FINDING the boat for you
Dag Pike explains how to tell if a boat is worth making an offer on and the benefits of a professional survey
Don’t even think about buying a yacht without a professional survey, given the relatively modest cost compared to ending up with a boat with serious problems. But you can get a good idea if a boat is worth a more serious survey with a quick 10-minute survey, and anyone with experience of boats should be able to do it.
Overview Are there any obvious signs of neglect? Check if the mast is upright and in line with the hull, and the same with the stanchions. Is there discolouration on the hull, particularly around the hull-deck join?
Hull Is the gelcoat in good condition under any surface grime, or is it powdery? Check for gel-coat cracking, signs of damage or impact. With your head close to the hull, look along the boat for any undulations. The hull should run fair.
Keel Check the hull-keel joint for corrosion. The joint should not open up at all and is easiest to check when the boat is lifted. Check for signs of grounding on the keel.
Rudder and stern gear Give the rudder and the propeller a wiggle. There should be no movement in the rudder or shaft bearings.
Deck Walk around the deck and check for cracks around deck fittings, including chainplates, that might show they’ve been strained. With teak decks, check for compression of the wood around fittings, seam caulking coming away or exposed screwheads, which suggest a worn deck and possible water ingress.
Gently bounce up and down on the deck, coachroof and cockpit sole. If you feel sponginess or movement underfoot, it could be a sign of delamination.
Mast Check all fittings are securely attached with no corrosion around them. Use a pair of binoculars for fittings higher up and check those you can see for signs of deformation, cracking or corrosion. Check the running rigging for signs of chafe.
Engine The state of the engine compartment is one of the best guides of the standard of general maintenance of the boat. A messy, dirty engine suggests a lack of care. Check the seacocks while you’re there.
Accommodation Look around windows and hatches for signs of leaks. Similarly, discolouration of the woodwork could reveal other leaks. Lift up a sole board to inspect the keel matrix for cracking and the keel bolts for signs of movement.
Steering Look for wear and tear in the cables and quadrant. More than a small amount of play in the steering system should cause suspicion. You should also look at the rudder post seals for signs of leaks.
Few boats are perfect and you are likely to spot a few issues, but put it all together to give you a view of the overall condition of the boat. This isn’t a comprehensive list, and you should always rely on a professional surveyor, but it should give you somewhere to start and is doable in a 10-minute viewing. If there’s anything major, however, you may decide to walk away, or if you think you can fix it, bring it up with broker when discussing price, ‘subject to survey’.