Working with a marine surveyor Maryland costs time and money. You don’t want to keep calling in a marine surveyor for every boat you come across. There is also the fact that there are contracts you have to sign as well as a down payment to be made before the seller can allow you to bring in a surveyor. To save time and money, you need to be certain that the boat you are considering is a perfect fit. You can do this by doing a couple of checks on your own before calling in a professional.
Cracks
Some cracks are purely cosmetic while others are a sign of a dangerous problem. Spider cracks, for example, are often superficial and will not affect the condition of the boat. However, if you see cracks that are longer than 2 inches, you should be concerned. Any major cracks are a red flag. You should also note that a seller may not have a definite answer for the cracks. To be certain that the cracks are not serious, you should call in a marine surveyor Maryland trusts to assess them. A boat surveyor will use specialized equipment to better assess the cracks.
Dipstick
Checking the dipstick will give insight into the condition of a used boat. If the dipstick has a burnt smell, this is a bad sign. It indicates that the engine is burning oil and this will result in a burnt motor. If the oil is milky, there is water seeping into the engine. Needless to say, if the oil or fuel has water in it, you should be concerned. If the oil is black, this means it has not been changed or it is the wrong viscosity. This shows proper maintenance was not done on the boat.
Condition of the engine
The best way to determine the condition of the engine is simply to start it and listen. A cold start will give you a lot of information on the condition of the engine. A cold start will tip you off if the engine has any rattling or makes strange noises. If you are buying from a dealer, you need to visit them at the beginning of the day before other buyers have the chance to start the engine.
Examine the things you can see
Last but not least, you need to examine the condition of the seats, steering column and storage compartments. Make sure you are okay with the damages you can see.
If your initial assessment doesn’t scare you off, you can go ahead and call in a marine surveyor in Maryland for a more focused inspection. Find someone that has worked on vessels that are similar to the one you are targeting.