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TOOLS FOR SURVEYORS

Boat survey quote calculator: by the foot or by the hour

UPDATED 6 NOVEMBER 2026 · 3 SOURCES · FREE, NO SIGN-UP

Build a marine survey quote by length or by the hour, with oil analysis, travel and the yard's haul-out shown apart, in dollars or euros. Starts from rates surveyors publish and copies straight into an email.

QUOTE
$1,070
Survey, 38 ft at $25 per foot: $950
Oil analysis, 2 samples: $120
Total from the surveyor: $1,070

Pick how you price, by length or by the hour, and add the extras. The calculator gives the surveyor's total, shows the yard's haul-out apart and copies the breakdown for an email.

The starting figures

The dollar figures start from Wilson Yacht Survey's published rates in Florida: $25 to $32 per foot for a pre-purchase condition and value survey up to 50 ft, $60 per oil sample with a survey and $0.73 a mile for travel. Better Boat's guide puts the rule of thumb at $20 to $25 per foot and haul-out fees at about $10 to $20 per foot.

The euro figures follow the hourly model a French surveyor describes to Bateaux.com: about €100 an hour on board, about €80 an hour writing, 2 to 3 hours of each on an average boat, and travel at about €1 a kilometre. He puts the average expertise at about €1,000 with travel.

Change every number to your own. Nothing you type is stored.

By the foot or by the hour

The surveyor in the Bateaux.com piece sets out the trade-off. A price per metre is fixed and clear from the start, but a basic 10 m sailing boat and a well-equipped one of the same length cost almost the same to survey. By the hour, the price follows the work. The calculator lets you try both on the same boat.

The hours nobody sees

On the hourly model, writing takes as long as the inspection. That's the part of a quote you can shrink. With Axsail you talk through the boat as you inspect it, and the findings, readings and photos come out as a draft report minutes after the walk-round. Fewer writing hours means a lower quote or more surveys in the week.

What to send with a quote

The boat survey cost guide lists what moves the price and what a client should send to get a quote in one round: make, model, length, engines, hull material, location, survey type and deadline.

Frequently asked

How much does a boat survey cost per foot?

Wilson Yacht Survey in Florida publishes $25 to $32 per foot for a pre-purchase condition and value survey on boats up to 50 ft. Better Boat gives $20 to $25 per foot as a rule of thumb. The haul-out, travel and laboratory tests come on top.

Do surveyors charge by the hour in Europe?

Some do. A French surveyor quoted by Bateaux.com charges about €100 an hour on board and about €80 an hour writing, with 2 to 3 hours of each for an average boat, about €1,000 with travel.

Is the haul-out included in the survey quote?

Usually not. The yard bills it. Better Boat puts haul-out fees at about $10 to $20 per foot. The calculator shows it apart from the surveyor's total.

How much does oil analysis add?

Wilson Yacht Survey lists oil, gear and coolant analysis at $80 per sample as a third party fee, or $60 when ordered with a condition and value survey.

Your full survey report, minutes after the walk-round

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