preparing for the survey should now be a high priority.
Before a house inspection people know to mow the lawn, de-clutter the house, bake bread and brew coffee.
So how should you prepare your boat for a pre-purchase survey?
Assemble relevant documentation for the buyer’s broker & surveyor to review. This is a simplified list. Please contact us for a detailed checklist of required documentation.
- Ship’s papers (Flag State Certificate of Registry, Builder’s Certificate etc).
- Vessel Classification Society certificates
- International check in papers (Marine Dept. & Customs).
- General Arrangement drawings, stability book and other construction design documents
- Access to the vessel’s manuals.
- A detailed ship’s inventory and service history.
- A list of any known deficiencies.
- Certificates for all recent safety equipment inspections (life raft, fire suppression systems, EPIRB etc.).
- Engine maintenance and service records.
Prior to the survey inspection ensure:
- Reasonable access to all the vessel’s systems.
- Stock the fridge with icy cold bottles of water for the buyers and surveyor.
- Open all curtains and blinds
- Turn on all lights, including in the engine room.
- Turn on all air conditioning units on high (or heat, depending on season)
- Cabin sole boards are made removable.
- Sea cocks & through hull fittings are in good condition.
- Raw water hoses are double clamped and rusty clamps are replaced as necessary.
- Bilge pumps and float switches are operational.
- Bilges are clean & dry.
- Tanks are accessible for inspection.
- Safety equipment is displayed for inspection.
- The fire suppression systems are serviced as per the manufacturer’s recommendations.
- Engine(s) are operational.
- Exhaust systems are in good condition. All hose ends must be double clamped.
- Anchor winches are operational.
- Electrical systems (AC & DC) are operational.
- Navigation and communication equipment is in good condition and operational.
- Sails, winches and running rigging are ready for inspection.
- Underwater hull surfaces and drive gear are clean of marine growth.
- There is adequate fuel for a two hour sea trial (if a sea trial is required).
If you’re attentive to these items, you’ll have a successful survey and the buyer and his surveyor will struggle to find much to complain about.
This is a guide only and not a complete list of items that will be checked during the survey.
For more inside secrets to yacht purchasing, sales and ownership, contact us at: daniel@aurorayachtsales.com or call +12064076411 or +393470485433.
