Sailboat & Rigging Surveyor San Diego, California

Great River Marine Surveying provides professional sailboat surveying and rigging inspection services in San Diego, California, throughout San Diego Bay and surrounding Southern California boating communities.

We assist sailboat buyers, owners, yacht brokers, insurance companies, lenders and other marine clients requiring independent vessel inspections and professional written marine survey reports.

From our Southern California presence in San Diego, we survey sailing vessels ranging from smaller coastal cruisers and performance sailboats to offshore cruising yachts and larger sailing vessels.

Sailboat Surveying Services in San Diego

Our sailboat surveying services may include:

• Pre-Purchase Sailboat Surveys

• Condition & Value Surveys

• Insurance Sailboat Surveys

• Sailboat Rigging Inspections

• Standing Rigging Inspections

• Running Rigging Inspections

• Mast & Boom Inspections

• Sail & Sail-Handling Equipment Inspections

• Hull & Structural Inspections

• Keel & Rudder Inspections

• Marine Electrical System Inspections

• Auxiliary Engine Inspections

• Haul-Out Inspections

• Sea Trials

• Boat & Yacht Appraisals

• Damage & Insurance Claim Surveys

The exact scope can be tailored to the vessel, transaction and specific needs of the client.

Pre-Purchase Sailboat Surveys in San Diego

Purchasing a sailboat involves evaluating substantially more than its cosmetic appearance. A vessel may look well maintained at the dock while still having aging rigging, structural concerns, electrical deficiencies, machinery issues or deferred maintenance.

A professional pre-purchase sailboat survey in San Diego provides an independent assessment of the vessel before the buyer completes the transaction.

Depending upon vessel type and accessibility, the survey may include inspection of:

• Hull and structural components

• Deck and superstructure

• Bulkheads and stringers

• Keel and keel attachment areas

• Rudder and steering components

• Mast and boom

• Standing rigging

• Running rigging

• Chainplates

• Turnbuckles and terminals

• Sail-handling equipment

• Auxiliary propulsion engine

• Fuel system

• AC and DC electrical systems

• Battery systems

• Plumbing

• Navigation electronics

• Ground tackle

• Safety equipment

• Interior accommodations

• Installed marine equipment

When practical, a comprehensive pre-purchase survey should also include an out-of-water inspection and operational sea trial.

Sailboat Rigging Inspections

Rigging is one of the most important systems aboard a sailing vessel. Failure of a critical standing-rigging component can result in serious damage to the mast, vessel and surrounding equipment.

A rigging inspection may include accessible portions of:

• Shrouds

• Forestays and backstays

• Turnbuckles

• Swage fittings

• Mechanical terminals

• Chainplates

• Mast fittings

• Boom fittings

• Spreaders

• Running rigging

• Blocks and sheaves

• Winches

• Furling systems

• Sail tracks

• Deck hardware

• Other accessible rigging components

The surveyor looks for observable conditions such as corrosion, cracking, deformation, damaged wire strands, questionable fittings, deteriorated running rigging and other visible conditions that may warrant additional investigation or service.

Inspection of upper rigging is dependent upon safe access. Mast climbing, disassembly, dye-penetrant testing or other specialized rigging procedures are outside a standard visual marine survey unless specifically arranged.

San Diego Saltwater Sailing Environment

San Diego is one of the country's major sailing markets and provides year-round access to Pacific coastal waters.

The same environment that makes San Diego attractive to sailors also exposes vessels to saltwater, ultraviolet radiation and continuous marine atmospheric conditions.

Saltwater exposure can contribute to deterioration of stainless-steel fittings, electrical connections, fasteners, standing rigging, underwater metals and other marine components.

UV exposure can also affect sails, sail covers, running rigging, canvas, plastics, seals and exterior equipment.

For sailboats that remain in the water throughout the year, inspection of underwater metals, through-hulls, bonding systems, rigging and deck hardware can be particularly important.

Standing Rigging & Chainplates

Standing rigging supports the mast and transfers substantial loads throughout the vessel.

The survey may examine observable portions of the rigging system for concerns involving:

• Wire condition

• Terminals

• Turnbuckles

• Cotter pins and locking arrangements

• Chainplates

• Chainplate attachment areas

• Corrosion

• Cracking

• Deformation

• Previous modifications

• Improper installation

• Water intrusion around deck penetrations

Chainplates deserve particular attention because portions of the installation may pass through decks, cabinetry or structural areas where water intrusion and corrosion are not immediately visible.

When conditions indicate that further evaluation is appropriate, the surveyor may recommend additional inspection by a qualified marine rigging specialist.

Hull, Deck, Keel & Rudder Inspection

A sailboat survey also includes evaluation of the vessel itself.

Depending upon construction and accessibility, inspection may address observable portions of the:

• Hull

• Deck

• Hull-to-deck joint

• Bulkheads

• Stringers

• Structural supports

• Keel

• Keel attachment areas

• Rudder

• Rudder bearings

• Steering system

• Through-hulls

• Seacocks

• Deck hardware

• Mast step

• Interior structural areas

Fiberglass vessels may be inspected for conditions such as cracking, moisture intrusion, soft deck areas, previous repairs, impact damage, delamination or osmotic blistering where observable.

Auxiliary Engine & Marine Systems

Even though sails provide the vessel's primary means of propulsion, the auxiliary engine and supporting systems remain important components of a sailboat survey.

Depending upon accessibility, the survey may evaluate observable portions of:

• Engine

• Engine mounts

• Cooling system

• Exhaust

• Fuel system

• Transmission

• Shaft and propeller

• Battery banks

• Battery switches

• Charging equipment

• Shore-power system

• AC and DC panels

• Pumps

• Plumbing

• Bilge systems

• Navigation electronics

Operational observations may be conducted where practical and safe.

Sailboat Haul-Out Inspections

An out-of-water inspection is strongly recommended for a comprehensive pre-purchase sailboat survey.

Hauling the vessel allows the surveyor to inspect components that cannot be adequately evaluated while the vessel is afloat, including:

• Underwater hull

• Keel

• Rudder

• Propeller

• Propeller shaft

• Strut

• Through-hulls

• Transducers

• Anodes

• Bottom coatings

• Evidence of grounding or underwater impact

San Diego has numerous marinas and boatyards capable of coordinating haul-outs for recreational sailboats and sailing yachts.

The buyer typically schedules and pays the boatyard directly for the haul-out.

Sailboat Sea Trials

A sea trial allows the surveyor to observe the vessel while underway.

Depending upon the vessel and requested scope, observations may include:

• Auxiliary engine operation

• Engine RPM and temperature

• Transmission operation

• Steering

• Controls

• Navigation electronics

• Autopilot

• Bilge systems

• Vibration

• Maneuverability

• Sail-handling equipment when included in the agreed scope

A sea trial provides valuable information but does not replace specialized mechanical diagnostics when a detailed engine evaluation is required.

Insurance & Condition Surveys for Sailboats

Great River Marine Surveying also provides Condition & Value and insurance surveys for sailboats in San Diego.

An insurance company may request a survey when obtaining new coverage, renewing an existing policy, changing insurers, insuring an older sailboat or documenting vessel value following major improvements.

The resulting report can document the vessel's observed condition, major equipment, safety systems, deficiencies and estimated fair market value when valuation is part of the assignment.

Sailboat Surveys Throughout San Diego

Great River Marine Surveying provides sailboat and rigging survey services throughout the greater San Diego marine market, including vessels located around:

• Shelter Island

• Harbor Island

• Point Loma

• San Diego Bay

• Coronado

• Chula Vista

• National City

• Mission Bay

• Surrounding San Diego County marinas and boatyards

We can coordinate survey access with buyers, sellers, yacht brokers, marinas and boatyards.

Schedule a Sailboat or Rigging Survey in San Diego

If you are purchasing a sailboat, evaluating an existing vessel or need an insurance or rigging survey, contact Great River Marine Surveying Company to schedule an inspection.

Provide the vessel's year, make, model, length and current location, along with the type of survey you need.

Survey requests can also be submitted online at GreatRiverMarine.com/surveyrequest.

Great River Marine Surveying Company

San Diego & Southern California

1-877-921-2628

surveyor@GreatRiverMarine.com

Professional sailboat, yacht and rigging surveying services throughout San Diego and Southern California.