PREPARING FOR YOUR SURVEY

■ Ensure you have arranged the boat lift for a time that is convenient with the surveyor and that affords them enough time to inspect without being pressurised■ Ensure any requirements from the surveyor for things like the craft being properly washed off are booked and paid with the yard prior to the survey.■ Ensure you have confirmed the surveyor with a reply in writing, and exchange mobile phone numbers before the day. A simple case of crossed wires or incomplete admin can be extremely stressful when a boat is hanging in the slings.■ If buying, it is worth asking the vendor to remove or clearly mark items that are not included. You don’t want to be left with the nasty surprise that the in date liferaft and flares were not part of the deal.■ Ensure someone has all the keys for the craft, including the engine and hatches.■ Ensure the batteries are ok and if you have shore power that it is safe and works before the surveyor turns up. Being unable to start the engine or switch electrics on will prevent a good part of the survey from taking place.■ If the engine is to be demonstrated, make sure it is serviceable, starts with ease and there is enough fuel.■ Regardless of whether you are preparing to have a pre-purchase or insurance survey make sure the systems such as diesel heaters and auto helm work. If there are issues it’s helpful to inform the surveyor rather than have them spend hours trying to get something to power up that is already a known fault.