As popular as ever with the super rich, never mind essential for travel between smaller islands in remote parts of the world, boats can be just as important, if not more, than the car and plane. With planes facing the strictest safety checks and cars forever due an MOT, boats are no different and companies out there make it their profession to ensure the highest standards for anything and anyone floating above the deep blue sea.

Marine surveyors will oversee all aspects of marine vessels from purchase to sale: inspecting a boat (both the hull and everything above deck) before purchase, completing condition reports, repeat analysis between charters, post-accident damage surveys, tonnage measurements, container inspection and stolen boat advice, surveyors cover the lot.

Legitimate practice
Still an unregulated profession, it’s important to choose a marine surveyor whose practice is completely legitimate, and in the tropical British Virgin Isles, that means looking to Caribbean Marine Surveyors. The Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors (SAMS) is an independent organisation striving to ensure quality practice by all marine surveyors. Marine surveyors can apply to become accredited by SAMS, assuming the applicant has over five years’ experience and meets a number of other stringent tests.

The importance of safety when out at sea can scarcely be overstated. As with any other methods of travel – from rail to road to sky – the potential risks can easily be outweighed and prevented by proper preparation, careful operation and responsible use.

Caribbean Marine Surveyors’ William Bailey is an Accredited Marine Surveyor, while three of the team are Surveyor Associates, also bound by the strict SAMS code of conduct. Bailey and his colleague Benson Baker are also members of the International Association of Marine Investigators, which means for those looking to buy a boat, Caribbean Marine Surveyors will ensure they are not duped into purchasing a stolen vessel.

Plus, if one of their clients’ boats is stolen, they’ll provide the help and targeted search campaign that is required to track down a missing possession of this magnitude. They offer a complete general service; an essential program for anybody who is serious about owning and maintaining a boat.

Smoothing the process
Based in Nanny Cay Marina on Tortola in the British Virgin Islands, the company prides itself on the quality and range of the services it provides. Purchase surveys aim to provide potential buyers with the information they need to make the right choice, which may not be as easy as it seems, particularly as first time buyers might not be familiar with the process or associated terminology. Caribbean Marine Surveyors offer survey reports which rigorously check the vessel for damage, defects or the presence of previous repairs. The latter may give additional clues as to the state of the boat which may not be initially obvious. Reports also inspect the state of the hull – checking for de-lamination – and are compiled with photographs and notes to ensure an accurate record is kept.

As with cars, insurance is a big factor in purchasing boats, too, and should never be forgotten or overlooked. Caribbean Marine Surveyors will draw up a report for insurers that includes all the information they will need at any stage, speeding up the purchasing process considerably. Insurance surveys are carried out according to ABYC, NFPA, USCG guidelines, and are designed to be easily comprehensible, eschewing any over-use of specialist vocabulary in favour of easy-to-understand, unmistakable content. This is important, particularly for newcomers to the business.

Buying a boat, even with prior knowledge of the systems and conventions involved, is a serious business. A lot of money is likely to be exchanged, and customers need to be sure that they are entering into a safe, legitimate deal. Caribbean Marine Surveyors provide a blanket service designed to smooth out all stages of the process, from the initial decision making, through the legal and insurance ramifications, and into actual purchasing of the vessel. Boats offer great opportunities for exploration and luxury living; don’t let the benefits be compromised by dodgy deals or lack of preparation.

Tel: 001 284 949 2091 or 001 284 542 5091; fax: 001 284 494 2092, email: info@caribsurveyors.com; web: www.caribsurveyors.com