Survey or not

Discussions about Cape Dory, Intrepid and Robinhood sailboats and how we use them. Got questions? Have answers? Provide them here.

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Jim Stull

Survey or not

Post by Jim Stull »

As a follow up to the question on the necessity to have a survey of a fairly simple boat.
Although I did not have mine surveyed, I now find that I must get a survey before I can buy insurance. Both BOATS US & my local policy holder were completly inflexible on this point.
Might as well have the survey done!
Pay now or pay later.
Jim



jtstull@icubed.com
Jim Hollister

Re: Survey or not

Post by Jim Hollister »

I did not get my CD 25 (#147) surveyed when I purchased it. Perhaps I should have (?) but it was so relatively inexpensive I figured, what the heck... I would probably want it surveyed if I were to do it again, but I'm in my third season and quite happy with it.

Jim H.



jjhollister@excel.net
Bob B.

Re: Survey or not

Post by Bob B. »

I agree. If you are going to insure the boat, definitely you will need a survey. We were looking for a 30 ft boat. We put in a bid on an Ericson 30 and in the survey, some problems turned up that would have cost about $3,000 to repair. The surveyor just charged me $150 and that was the best money I've every spent. We found a CD27 and had it surveyed, problems identified, and then settled on a price.Survey costs about $200. We had repairs to make but knew about it up front. We later bought a CD Typhoon that we did not survey. We knew that it was in bad shape and found a price that reflected that. If I were buying a boat for over $3,000 to $5,000, I would have a survey done. It is worth the expense.
Bob B.



BundyR@aol.com
Ron Brassord

Re: Survey or not

Post by Ron Brassord »

Jim Stull wrote: As a follow up to the question on the necessity to have a survey of a fairly simple boat.
Although I did not have mine surveyed, I now find that I must get a survey before I can buy insurance. Both BOATS US & my local policy holder were completly inflexible on this point.
Might as well have the survey done!
Pay now or pay later.
Jim
I recently bought a boat without a survey , and then was told by various [BOAT US , WEST, etc] that I must have an out of the water survey or no insurance. The boat was only 10 years old . I walked into an Allstate office cold and was bound on the spot for full requested coverage with no survey AT ONE THIRD THE PREMIUM! All the agent wanted was a dockside visual inspection an a photo by him. The moral here is to shop around when buying insurance especially on unusual items Try it and good luck Ron Lighthouse Pt Fl.
Bruce Bett

Re: Survey or not

Post by Bruce Bett »

Jim:

Do you have full coverage on your boat or just liability and property damage. I got the minimum coverage from Boat U.S. last year and the word survey was never spoken. I felt at the time that as the boat was farily inexpencive and hardly a necessity I could carry the risk. Since that time I've put quite a bit of money, and a whole lot of work into her. What's more she has definately become a necessity! Oh Dear! Anybody know any good boat jokes!

Bruce Bett
Sostenuto CD 25 #596
Jim Stull wrote: As a follow up to the question on the necessity to have a survey of a fairly simple boat.
Although I did not have mine surveyed, I now find that I must get a survey before I can buy insurance. Both BOATS US & my local policy holder were completly inflexible on this point.
Might as well have the survey done!
Pay now or pay later.
Jim


BETT@smtp.munet.edu
Geoff Safron

Re: Survey or not

Post by Geoff Safron »

My policy is through a company called Auto-Owners, and they too needed a survey, but were willing to bind me with a four-year-old survey the previous owners had. I did have the survey done for my own protection. By the way, I don't have a high opinion of Boat U.S's insurance. Twice the premium as Auto-Owners, they don't return phone-calls, and my marine mechanic tells me they are the worst to deal with in claim situations: nickel-and-diming, arrogant attitude, and late in paying. Beware!



Brainstorm@Unidial.com
jim stull

Re: Survey or not

Post by jim stull »

Ron Brassord wrote:
Jim Stull wrote: As a follow up to the question on the necessity to have a survey of a fairly simple boat.
Although I did not have mine surveyed, I now find that I must get a survey before I can buy insurance. Both BOATS US & my local policy holder were completly inflexible on this point.
Might as well have the survey done!
Pay now or pay later.
Jim
I recently bought a boat without a survey , and then was told by various [BOAT US , WEST, etc] that I must have an out of the water survey or no insurance. The boat was only 10 years old . I walked into an Allstate office cold and was bound on the spot for full requested coverage with no survey AT ONE THIRD THE PREMIUM! All the agent wanted was a dockside visual inspection an a photo by him. The moral here is to shop around when buying insurance especially on unusual items Try it and good luck Ron Lighthouse Pt Fl.
Hi Ron
Looks like I owe you one.
Per your suggestion I called the local Allstate agent and told him what I wanted. He called me back and said, the way he reads their rules, that if:
1. The boat is fiberglass
2. Less than 25 ft.
3. Less than 25 years old (mine is a '75)
No survey would be required.

Good tip. Thanks.
Jim

BTW I did'nt so much mind having the survey done, the problem was finding a surveyor. BOATS gave me a list of approved surveyors but the closest was on the Chesapeak (sp?). My slip is at Erie PA. My local agent didn't even have a list! Despite many phone calls I was unable to find one in or around Erie. (Or near Pittsburgh where I live and am now finishing the rebuild).



jtstull@icubed.com
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