Looking for a marine surveyor near you? Great River Marine Surveying provides professional boat and yacht survey services for buyers, owners, lenders, insurance companies, attorneys, brokers, and commercial clients throughout our established service areas.

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Whether you are purchasing a boat, obtaining insurance, financing a vessel, determining fair market value, or investigating damage, a professional marine survey provides an independent assessment of the vessel’s condition, systems, equipment, and value.

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Great River Marine Surveying offers comprehensive marine survey and boat inspection services for recreational boats, sailboats, yachts, and commercial vessels.

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Request a Marine Survey Today

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Professional Marine Survey & Boat Inspection Services

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A marine survey is much more than a quick visual boat inspection. Depending on the type of survey requested, our surveyors evaluate accessible structural components, machinery, electrical systems, fuel systems, plumbing, safety equipment, navigation equipment, and other vessel systems.

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When appropriate, the inspection may also include a haul-out and sea trial to evaluate the vessel both underway and out of the water.

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Our marine surveying services include:

• Pre-Purchase Marine Surveys

• Insurance & Condition and Value Surveys

• Boat and Yacht Appraisals

• Damage Surveys

• Sailboat and Rigging Surveys

• Commercial Vessel Surveys

• Engine Compression Testing

• Oil Sampling and Laboratory Analysis

• Thermal Imaging

• Bore Scope Inspections

• Marine Accident and Damage Investigations

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Pre-Purchase Marine Survey

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If you are buying a used boat or yacht, a pre-purchase marine survey is one of the most important steps you can take before completing the purchase.

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A pre-purchase survey provides an independent evaluation of the vessel and may identify problems that are not obvious during a casual inspection or showing.

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Depending on the vessel and survey scope, the inspection may include:

• Hull and structural components

• Decks, bulkheads, stringers, and transom

• Engines and machinery

• Electrical systems

• Fuel systems

• Steering systems

• Plumbing and sanitation systems

• Bilge pumps

• Navigation equipment

• Safety equipment

• Through-hulls and seacocks

• Propellers, shafts, rudders, and outdrives

• Signs of moisture intrusion

• Corrosion

• Previous repairs or damage

• Overall vessel condition

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The survey report can help a buyer make a more informed purchase decision and may provide valuable information for negotiations, insurance, and financing.

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Insurance & Condition and Value Surveys

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Boat insurance companies frequently require a marine insurance survey or Condition and Value Survey, particularly for older vessels or when establishing a new policy.

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An insurance survey documents the vessel’s general condition, major systems, equipment, safety deficiencies, and estimated market value.

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The completed report may be used by the vessel owner and insurance company to help establish insurability and vessel value.

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Boat and Yacht Appraisals

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Great River Marine Surveying also provides professional vessel appraisal services.

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A certified boat or yacht appraisal may be required for:

• Financing

• Insurance

• Estate planning

• Probate

• Divorce proceedings

• Legal matters

• Donations

• Tax purposes

• Partnership disputes

• Fair market value determinations

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Our appraisal reports provide an independent opinion of vessel value based on condition, equipment, comparable vessels, market conditions, and other relevant factors.

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Damage Surveys

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If a boat has been damaged by a collision, grounding, storm, mechanical failure, fire, impact, or other casualty, a professional marine damage survey can document the extent of the damage.

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A damage survey may include evaluation of the affected areas, recommended repairs, repair cost estimates, vessel value, and other information relevant to an insurance claim or legal matter.

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What Does a Marine Surveyor Inspect?

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The exact inspection depends on the type of vessel and survey requested, but a marine surveyor may evaluate:

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Hull & Structure: Accessible portions of the hull, deck, transom, stringers, bulkheads, and structural components are inspected for visible damage, deterioration, cracking, moisture intrusion, previous repairs, or other deficiencies.

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Engines & Machinery: Engines, generators, steering systems, controls, and accessible machinery may be visually inspected and operationally evaluated. Additional engine testing, including compression testing and laboratory oil analysis, may be available upon request.

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Electrical Systems: Accessible AC and DC electrical systems may be inspected, including batteries, wiring, breakers, electrical panels, shore-power connections, battery chargers, and related equipment.

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Fuel Systems: Accessible fuel tanks, hoses, filters, fittings, fill systems, ventilation, and associated components are evaluated for visible condition and potential safety concerns.

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Plumbing & Bilge Systems: Freshwater systems, sanitation systems, bilge pumps, hoses, seacocks, through-hulls, and other accessible plumbing components may be evaluated.

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Navigation & Safety Equipment: Navigation lights, electronics, fire extinguishers, lifesaving equipment, alarms, and other applicable safety equipment are reviewed as part of the survey.

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Underwater Components: When the vessel is hauled out, the surveyor can inspect the hull bottom, propellers, shafts, rudders, outdrives, trim tabs, through-hulls, anodes, and other underwater components.

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Boat Inspector Near Me: Many boat owners search for a boat inspector near me when what they actually need is a professional marine surveyor.

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A marine surveyor provides a detailed vessel inspection along with a formal written report documenting the vessel’s condition, deficiencies, recommendations, and other findings applicable to the survey.

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If you are buying a boat, obtaining insurance, financing a vessel, or determining value, a professional marine survey is generally more appropriate than a simple visual boat inspection.

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How Much Does a Marine Survey Cost?

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Marine survey pricing depends on several factors, including:

• Vessel length

• Vessel type

• Type of survey

• Vessel location

• Travel requirements

• Haul-out requirements

• Sea trial requirements

• Additional testing requested

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When selecting a marine surveyor, consider the scope of the inspection, experience of the surveyor, quality of the final report, and services included—not simply the lowest quoted price.

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Should a Boat Be Hauled Out for a Survey?

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For a comprehensive pre-purchase survey, a haul-out is generally recommended.

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A haul-out allows the marine surveyor to inspect areas of the vessel that cannot be properly evaluated while the boat remains in the water, including:

• Hull bottom

• Propellers

• Shafts

• Rudders

• Outdrives

• Trim tabs

• Through-hulls

• Anodes

• Underwater damage

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The marina or boatyard normally performs the haul-out while the marine surveyor conducts the inspection.

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Marine Surveyors Serving Chicago, the Great Lakes & Texas

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Great River Marine Surveying provides marine survey services throughout our established service areas.

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Chicago & Great Lakes: We provide marine surveying services throughout the Chicago and Lake Michigan boating market, including marinas, boatyards, private docks, dealerships, and storage facilities throughout northeastern Illinois and surrounding Great Lakes communities.

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Texas & Galveston Bay: Our Texas marine surveyors serve boat owners throughout the Houston and Galveston Bay boating market, including:

• Houston

• Kemah

• Clear Lake

• Seabrook

• League City

• Galveston

• Texas City

• La Porte

• Freeport

• Surrounding communities

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Surveys may be performed at marinas, boatyards, dealerships, private docks, storage facilities, and haul-out facilities.

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Why Hire a Professional Marine Surveyor?

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A boat can appear to be in excellent condition while still having deficiencies that may not be obvious during a casual inspection.

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Marine surveys frequently identify issues involving:

• Moisture intrusion

• Structural deterioration

• Electrical deficiencies

• Fuel system problems

• Corrosion

• Plumbing deficiencies

• Safety equipment

• Previous repairs

• Engine or machinery concerns

• Underwater damage

• Deferred maintenance

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Identifying these conditions before purchasing, financing, or insuring a vessel can help boat owners make better-informed decisions.

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Schedule a Marine Survey Near You

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If you are looking for a marine surveyor near you, boat surveyor, boat inspector, yacht inspector, or vessel appraiser, Great River Marine Surveying can help determine the appropriate survey for your needs.

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To request a quote or schedule a survey, provide us with the vessel type, length, location, and the type of survey you need.

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Request a Marine Survey