It is advised to have a Washington D.C. marine survey performed as frequently as possible. This is because you won’t be able to find problems with your boat and remedy them before they get worse without a survey. Additionally, every time you apply for boat insurance, even if some insurance companies will accept a survey that is 5 years or older, you must have a new survey done. Getting a new survey when applying for boat insurance will ensure that you get the most comprehensive coverage.
The short answer to the question of how often do I need a marine survey is at least once every five years. Once the previous boat survey is at least five years old, it is essential that you, as a boat owner, get a new boat survey done. By doing this, you will be able to evaluate the current state of your boat and establish its fair market value. A fresh marine survey will, further, help you spot problems on your boat before they worsen.
While it is acceptable to wait five years until the next boat survey, it is vital to keep in mind that if you own a wooden boat, you may need to update your boat survey report more frequently. This is due to the fact that wood is more susceptible to rot and damage. It is recommended to have a new survey for wooden vessels at least once every two to three years. This is a typical marine survey requirement for wooden boats. However, you should be aware that some insurance providers are fine with increasing the interval between surveys for wooden boats to 10 or even 15 years. Overall, a new survey report will give you a better overall understanding of your boat.
What you need the survey for also affects how frequently you should request a marine survey. A new marine survey must be conducted each time you seek financing if you frequently use your boat as collateral. It’s a good idea to get a new survey to give the insurer when you apply for boat insurance. A marine survey that is 12 to 18 months old will be preferable to a survey that is 5 years old. Older survey reports do not capture the current condition of a boat. You will receive a better coverage when you provide a more recent survey report to your insurer.
The question of how often do I need a marine survey has direct answer. However, working closely with a skilled maritime surveyor in Washington D.C. who comes highly recommended will ensure that you receive the most thorough survey report.