As you may already know, getting a SAMS survey is one of the wisest decisions you can make especially when buying a pre-owned boat. This is because of how thorough SAMS-accredited surveyors are. The question you might be asking is this; which types of services can you get from surveyors that are SAMS accredited or associated? Here are the top services.
Pre-purchase survey
The majority of people who request a SAMS survey are in need of pre-purchase surveys. These are the most comprehensive types of boat inspections. They are strongly recommended for both brand-new and used boats. The focus of this survey is the condition and overall operation of the vessel you are targeting. In this survey, the boat surveyor in Washington D.C. will cover everything including:
- Structural integrity
- Propulsion system
- Electrical system
- Fuel system
- Navigation equipment
- Miscellaneous onboard systems
- Cosmetic appearance
- Overall maintenance
- Out-of-water inspection
- Sea trial
Insurance survey
This is yet another common type of survey that is requested. In most cases, an insurance survey is requested by an insurance company. The purpose of the survey is to help the insurer know if the boat is an acceptable risk. As a result, the insurer will want the survey to focus more on the structural integrity and the safety of the boat for the intended use. In most cases, this survey is requested for older boats. The insurer may also provide you with a list of items that need to be inspected and the qualifications the surveyor should have. A SAMS surveyor in Washington D.C. will have all the required qualifications.
Appraisal inspection
This survey is mostly requested for financing, legal cases, donations, and estate settlements. The purpose of the survey is to gather the information needed to determine or justify the fair market value of a boat.
Damage inspection
SAMS-accredited surveyors can be retained by insurance companies to determine the extent of loss related to damage or to determine the cause of damage or loss. The surveyor may also be retained to identify damages and estimate the cost of repairs. The surveyor can also be used to determine the pre-loss value of a boat. Boat owners and people considering the purchase of project boats can also request this survey.
As you can see, a SAMS surveyor in Washington D.C. renders the same services as other marine surveyors. The only difference is this surveyor will adhere to a strict code of ethics and standards when doing their work. You can, thus, expect a more thorough boat survey.