What this is
An independent marine survey is an inspection done by a qualified surveyor — usually SAMS-accredited or NAMS-accredited — who walks through the boat, runs the engines, checks systems under load, and produces a written report. ABM doesn't do the inspection ourselves; we route the request to a local surveyor who handles it end-to-end.
Why it matters
For anything over about 20 feet, or any used boat with real engine hours, a pre-purchase survey almost always pays for itself. Surveyors catch the things that don't show up in a 30-minute sea trial: soft transoms, stringer rot, corroded fuel tanks, iffy electrical panels, drive-train wear. Even on a clean boat, a written report gives you leverage on price and a baseline for insurance.
How it works
- Submit the form with boat details and the city/state where the boat is sitting.
- We route it to an accredited surveyor in that area who handles that boat type.
- The surveyor contacts you directly to schedule, quote the fee, and confirm scope.
- You get a written report — PDF, usually within a few days of the on-site visit.