Yacht Survey Guides: Axsail

Yacht surveys

A surveyor inspecting a boat's propeller on the hard

Boat damage survey: what happens after an incident and what the report contains

What a marine damage survey is, who sends the surveyor, whose interest they represent, what the report covers (extent, probable cause, repair and cost) and when an owner should hire a surveyor of their own.

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A boatyard workshop with a yacht under construction

YACHT SURVEYS · 2 MIN READ

New build yacht survey: inspecting a boat in build and before delivery

Why buyers of new yachts hire a surveyor, what an owner's representative checks before each stage payment, the pre-delivery inspection and sea trial, snagging lists and the warranty period.

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A yacht lifted out of the water in the slings of a boatyard travel lift

YACHT SURVEYS · 3 MIN READ

Out of water boat survey: what's checked below the waterline and when insurers want one

What a surveyor checks when the boat is hauled: blisters, moisture, delamination, keel, rudder, running gear, through-hulls and anodes, how long the short haul takes, and when an insurer accepts an in-water survey instead.

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Close-up of a winch and rope on the deck of a sailing yacht

YACHT SURVEYS · 2 MIN READ

Rig survey for sailing yachts: what's checked, what it costs and when insurers ask

What a rig survey covers on a sailing yacht, deck level, aloft or unstepped: mast, spreaders, terminals, chainplates and furlers, the age of the standing rigging, what it costs and which insurers ask for one.

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Drawing of a balance scale weighing a model yacht against stacked coins, with the headline Condition and valuation survey

YACHT SURVEYS · 3 MIN READ

Condition and valuation survey: what a C&V survey is and how the value is set

What a condition and valuation survey on a boat covers, how it differs from a pre-purchase and an insurance survey, who asks for one, and how the surveyor arrives at the value.

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Drawing of an hourglass beside a tied stack of survey reports, with the headline How long is a survey good for

YACHT SURVEYS · 3 MIN READ

How long is a boat survey good for? Insurer rules on survey age

How long a marine survey stays valid for insurance, a new policy and a purchase, with published insurer rules from Canada, Australia and the UK, and when a boat needs a fresh survey.

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Drawing of a bronze seacock, a surveyor's sounding hammer and a coiled rope, with the headline What is a marine survey

YACHT SURVEYS · 4 MIN READ

What is a marine survey? What it includes, how long it takes and who needs one

A marine survey is an independent inspection of a boat's condition and value. What a boat survey covers, the main types, how long it takes, what it costs and whether it's worth it.

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Drawing of a sailing yacht with a For sale sign, a purchase agreement with a fountain pen and boat keys on a float, beside the words Offer to keys

YACHT SURVEYS · 10 MIN READ

How to buy a yacht: the buying process, step by step

How to buy a yacht, new or used: budget and owning costs, broker or private seller, the purchase and sale agreement, survey and sea trial, closing, and what the Amadea sale shows about surveys.

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Drawing of a survey clipboard under a magnifying glass and a calendar with the survey day circled, beside the words Inspect before buying

YACHT SURVEYS · 7 MIN READ

Pre-purchase yacht survey: what it covers, how to book one and what to do with the report

What a pre-purchase boat survey covers, from the haul-out to the sea trial, how to choose a SAMS, NAMS, IIMS or YDSA surveyor, the survey contingency in your offer and how to use the report.

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Drawing of a lifebuoy, boat papers, an insurance certificate and a boat key beside the words condition and value for your insurer

YACHT SURVEYS · 7 MIN READ

Boat insurance survey: when you need one, what it checks and what it costs

When an insurer asks for a condition and valuation survey, what the surveyor checks, what it costs per foot, how the recommendations work and how to insure a boat without a survey.

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Drawing of a surveyor's moisture meter, notebook, torch, oil sample jar and pencil beside the typical US pre-purchase survey price of $25 to $35 per foot

YACHT SURVEYS · 6 MIN READ

How much does a boat survey cost? Prices per foot, extras and who pays

What a boat or yacht survey costs per foot in the US and Europe, in dollars and euros, the extras on top of the surveyor's fee, a worked example for a 38 ft yacht, and how to get an accurate quote.

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Buying a boat in Europe

A yacht lifted out of the water in a boatyard travel lift

BUYING A BOAT IN EUROPE · 3 MIN READ

Buying a used boat in Germany: the IBS, the ship register, VAT proof and the contract

What to check when buying a used boat in Germany: what the Internationaler Bootsschein and the ship register prove, the Flaggenzertifikat, inland waterway numbers, VAT proof, warranty rules for private and dealer sales, and the survey.

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A winch and rope on the deck of a sailing yacht

BUYING A BOAT IN EUROPE · 2 MIN READ

Buying a used boat in the Netherlands: Kadaster, the zeebrief, the ICP and VAT proof

What to check when buying a used boat in the Netherlands: what Kadaster registration proves, why the zeebrief lapses on sale, the ICP and ICC, the VAT proof to carry abroad, and the survey.

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Motor yachts and sailing yachts moored in a marina

BUYING A BOAT IN EUROPE · 3 MIN READ

Buying a used boat in the UK: Part 1 or the SSR, VAT evidence, title and the survey

What to check when buying a used boat in the UK: what Part 1 and the Small Ships Register prove, the VAT evidence HMRC accepts, five years of bills of sale, the RCD paperwork, inland licences and the survey.

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Motor yacht on its trailer in a boatyard shed, with a man at the workbench

BUYING A BOAT IN EUROPE · 2 MIN READ

Buying a used boat in Croatia: registration, technical inspections and the survey

How buying a second-hand boat or yacht in Croatia works: the harbourmaster for boats and the Croatian Register of Shipping for yachts over 15 m, the documents, the CE rule for boats built before June 2000, periodic inspections, insurance and the pre-purchase survey.

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Motor and sailing yachts berthed in a marina in the evening light

BUYING A BOAT IN EUROPE · 2 MIN READ

Buying a used boat in France: the certificat d'enregistrement, the annual tax and the survey

How buying a second-hand boat in France works: the certificat d'enregistrement that replaced francisation, who can register a boat, the sale deed, the one-month deadlines, the annual tax on boats over 7 m, and the expert maritime's survey.

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Sailing yacht lifted out of the water in a travel hoist for a haul-out

BUYING A BOAT IN EUROPE · 2 MIN READ

Buying or keeping a boat in Greece: TEPAI, the DEKPA, the transit log and the survey

What a buyer needs to know about boats in Greek waters: the TEPAI cruising fee by length and how it's paid, the DEKPA and the transit log, the digital transit log for foreign yachts, the fines, and the survey before you buy.

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Sailing yacht winch with a coiled line on a teak-trimmed deck

BUYING A BOAT IN EUROPE · 2 MIN READ

Buying a used boat in Italy: registration, the notary, the safety certificate and the survey

How buying a second-hand boat in Italy works: the boat categories by length and which must be registered, the authenticated bill of sale, the documents and the STED counter, the safety certificate renewed every five years, and the pre-purchase survey.

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Motor yacht strapped onto the deck of a cargo ship between cranes, ready for transport

BUYING A BOAT IN EUROPE · 2 MIN READ

Buying a used boat in Spain: paperwork, taxes, the ITB and the survey

How buying a second-hand boat in Spain works: the registration lists, proof of ownership and charges, transfer tax or VAT, the registration tax over 8 m, the ITB inspection on the certificado de navegabilidad, and what a pre-purchase survey adds.

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Survey reports

A yacht standing on blocks in a boatyard

SURVEY REPORTS · 3 MIN READ

How to write survey recommendations an owner, buyer and insurer can act on

How to write a marine survey recommendation that stands on its own: the problem, the hazard and the fix, standards put in context, a priority and a deadline, and what insurers do with recommendations once the report is issued.

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Survey review screen marking each system as inspected, not inspected or not mentioned, with a reason

SURVEY REPORTS · 3 MIN READ

Scope and limitations in a marine survey report: what to write and when

How to write the scope of inspection and survey limitations in a marine survey report, why to agree them in writing before the survey, and what happened to a surveyor who only put them in the report.

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SURVEY REPORTS · 3 MIN READ

Writing a marine survey report people can read: style, title, value and boilerplate

How to write a marine survey report a buyer, underwriter or lender can read: plain style and tables, the right title for the survey type, the client and intended use, valuation that holds up, and what to do with disclaimers and boilerplate.

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Drawing of a marine survey report's contents beside an example deck finding with its location, observation, moisture reading and recommendation

SURVEY REPORTS · 7 MIN READ

Marine survey report: what goes in it, section by section

The sections of a marine survey report, how to write a finding an insurer or buyer can act on, how recommendations are graded, and a template to follow.

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Inspection checklists

Motor yachts and sailing yachts in a marina

INSPECTION CHECKLISTS · 3 MIN READ

Boat sea trial in a survey: what's tested under way and what the readings mean

What a surveyor tests on a sea trial: the cold start, rated rpm at full throttle, temperatures, vibration, steering and gearbox, the engine room after the run, and what the readings tell a buyer.

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Drawing of a compression gauge, an infrared thermometer and a spanner, with the headline Marine engine survey

INSPECTION CHECKLISTS · 4 MIN READ

Marine engine survey: what's checked, what it costs and a checklist

What a marine engine survey includes: oil analysis, compression test, sea trial under load and temperature readings, who does it, what it costs per engine, and a checklist for diesel and outboard engines.

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Drawing of a sailing yacht on stands beside a yacht survey checklist, from hull and underwater gear to the sea trial

INSPECTION CHECKLISTS · 7 MIN READ

Yacht survey checklist: what a surveyor inspects, system by system

The full boat and yacht survey checklist, from hull and keel to rig, engine, gas and safety kit, and what changes between a pre-purchase and an insurance survey.

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Survey software and AI

Drawing of a phone transcribing spoken survey notes, with a dotted line to finding cards for a through-hull, bilge pump and batteries, headed Voice-to-Survey

SURVEY SOFTWARE AND AI · 6 MIN READ

Voice to text for marine surveyors: how speech on board becomes a survey report

How speech to text works on a phone, offline in the bilge, how AI turns a spoken walk-round into findings and a survey report, and how doctors, police and mechanics already do it.

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Drawing of a phone recording findings by voice beside a signed survey report and a pencil, headed Reports by voice

SURVEY SOFTWARE AND AI · 5 MIN READ

InspectX alternative: write marine survey reports by talking through the boat

What InspectX does and costs in 2026, and how Axsail compares: findings written from your voice on a phone, photos placed for you, and reports from 1 credit.

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Charter and fleet operations

A fine scratch across a wooden locker door on board a yacht

CHARTER AND FLEET OPERATIONS · 3 MIN READ

Charter damage deposits: how they're held, claimed and returned

How a yacht charter security deposit works: typical amounts, how it relates to the hull insurance excess, damage waivers and deposit insurance, what they exclude, how a claim against the deposit is settled, and how bases and charterers document damage.

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Yacht surveys, explained

Yacht surveys

Boat damage survey: what happens after an incident and what the report contains

New build yacht survey: inspecting a boat in build and before delivery

Out of water boat survey: what's checked below the waterline and when insurers want one

Rig survey for sailing yachts: what's checked, what it costs and when insurers ask

Condition and valuation survey: what a C&V survey is and how the value is set

How long is a boat survey good for? Insurer rules on survey age

What is a marine survey? What it includes, how long it takes and who needs one

How to buy a yacht: the buying process, step by step

Pre-purchase yacht survey: what it covers, how to book one and what to do with the report

Boat insurance survey: when you need one, what it checks and what it costs

How much does a boat survey cost? Prices per foot, extras and who pays

Buying a boat in Europe

Buying a used boat in Germany: the IBS, the ship register, VAT proof and the contract

Buying a used boat in the Netherlands: Kadaster, the zeebrief, the ICP and VAT proof

Buying a used boat in the UK: Part 1 or the SSR, VAT evidence, title and the survey

Buying a used boat in Croatia: registration, technical inspections and the survey

Buying a used boat in France: the certificat d'enregistrement, the annual tax and the survey

Buying or keeping a boat in Greece: TEPAI, the DEKPA, the transit log and the survey

Buying a used boat in Italy: registration, the notary, the safety certificate and the survey

Buying a used boat in Spain: paperwork, taxes, the ITB and the survey

Survey reports

How to write survey recommendations an owner, buyer and insurer can act on

Scope and limitations in a marine survey report: what to write and when

Writing a marine survey report people can read: style, title, value and boilerplate

Marine survey report: what goes in it, section by section

Inspection checklists

Boat sea trial in a survey: what's tested under way and what the readings mean

Marine engine survey: what's checked, what it costs and a checklist

Yacht survey checklist: what a surveyor inspects, system by system

Survey software and AI

Voice to text for marine surveyors: how speech on board becomes a survey report

InspectX alternative: write marine survey reports by talking through the boat

Charter and fleet operations

Charter damage deposits: how they're held, claimed and returned

Try Axsail on your next survey