Surveyor recommendation needed in northern Ohio

P-Dogg · Post by **P-Dogg** » Tue May 15, 2012 10:40 am

Can anyone recommend a surveyor that works on Lake Erie halfway between Toledo and Cleveland? I need to survey a 36 foot twin gas vessel. Someone who can do both hull and engines would be ideal. Otherwise, someone who specializes in hull only or engines only would work too. Boroscoping capabilities are a plus. Thanks, Perry

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Tue May 15, 2012 12:59 pm

I do not know my self but perhaps this would help you find one you could trust

http://www.boatus.com/insurance/survey.asp

Briand · Post by **Briand** » Tue May 15, 2012 3:54 pm

Greg Group is a very well known surveyor in this area, you are probably looking in the Port Clinton area. Greg surveyed my boat ten years ago, I was very happy. You can google "Greg Group" for contact information. Good luck, you will be pleased with his work.

captainmaniac · Post by **captainmaniac** » Tue May 15, 2012 9:59 pm

Or look up options here http://www.marinesurvey.org/

mitch · Post by **mitch** » Wed May 16, 2012 10:34 am

Last weekend, watched a travel lift raise a 40 footer, out of the water for a 5 minute look at bottom, no wonder some surveys are expensive.

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Wed May 16, 2012 1:17 pm

Travel lift fee is not included in the survery

mitch · Post by **mitch** » Wed May 16, 2012 1:21 pm

Maybe back east, here in Missouri it is, about 500 bucks

Crazy Yankee · Post by **Crazy Yankee** » Wed May 16, 2012 1:41 pm

Our 10m was in Monroe MI, which is just outside of Toledo, OH. We used - http://www.mormanmarinesurveyors.com

They were a pleasure to deal with, although I never met them in person. I remember a very nice lady that answers the phones for them was very helpful.

larryeddington · Post by **larryeddington** » Wed May 16, 2012 8:28 pm

I know you gotta have em but IMO they are useless as a realestate apprasier and home enspector.

A necessary insurance evil that you cannot depend on for your own decision making.

ready123 · Post by **ready123** » Wed May 16, 2012 9:37 pm

larryeddington wrote:I know you gotta have em but IMO they are useless as a realestate apprasier and home enspector.
A necessary insurance evil that you cannot depend on for your own decision making.

Maybe for your little boat purchase... but I would never consider spending $100,000+ on a boat without one.
Of course like "everyone" in life there are good and bad and everything in between......
The secret is to find the good one's... appraiser/inspector/surveyor/mechanic /advisor the good ones are worth knowing about.

larryeddington · Post by **larryeddington** » Wed May 16, 2012 9:44 pm

as I said a necessary evil, but you need to add your own common sense, there's is supposed to be an expert opinion. Check legal definition (expert witness) you only have to know more than than the average person.

At the end of the day it is only an opinion and IMO mine is better if I get to examine it hands on. I would put my mechanical eye up against any of them.

No more comment from me, jump on if you wish. I have no more comment on this subject other than they are necessary for insurance but for individual purchase of my "small boat" I would use my own good judgement rather be upset with me than something I paid my hard earned money for.

Also not many Trojans in the $100K price range.

Big D · Post by **Big D** » Wed May 16, 2012 10:48 pm

I think what we have to remember is that not all purchasers come to the table with the same knowledge of the boat theyâ€™re buying. Heck the numbers are rising for those that donâ€™t even know what port or starboard is! How can they possibly know what to look for in determining if a vessel is sound, or what it may take to correct the deficiencies that are certain to exist? Personally, Iâ€™m confident I know enough not to have to hire one, but not everybody could say that sensibly. They may be new to boating, and know nothing about it. It would be like my pretending Iâ€™d know what to look for if I were in the market for to purchase an airplane; it would simply be too foreign to me to make an educated purchase. Though I know boats, would I hire one? I probably would. Never mind insurance, it is a necessary evil as stated, I continue to maintain that a survey is a good document to have as a third party pointing out deficiencies that can serve as a bargaining tool in negotiating a fair/better price, and to protect your safety. One has to however go into it expecting that the surveyor will not find it all, and that inevitably you will find a few things they missed as you familiarize yourself with your new purchase. If you expect him to find it all in the few hours it takes him to do his thing without removing panels, headliners, cabinetry, floors, etc., you will be disappointed. They canâ€™t possibly find every deficiency. Thankfully, with respect to the Trojan line, we here can certainly point out deficiencies that we have come across on our own vessels that may help others in knowing what to look for.