Marine survey for 18' boat?

[aharper00]

I bought a boat a couple weeks ago and my insurance company (Selective) says that the boat needs a marine survey done because the boat is over 10 years old (2000). My agent (and brother in law) has never heard of this before so he went looking for someone in Indy who could do the survey. The closest person he found is 4 hours away on the Ohio river but that guy apparently has never certified a small boat, only larger cargo boats that go up and down the river.

Something seems off here... is this normal? Do I need to go through Progressive or some other company for insurance just for the boat? My boat is an 18' Monterey Edge 180. Thanks.

 

[Slide]

Re: Marine survey for 18' boat?

Surveys are generally only necessary for large cruisers, liveaboards, and anything bigger. You are more than capable of tracking down any issue with an '18 runabout on your own. Tell your insurance company to stuff it and go elsewhere; I opened mine online with Geico in about ten minutes.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Marine survey for 18' boat?

They are trying to determine if the boat is really worth what you are trying to insure it for. Especially if it is an "Agreed Value policy".

In your area, you could check for a Westfield Insurance agent and get a quote on an American Select BTP-105 policy. Yacht policy coverage, ACV policy prices. I used to work for them, and paid MANY a claim that was VERY beneficial to the boat owner.

 

[aharper00]

Re: Marine survey for 18' boat?

I just got an email from BIL. He went to his boss and his boss told him just to get pics of the boat and I'm good. Whew. Coverage is all of $70/year with them covering it entirely. I checked progressive.com and the same policy there is $223/yr. Apparently Selective does a lot of insuring on the east coast and they deal with a lot of larger, salt water vessels so they were simply trying to be cautious. All good now. And within some 20 min of my initial post. Is this a record?

 

[BRICH1260]

Re: Marine survey for 18' boat?

It`s probably not worth the expense of having the "Survey" done for that small and inexpensive a boat. I bet it would cost you several hundred dollars to have it done. I would find another company that did not have that "Survey" requirement.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Marine survey for 18' boat?

as you found out, "survey" has many meanings, as does "boat". I had the same thing with Traveller's; all they needed was a photo of the boat and motor; cute kids optional. Aren't you glad you didn't tell them to stuff it, or change companies, until you asked about it?

Same goes around here for purchases. People love to say, "Always get a survey." That can mean a knowledgable friend looking at it with you; all depends on the circumstances.

 

[Rumley]

Re: Marine survey for 18' boat?

I went through the same thing, no one would insure without a survey, so I spent the 250$ to get a survey. 10 minutes of driving and I had a blown engine. Waited a year to save the 3500 for an engine rebuild, had the engine pulled this spring and my motor mounts and stringers are rotten.

Seems to me that a survey is worthless and a cash grab. Just my 2?

 

[MarkSee]

Re: Marine survey for 18' boat?

Seems to me that a survey is worthless and a cash grab. Just my 2?

Most "surveys" have nothing to do with the mechanical inspection/analysis of an engine/power train and usually just may validate serial number of the engine.

If you wanted a complete "mechanical inspection", that should have been requested and is a separate deal.

At least it was for me and my Sea Ray where the boat was hauled and a "surveyor" did his thing then back at the slip I had a separate guy do the "mechanical" inspection. Which was to my benefit for the mechanical inspection as the compression test and subsequent leak-down test found a bad exhaust valve that meant a $1,500 valve job which we asked the current owner to pay for and he did.

Mark