What a survey includes, and what a surveyor does not inspect

What a pre-purchase survey covers

• Hull and deck. Visual check, tapping with a hammer to find voids, and moisture meter readings. See Hull moisture readings and delamination.
• Underwater hull and running gear after haul-out: keel, rudder, propeller, shaft, seacocks. See The haul-out checklist and running gear.
• Structure: keel attachment, bulkheads, chainplates, mast step. See Keel, rudder and steering inspection.
• Rig and sails to the extent the surveyor can see them. See Standing rigging and spars: when replacement is due and Sails and deck hardware.
• Systems: electrics, plumbing, gas, fuel, steering, safety gear. See Seacocks, through-hulls and skin fittings, Fuel tanks, gas installation, plumbing and holding tanks and Electrical system and generator.
• Engines by visual check and a run. A full engine inspection is a separate job. See Mechanical survey and oil analysis.

What a surveyor does not inspect

• Areas that cannot be reached without removing fixed panels, linings or fittings.
• The inside of fuel and water tanks.
• Engine internals, unless a mechanic is hired.
• Rig aloft, unless the surveyor goes up or the mast is down.
• Electronics performance beyond a power-on test.
• The boat's value, unless you ask for a valuation.

Limits written into the report

A survey is a snapshot taken on one day. The surveyor's terms of engagement limit liability and list what was and was not inspected. Read them before you book. Ask what the report will say about areas that could not be reached, and whether you can order extra work such as a rig inspection or an engine check.

How to get the most from it

1. Tell the surveyor your mission, your budget and your worries.
2. Ask for a quote that lists the scope and the extras.
3. Be present at the haul-out and the sea trial to hear the first impressions.
4. Ask about the surveyor's qualifications, insurance and any professional membership, such as the International Institute of Marine Surveyors.

What it tells you

A survey tells you what the surveyor could see, and what condition it is in. It does not tell you what you cannot see. That gap is the reason to add mechanical and rig inspections when the boat is older. See How to read a survey report and cost the findings.

Related guides

• Why you need your own pre-purchase survey
• How to read a survey report and cost the findings
• Survey and sea trial: how it works, who pays, what happens next