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Pre Purchase Marine Surveys

Get Peace of Mind With a Comprehensive Pre Purchase Survey

  • In Water Inspection

  • Haul Out Inspection

  • Sea Trial

  • Detailed Report

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Our Accreditations

Your Pre Purchase Marine Survey Experts

Are you looking to purchase a boat in the Southern California area and need that peace of mind that comes with a pre purchase survey?

A pre-purchase survey is essential prior to purchasing any vessel.  Considered the most comprehensive of all marine surveys, the pre-purchase survey is designed to provide a potential buyer an in-depth understanding of the boats condition and value.

We understand that purchasing a boat is a big financial investment.  A comprehensive pre-purchase marine survey from Ocean Marine Surveyors can help you quickly identify any potential problems and can even save you money by providing a solid foundation when negotiating the purchase price.  We are one of the highest rated marine surveyors in all of Southern California with numerous 5-star ratings from our satisfied clients.  

With over 22 years of boating experience and numerous industry certifications we have the knowledge and experience necessary to provide you with a professional marine pre-purchase survey at an affordable rate.

The goal of every pre-purchase survey is to find any problems before a financial transaction occurs

The Pre Purchase Survey Process

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The pre-purchase survey process begins with a scheduled meeting at your marina.  Note that some inspections require a full day to complete so its important to plan accordingly .  

In Water

All accessible areas of the vessel are documented and inspected including but not limited to the desk, sideshells, underwaterbody,  Structural integrity is determined through ‘sounding’ and testing with a moisture meter.  Electrical systems are tested for operational integrity.  Required safety equipment is identified and condition is noted. 
 

Haul Out

Haul outs are a critical phase of the pre purchase survey as many of the most important sections of the boat are below the waterline.  A haul out is arranged with the marina to thoroughly inspect the hull, propeller, shaft, and any area previously not accessible. Keel. rudder, hull penetrations, and propulsion
components are evaluated. 

Sea Trial

Sea trials are also a must-do part of a thorough pre-purchase survey as this process will help determine how well the vessels systems operate under load including specific maneuvers.  Many boats appear great cosmetically but how do they perform?  Do the engines operate as intended?  Is the steering accurate and smooth?  How about vibrations at speed?  The only way to truly know how well a boat performs is through a comprehensive sea trial. 

The Scope

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The vessel will be examined for compliance with mandatory United States Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 33 and Title 46 regulations, USCG regulations, recommendations of the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC), and the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA).

While every vessel is different, we inspect every accessible inch of the vessel’s structure and every accessible system.  While a boats age, type, and onboard equipment can radically vary from one vessel to another, our approach is the same.

Every accessible area of the boat’s structure and systems are inspected.  

We check the boats overall condition, verify systems are operational, and are in compliance with regulations and standards.  A pre purchase survey looks for potential warning signs including but not limited to:

  • Hull, Deck & Superstructure
  • Electrical Systems (AC and DC)
  • Fuel and Exhaust Systems
  • Navigation equipment
  • Rudder and Steering Gear
  • Plumbing & Marine Pumps
  • Deck Level Rigging & Sails
  • Drivetrain & Running Gear
  • Haul-Out & Bottom Inspection
  • Sea Trials for performance and systems operations
  • USCG Firefighting and Safety Equipment
 

The Report

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Report turnaround time is generally between 2-4 days depending on various factors including work load and vessel complexity.  Survey reports will include the vessel description, condition of the various systems, and overall value.  Each section will include detailed feedback as well as a summary of the overall condition of the vessel.  Numerous high-resolution photographs are taken during a survey, with the most relevant included in the final report. 

Accessible areas of the vessel are documented and inspected including but not limited to.

  •  Vessel Description
  • Hull & Structure
  • Machine Systems
  • Tankage
  • Electrical Systems
  • Safety and Lifesaving
  • Accessories
  • Summary
  • Vessel Values
  • Recommendations

Why Choose Ocean Marine Surveyors

With nearly a quarter century of experience, industry certifications, and thousands of satisfied clients, Ocean Marine Surveyors is a recognized leader in the marine survey industry.  Fair prices and and a strong focus on customer service, we work hard to ensure your marine survey is both an informative and pleasant experience. 

Our Satisfied Clients:

Ocean Marine Surveyors, Inc IconOcean Marine Surveyors, Inc

201 East Coast Highway, Newport Beach

5.0 101 reviews

  • Avatar Geoffrey T. Ruppert ★★★★★ 4 months ago
    I used Ocean Marine when purchasing my 1954 K-38 sailboat, "Valentine".
    They did a fantastic job. They were honest, fair and very professional. Scheduling the appointment was very easy as Tonya in the office is very prompt,
    … More available and professional.
    They sent their wood boat expert Jeff. He is a great guy and extremely knowledgable. Has experience running boatyard. Fiberglass, steel and wood knowledge...
    He went above and beyond, and stopped to explain what he saw along the way... Will use them again and highly recommend!
    Excellent group of marine professionals and knowledge.
  • Avatar Shauna Gingras ★★★★★ a month ago
    George and the team were fantastic!! As first time boat buyers we had a ton of questions and George took as much time as needed to answer them for us.
    An incredible value add was that he took the time to explain things that we didn’t even
    … More know to ask questions about. Going above and beyond our expectations.
    The entire process was very smooth, from booking to final report, we were updated every step of the way.
    Would very highly recommend using Ocean Marine Surveyors!
  • Avatar Zach N ★★★★★ 5 months ago
    I had a great experience with Jeff from Ocean Marine Surveyors. He did the pre-purchase survey of my 1984 Islander Bahama 30, Carol Marie, in July 2022. He arrived twenty minutes early and was very professional. He also came out on only … More a few day’s notice. Jeff did a review of all of the systems on the boat and prepared a three tiered report on the findings with comments as well as a separate survey for the insurer. I felt that the price he arrived at was fair and very close to what I’d worked out with the seller. He also provided the survey and report in a very timely manner. The survey was on a Friday and I had the survey and report on Monday, which was critical as far as getting insurance and slip applications finished up on time. I highly recommend Jeff and Ocean Marine Surveyors if you have the need for a survey.
  • Avatar Paul Karasick ★★★★★ 4 months ago
    Great company. Really helpful when I called the office. Jeff showed up early, did a thorough check of my boat and got the report sent when promised.
    I’m a happy customer and would use them again if I ever buy another boat.
  • Avatar Phil Templer ★★★★★ 3 months ago
    Jeff Broder was the boat surveyor at Ocean Marine assigned to us for our new purchase boat inspection last month. Jeff was professional, knowledgeable and thorough. We were provided with a detailed survey report that was understandable … More to us as well as acceptable to the marina we were looking to berth the boat at. He also was easy to talk to and provided some tips regarding the boat's maintenance and operation. I would definitely recommend Jeff and Ocean Marine Surveyors.
  • Avatar daryl holmes ★★★★★ 7 months ago
    Ocean Marine was a great experience. They were prompt, courteous, patient, and thorough. I didn’t know much about boats, and they came out and answered all my questions and concerns. They were extremely patient as they knew I was a layman. … More Their report was straightforward and honest which is exactly what I wanted. I will definitely use them again. Jeff was my surveyor on my 95 Baja
  • Avatar Nicholas Morris ★★★★★ 7 months ago
    Jeff showed up early and started right away. Very detailed and found a few things in need of attention I never would have thought of. The report showed our the next day which really helped. Very satisfied with his work.
  • Avatar Edwin Gean ★★★★★ 7 months ago
    George was the marine surveyor who did the survey for the boat we were planning to purchase.
    George is a very friendly guy, knows what he was doing, very thorough and experienced. I certainly would recommend him and the Ocean Marine Surveyors,
    … More Inc. for all your marine survey needs!!
  • Avatar Rick Masso ★★★★★ 11 months ago
    Very easy and efficient company to work with. Got the survey scheduled for 3 days out. Jeff showed up on time and did a thorough job. Even gave me a quick email to let me know there were no major issues right after he finished. Had the … More survey in my email next day. Complete and explained well with great pictures too. Very highly recommend Ocean Marine Surveyors!
  • Avatar James Ruggiero ★★★★★ 7 months ago
    I needed a quick survey and George took care of it right away. I was very satisfied with the report and the reasonable fee. I will use him on future assignments.

Comprehensive Marine Surveys Delivered Fast

You can expect your survey in as little as 2-4 days after inspection.  Ocean Marine Surveyors have one of the fastest turnaround times in the industry!

Pre-Purchase Surveys

Determining the value and overall condition of a vessel prior to purchase requires a comprehensive survey, haul out, and sea trial.  This is our most in-depth survey designed to help boat buyers make an informed decision.

Damage Surveys

No matter how many safety procedures are followed, vessel and cargo damage is inevitable.  Our damage surveys are designed to give you an accurate determination of the damage incurred making it easier to file any claims.   

Insurance Surveys

Otherwise known as Condition and Valuation surveys.  , our insurance surveys are specifically tailored to meet the strict requirements of marine insurance companies.  Whether you are looking to get a new policy or simply renewing an existing policy, our comprehensive insurance surveys can help.

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Appraisal Surveys

Your boat’s overall condition and its fair market value requires an appraisal survey.  This service is generally reserved for those involved in estate settlements, legal cases, boat financing deals, divorce settlements, donations and more.

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Sea Trials

Sea trials are essential for those looking for an in-depth performance assessment.  We will take your boat into open water and perform maneuvers to determine its real operational status. 

Our Guarantee

We guarantee our marine surveys to be accepted by your bank and insurance underwriter. If our survey is rejected due to the quality or limitations of the report, simply have the underwriter (not the agent or broker) forward us a letter on company letterhead stating the reason for the rejection, and the survey fee will be promptly refunded.

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Fast Turnaround Time

We understand tight schedules.  Our report turnaround time is  one of the fastest in the industry.  

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Qualified Experts

We are experts in our field, a current IIMS Affiliate,  and ABYC Certified in Marine Systems

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Detailed Reports

Survey reports are guaranteed to be accepted by every known lender and insurance carrier

Contact Us

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Phone: 949 698 3353

Location:

 201 E. Coast Hwy, Newport Beach, CA 92660

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Ocean Marine Surveyors provides a wide array of marine surveys including pre-purchase surveys, valuation surveys, damage surveys, insurance surveys, and more. George Malhiot is a current NAMS associate and IIMS affiliate. Our years of experience and credentials help ensure that each and every client receives a superior level of service.