Sea trials

Hello all. Currently a sailboat owner I have been reading this forum and learning while searching for a suitable trawler. We had our present sailboat surveyed when we purchased it but did not sea trial, and had no regrets. However a twin engine power vessel is much more complex and we will want a sea trial but have no idea how to conduct one.
How is one done and what do you look for? Does a surveyor or mechanic go along?
Thank you for any advice.

For a start,
A. boat survey
B. Separate engine surveys
C. Generator engine and electrical end.
D. Oil samples of engine and transmissions and generator.
E. Watch all temps and oil pressures
F. Run generator under load ie 2 A/C, battery charge, hot water heater for at least one hour.
G. cycle all hull valves.
H. ALL electronics working including the autopilot
I. make sure the sanitary over board pump works
J. take fuel samples from the bottom of the tank.
K. Fresh water pump works
L. Extensive out of water hull survey.

That's a start.
Find your own surveyors, dont rely on seller's or broker's recommendation.

I would hope others will make additional comments and suggestions.

These are the minimum your surveyors should accomplish

Assuming a modest 35-45 foot boat that does not require a multi-day survey, here are some general guidelines I like to follow (see attached checklist/template as a starting point):

1. Sea Trial is a work-day, not a social day. Don't invite friends unless they are there as your consultant.

2. A checklist like the attached is a good way to work your way through the systems. I'm sure others will chime-in with improvements.

3. Sea Trial should not be a simple trip to the yard for a haul, which is what the broker will suggest. I personally like to keep them separate.

4. The seller/broker should provide a captain to drive the boat. I personally do not touch the helm at all during a sea trial, though I will ask the helmsman to demonstrate the boat completely - docking, figure eights, backing-down, etc.

5. I do suggest having a mechanic aboard. They will instruct the helmsman to run-up the engines to WOT and take heat measurements. If there is reluctance to run-up to WOT, there's a problem. If it's a planing boat and can't get up on plane easily, there's a problem. Could be a really dirty bottom. If so, reject the boat and redo the sea trial after its been cleaned.

6. Do NOT ignore electronics. Really need to make sure all the sub-systems are properly interfaced (A/P talks with chart plotter, radar overlay shows correctly on chart, radar is oriented correctly, engine controls display correctly, correct version of firmware, etc. ). Folks who diagnose and fix problems with electronics are expensive, and troubleshooting can take a while. If this is an expensive boat, you may want to buy a few hours of time from an electronics expert knowledgeable in the installed systems.

7. Out of water Survey. for 40-ish foot boats, surveyors can usually do the out-of-water sork in an hour or so. If so, try for a "Noon Hang" where the boat is hung in the travelift slings for an hour while the yard crew is at lunch. It's less expensive than blocking, and keeps the broker from talking you into making a quick purchase decision "Might as well get her painted while she's in the yard...." Survey is a sunk-cost. Get her back in the water as quickly as reasonable.

8. Do not miss the survey. This is your time with the surveyor. If the owner or the broker shows up, be cordial, but ask them to leave. There are things the surveyor may tell you verbally that he/she cannot put in writing. While I'm at it, I've always looked for NAMS surveyors, with SAMS being a second choice.

9. Survey Credits - Do not be a jerk. Depending on the age of the boat and how it was represented, it will usually have issues and you'll have to decide what's a fair resolution. Asking for a brand new thruster on a 20-year old boat isn't fair (unless it was represented as new).

Overall, you will do better with a friendly approach than trying to be hard-nosed. People who own boats have an emotional attachment to them - telling them their baby is ugly usually isn't the best way to getting the best deal unless they're super desperate.

Good luck!

View attachment SeaSkills Sea Trial Template 1[1].0.pdf

OldDan1943 said:

For a start,

F. Run generator under load ie 2 A/C, battery charge, hot water heater for at least one hour.

Click to expand...

Suggestion to load-up the genny for a while is especially good. Hadn't thought of that.

Of course you want the boat surveyor and the engine surveyor to go on sea trials.
Somethings can ONLY be checked when the boat is underway.

Oh, two more thing, make sure the refrigerator and freezer are operating properly.
IF there is a water maker on board, has it been used and properly maintained

OldDan1943 said:

For a start,
A. boat survey
B. Separate engine surveys
C. Generator engine and electrical end.
D. Oil samples of engine and transmissions and generator.
E. Watch all temps and oil pressures
F. Run generator under load ie 2 A/C, battery charge, hot water heater for at least one hour.
G. cycle all hull valves.
H. ALL electronics working including the autopilot
I. make sure the sanitary over board pump works
J. take fuel samples from the bottom of the tank.
K. Fresh water pump works
L. Extensive out of water hull survey.

Click to expand...

WOW! I have never heard of anyone doing all those things on a survey!

Codger2 said:

WOW! I have never heard of anyone doing all those things on a survey!

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Unless you want to spend the big bucks repairing and rebuilding, you will do these things and more.
You will spend more money adding things and updating things making the boat "yours."

OldDan1943 said:

Unless you want to spend the big bucks repairing and rebuilding, you will do these things and more.

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I agree Dan. A couple years ago, a good friend bought a 3-year old Horizon 52 PowerCat. Despite being a knowledgeable boater, my friend skipped a few steps because the boat was so new. He has spent well over 15% of the purchase price (a 6-figure purchase price) in resolving issues that would have been largely discovered during a comprehensive sea trial/survey. Who knew that getting the motorized blinds to work would be a $4000 repair?

Codger2 said:

WOW! I have never heard of anyone doing all those things on a survey!

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I'm use to all those things and more being done. Which items do you find unusual?

Wow Great input. Thanks so much.

Curious what does a surveyor charge? I'm not interested in somebodies friend, but a real licensed surveyor. Thanks!

Pete

Any certified hull (boat) surveyor should have a checklist that covers all that has been mentioned and much more. Your insurance company and/or lender may require certified surveyors. Engine surveyors do the standard items mentioned, but I've found more variability in what they look for. On a boat with typical trawler systems, it's a full day job including the haul out and underway portions. Air Conditioning and Heating hasn't been mentioned (may be in the checklist attached above), but you need to know what does and doesn't work to decide a negotiating position with justification.

If you're doing one soon, good luck, and let us know how it goes.

Greg.

Pdxstriper said:

Wow Great input. Thanks so much.

Curious what does a surveyor charge? I'm not interested in somebodies friend, but a real licensed surveyor. Thanks!

Pete

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There is nothing wrong if you bring a knowledge friend along too but, you will need a licensed surveyor. He may see something that needs additional attention.

Alas, based upon my own experienced, all surveyors are looking for the next job so if he shoots down a sale, he may never work with that broker or maybe other local brokers again.

You might ask your potential insurance company what they expect from the survey.

Sometimes I think surveyors are blood relative of the broker. LOL

I went to Chapman's school and asked them for a couple of recommendations from those they had graduated.
Just so happened, they recommend a black man..... He did not miss anything of even a minor importance so I was happy.
I guess my broker was happy because I know he used the surveyor again.

I will admit, I felt fairly confident in the boat before I had it surveyed. At the time, it was about 2 years old and I had owned a trawler before.

When it gets time for me to sell my AT34, I expect a line of folks wanting to buy it. I have made MANY improvements for storage. You wont find another AT34 with as much storage and the gen and main engine has been maintained beyond the next buyer's expectations SMILE
I really dont use the boat except to live aboard. Once every couple years I take it to the yard for haul out, bottom paint and inspection then back to the slip.
I have not updated the "working" electronics because any updates I make now will be outdated when I sell the boat. LOL

OldDan1943 said:

Alas, based upon my own experienced, all surveyors are looking for the next job so if he shoots down a sale, he may never work with that broker or maybe other local brokers again.

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Dan, If a surveyor is concerned that an honest survey for the potential boat buyer may lose him surveys from a broker down the road . . . that is NOT a surveyor that I want surveying a boat I am looking to buy!

There are several types of surveys:
Buyer's Survey
Seller's Survey
Insurance Survey . . .

I want a Buyer's Survey when I am looking to buy. Pull no punches, tell me what is right, and what is wrong with a boat, estimate costs of repair if possible (although it's kind of rare for a surveyor to give you cost estimates).

Before I hire a professional surveyor, I will have done a pretty thorough job of looking over the boat. I may even provide a list to the surveyor of specific items I would like them to look at. Never had a surveyor take offense to this, but I'd like their take on whether something I think may be important is important in THEIR PROFESSIONAL opinion.

Also, let the surveyor know that if they see a show stopper early on, let me know, I can chose to continue or stop the survey at that point and pay him for the time he has worked. For example. If the surveyor finds signs of water soaked stringers or massive delamination in the decks, I want to know immediately, and not bother paying him to provide an in depth written report. It wastes his time, and my time and my money. I'll move on to the next boat. Good luck in whatever you buy!

Pdxstriper said:

Wow Great input. Thanks so much.

Curious what does a surveyor charge? I'm not interested in somebodies friend, but a real licensed surveyor. Thanks!

Pete

Click to expand...

Four years ago in Anacortes our NT37 was surveyed pretty thoroughly, I thought, including an hour hauled out, and an hour sea trial. A very full day. Cost $760 plus haul out, IIRC.

M/V Weebles, that is a great resource! Thanks for sharing it.

Thank you all for the great advice. I have printed your lists and the excellent link. Will you let you know how it works out. First have to get offer accepted.

I specifically ask seller to provide a written statement that all systems & equip are in good working order with only listed exceptions ahead of a survey. That way we both can expect that any deficiency be fixed or compensated for.
I have done this when selling boats, cars, motorhomes and it seems to work especially where there are some stated items that either dont work or are less than 100%.

Also remember, you cannot start the main engine and generator until your offer is accepted and perhaps a 10% refundable deposit too.

Bacchus said:

I specifically ask seller to provide a written statement that all systems & equip are in good working order with only listed exceptions ahead of a survey. That way we both can expect that any deficiency be fixed or compensated for.
I have done this when selling boats, cars, motorhomes and it seems to work especially where there are some stated items that either dont work or are less than 100%.

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As a seller, I like to give a disclosure statement (perhaps a survey) to a buyer as part of their due diligence package just prior to making an offer. Not to anyone, but to a qualified buyer who will be making an offer. If anything pops-up that is not on the disclosure, we'll chat. Otherwise, they are making their offer with knowledge of the defects and I am not inclined to make concessions. My sense though is this is not commonplace unless compelled by law or local custom (house-selling in California, for example).

For the most part, I assume anything the seller says is not correct. Not saying they are dishonest, just that I assume they are either misinformed or have rose-colored-glasses on. I have been pleasantly surprised on occasion - when I purchased my W36 in 1998, the selling couple clearly loved the boat and were happy to see it pass to Cheryll and myself - he was a Silicon Valley engineer-geek type and was very precise in walking me through the boat. There were very few defects (bottom blisters was the only one I remember) and the transaction went smoothly.

At any rate, I'd encourage the OP to ping this forum with more information - type of boat, engines, etc. It's a brave proposition to expose ones self to the sometimes harsh comments of a forum, but within the neanderthal chattering will be several nuggets of wisdom. If you're looking at a 1980's vintage 40-foot single engine trawler with 10-year old electronics, well, advice is a lot different than if you're looking at a 5-year old offshore passagemaking 40-footer for $500k.

Best of luck!

Peter

Your sea trial is concurrent with your mechanical survey.

Your mechanic will NEED to put the boat under full power to perform his survey.

BandB said:

I'm use to all those things and more being done. Which items do you find unusual?

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Not that they are unusual but rather things I can and do myself before the actual surveyor is commissioned. (examples: On A through E, I like the surveyor 's opinion.) The rest, excluding the out of water survey, I do myself. It shortens the time the surveyor is aboard, satisfies the insurer and reduces the bill for surveyors that want to make a career out of their time aboard.

Codger2 said:

WOW! I have never heard of anyone doing all those things on a survey!

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You need to get a new surveyor. Incidentally, you now know at least one person.

I do the survey in two days.

Day 1:
Hull survey and most systems that don't require water. Electrical, structural, etc.

Day 2: Engine Survey and Sea trial.
-> This includes the systems which can't be tested on land (HVAC, generator, engines, pumps, etc).

There is no point in moving onto the engine survey and seatrial is the hull survey bombed. There is no point paying a mechanic to stand around while a surveyor taps on the hull and crawls through the bilges.

I've only purchased 2 boats over 34' but have been involved in other purchases as a buyers consultant.

I suggest doing your own through inspection/survey of the chosen boat prior to any offers. That should uncover any major issues and avoid unnecessary time and expense. If not comfortable with your ability to spot problems, bring an experienced boater along to look at the boat for you. Or higher a buyers consultant. An experienced eye, whether a consultant or friend will see issues that you will not.

When selecting a surveyor, do not hire any recommended by the broker. Who do you think he will be loyal to? A buyer that he will probably never see again or the broker that is steering business his way. Find your own, Ask others who have recently made a purchase for their recommendation.

As for engine surveys, I prefer to use a mechanic that specializes in the brand of engine in the boat. You want a specialist, not a generalist. One from the engine dealer or recommended by them.

Don't put a lot of emphasis on the oil analysis. It will identify an engine with major issues like antifreeze, diesel fuel, excessive blow-by and a few others in the oil. But on newer or low hour engines, several oil analysis done over a period of time is required to identify small incremental changes to the engine. And most sellers will likely do an oil change prior to listing the boat. And an unscrupulous seller will do several oil changes to flush out the sump.

Codger2 said:

Not that they are unusual but rather things I can and do myself before the actual surveyor is commissioned. (examples: On A through E, I like the surveyor 's opinion.) The rest, excluding the out of water survey, I do myself. It shortens the time the surveyor is aboard, satisfies the insurer and reduces the bill for surveyors that want to make a career out of their time aboard.

Click to expand...

In general and boat specific I agree. Before any offer is made, if the boat is in the ball park, a good pre-survey owner oriented look over is essential. A knowledgeable boater (and a smart friend) should be able to do many systems checks, spot problem areas, assess equipment layout sensibility and overall serviceability before a surveyor ever shows up. Plus review any available records too.

I have done this on vessels up to 65' in size in a compact day. Many others have too.

OldDan1943 said:

Also remember, you cannot start the main engine and generator until your offer is accepted and perhaps a 10% refundable deposit too.

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Here at least, that seems quite wrong. Brokers I encountered recently are willing to start engine(s) and genset as part of the initial inspection.

One more comment on sea trials. In addition to running at various speeds including WOT and seeing what max RPM the engines are reaching, put the boat through some paces too. In perfectly smooth water, going in a straight line, every boat will feel good. Find some rougher seas and, if you can't, create your own through some turns and circles. Do some tight turns to see how it handles them. Basically test the boat, just don't go for a leisurely ride.

BruceK said:

Here at least, that seems quite wrong. Brokers I encountered recently are willing to start engine(s) and genset as part of the initial inspection.

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Not in our area.

BandB said:

Not in our area.

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Some years ago a vessel I was interested in had a very smart blue water owner that was more than willing to spend a few hours running up things for me. We did the same on our vessel when a very serious buyer showed up even going to the extent to provide a top flight mechanic to show this buyer the vessel in our absence.

Another story, when being given a preview of a Trident 130' as the buyer's consultant the Captain and crew ran everything we desired up for us. Heck they even gave us coffee and pastries fresh from the galley.

Point being, pre survey inspection "depends" and is vessel specific. And is essential IMHO.

sunchaser said:

Some years ago a vessel I was interested in had a very smart blue water owner that was more than willing to spend a few hours running up things for me. We did the same on our vessel when a very serious buyer showed up even going to the extent to provide a top flight mechanic to show this buyer the vessel in our absence.

Another story, when being given a preview of a Trident 130' as the buyer's consultant the Captain and crew ran everything we desired up for us. Heck they even gave us coffee and pastries fresh from the galley.

Point being, pre survey inspection "depends" and is vessel specific. And is essential IMHO.

Click to expand...

But you're talking owners and their employees. The statement I was referring to was brokers starting engines and gensets and, in our area, the vast majority will not. In some cases, owners may be available or have crew on larger boats to do so, but brokers will not take the risk.