Securing Your Property And Staying Ship Shape - Preparing For A Marine Insurance Survey

An old, antiquated saying claims that the two best days in owning a boat are the day you buy the boat and the day you sell the boat. This joke, of course, refers to the potential costs in boat ownership, but fails to take into account the preemptive steps you can take to keep your costs down and promote protection of your property.

Below, you'll find a guide to some steps you should take to prepare your boat for an insurance survey. Making sure that you have sufficient insurance on your boat will provide you with significant financial protections, and having your boat surveyed will alert you to any potential issues that you need to handle before taking off for adventure on the high seas.

Organize Your Documentation

Before even inspecting the physical state of your boat, your insurance surveyor will need to inspect the paperwork that goes along with it. This may include sale records, maintenance logs, and general marine logs that outline the usage and travel that your boat has undergone.

Having these documents readily available will guarantee there are no delays in preparing your boat for a thorough survey. In some cases, you may even be able to send this paperwork to your surveyor ahead of time, allowing for a much more efficient process on the day of the actual inspection.

Be Prepared For A Sea Trial

If your boat has been held on land for a long period or if it's simply been a while since it was professionally examined, your survey may include a sea trial. This involves taking the boat out on the water and putting it through rigorous paces to be sure it can hold up under usage conditions.

Most sea trials will require the services of a professional captain, so it's important that you have one on call in case he or she is necessary. You should also be sure that you have adequate fuel and supplies on board for a relatively short but still important trip.

Keep The Deck Clear

The most important thing you can do to guarantee a successful marine survey is make sure that the surveyor has easy access to all parts of your boat. This means making sure equipment is stashed away and all access hatches can be easily identified and used. Keeping a tidy boat is a key component of marine safety, and you should use your boat insurance survey as an excuse to make sure you're maintaining the standards that are necessary.

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