Few events can be as gratifying as taking delivery of a newly-built vessel, one that’s been constructed to meet your specifications and cruising needs. The builder will hopefully endeavor to make certain your vessel is soundly-built, as well as being seaworthy, reliable and safe. It’s in the best interest of reputable builders, to strive to identify, and correct as many issues as they can find during the commissioning process. Never the less, even the very best boat builders make mistakes, and miss issues, and again the better ones will admit that. The onus, therefore, is on you to identify as many flaws, defects and non-compliance issues as possible, which you can then present to the builder for action. While no one likes being critiqued, conscientious, skilled builders will welcome such a report, as it will reduce the number of in-use failures and warranty claims, and help ensure their customer’s satisfaction.
Typically, New Build In-Progress and Pre-Acceptance Inspections require a minimum of two days for the inspection, and a total of five to eight days when the time required for travel and report writing are taken into account. If the vessel is complete, or nearly complete, they include a sea trial.
An inspection of this sort includes a thorough overview of the vessel’s major and minor systems including electrical, engine and peripherals, decks, hull, plumbing, bottom, running gear and underwater hardware among others. I’ll literally crawl through and into every accessible, and some not so accessible, space and compartment with pad, pencil and cameras in hand. I’ll conduct a sea trial to test propulsion and other underway systems. I’ll detail in writing and photographically any and all flaws, defects, safety issues, problems, potential problems and recommended changes or improvements I encounter. My goal will be to improve your peace of mind along with the vessel’s reliability, safety and economy of operation.
View an actual sample report here.
The information I record will be distilled into a detailed, referenced, photo-documented, prioritized report that I’ll provide to you in pdf format, along with an online link to the photos.
The inspection fee is based on the vessel manufacturer, complexity, volume of systems, and size (in that order); fees begin at $6,200, plus expenses. I’m firmly convinced that every client for whom I’ve carried out an inspection would agree that the actual financial value far exceeded the inspection fee. I encourage you to read what other clients have said about this process on our testimonials page.