Where do you perform surveys?

While we are based out of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, we travel all over the world performing surveys including all of the United States, Caribbean, and the Mediterranean. Some of the more common places we travel to include: Chesapeake Bay area, Tortola, BVI. St. Maarten, N.A., Athens Greece, Palma De Malorca (Spain), La Ciotat (France) and others.  We also work in more exotic places like the Phillipines, Tangiers, and Hurghada. 

Why would I hire you if a local surveyor is able to perform the surveyor?

Catamarans are typically large investments with complicated and robust systems. I encourage you to hire the best surveyor you can find. While there are many surveyors around the world, not all are equally qualified and not all provide the level of quality and professionalism that you to have likely come to expect.  We have found that many surveyors in parts of the world have been successful because they are the only one there – not because they do a good job. By hiring a well known and professional surveyor you can be sure to have a proper evaluation of the condition of your prospective boat.  Choosing someone to assess the condition should be based on qualifications and experience – not price or convenience.


I am concerned that a broker has recommended you. I want to find an independent surveyor.

While the number of catamarans is ever increasing, it still remains a small niche market.  We have a good working relationship with nearly every catamaran oriented brokerage house.  Most brokers recommend us because we conduct our surveys with the utmost professionalism, integrity, and work with their clients in an honest and fair manner.  The brokers that recommend us trust in our professional and thorough approach and understand that we find the issues with the boat and present them in a fair and accurate manner. At the end of the day, we are working for you, the buyer, and providing you with a comprehensive and thorough evaluation of the boats is our only objective. Many of the same brokers that recommend us to their clients, use us to survey their boats as well.
 

Do you have references?

I would be happy to furnish you with specific references on request.  We would rather direct you to someone we have worked with recently as opposed to a generic reference from months ago.  Regardless, of the type of boat you are buying, Yahoo has Leopard, Lagoon, Gemini, and Catana owners forums and we encourage you to check there.  Many people will be familiar with our work however please check my name: Jonathan Sands as opposed to Cat-Check.

 
What separates Cat-Check surveys from other generic surveys?

There are two major differences between a Cat-Check survey and just about any other survey out there:  our experience with catamarans and the comprehensive nature of our inspection.  The fact that we specialize in catamarans is very important. Catamarans are a different breed of boat and are built differently and generally for a different purpose and we understand that.  Our inspection is the most comprehensive in the business and includes the hull and structure, all onboard systems, the engines and propulsion system, and the sails and rigging.  Most surveyors will recommend a separate surveyor for the engine and the rigging however we cover both of these in areas in great detail. Using a single qualified surveyor to cover everything has several advantages: 1) it’s cheaper to hire one good surveyor than several people that only cover a specific area. 2) There is no gap where one surveyor stops and the other picks up.3) It's much easier to schedule one surveyor as opposed to 3.

 

​Can we use the survey report for insurance and financing?

Yes. Nearly every survey report we issue is later used for insurance (assuming the boat is purchased) and many for financing.  Our surveys are accepted by every insurance and finance company.  On occasion, they will ask for our resume’ and other sample surveys and we are happy to send whatever they need.
 

How long does the survey take? 

Most catamarans under 60 feet can be inspected in one day including the haul-out and sea-trial. We usually start in the early morning and finish in the afternoon.  At the end of the day, we give a synopsis of the survey and go over any questions you may have. Since we are usually still on board, we use the time to go over any issues that may be a bit confusing or unclear.  The report usually takes around 2 days to prepare however we are able to prepare it sooner at your request.  Just let us know what you need and we will do our best to accommodate your requests.

 
Do we need to hire a separate rigging or engine surveyor?

We encourage you to hire whomever you need to help you feel comfortable with the purchase however we cover both of these assemblies in great detail. As far as the rigging goes, we do inspect all terminals and hardware in place from deck level and aloft as long as it is safe to do so. With regards to the engines, we are not factory certified or authorized for any one particular engine however we do have a working knowledge of most of the engines we see on a day in, day out basis. We commonly work on the following engines: Yanmar (YM, GM, JH series), Volvo (MD, D1-D3 Series), and the Westerbeke (30 and 44 series) engines.  We would be happy to discuss any other engine with you. With both the rigging and the engines, we feel our inspections are on par with the level of detail that is provided from a system specific technician and we will recommend further investigation by a qualified technician if needed.

Cat-Check

Frequently Asked Questions

Marine Surveys

jsands@catchek.co

(800) 539-0810

49 N Federal Hwy. #333

Pompano Beach, FL

Do you have sample report?

Yes, you can download a sample report by clicking here.Please keep in mind each report is slightly different since each boat is different.For practical reasons, not every item checked during the inspection is mentioned in the report however we do make sure to include all findings and recommendations. You should use the sample to get an idea of the survey format and the type of information provided.

Are there charges for travel?

All of the fees and costs associated with survey including travel charges will be included in the formal quote for the survey so we eliminate any unknown or additional expenses.That being said, you should expect some portion of the fees to be applied to travel related expenses where applicable.We try to keep expenses to a minimum and our fees are often very competitive with local surveyors that may or may not be as qualified.We encourage you to request a quote and please don’t assume the service will be prohibitively expensive.
 
How much does a survey cost?

Survey costs vary greatly based on several factors including the size, condition, type, and location of the boat.Our prices are on par with industry standards and we would be happy to give you a quote to survey any boat.We accept cash, check, credit card, or wire transfers for payment.