You want to buy a boat, sail, or perhaps even go on a cruise
with your vessel for several years around the world.“The choice of boat must match your navigation program”, and it is very important not to make a mistake knowing that it is always complicated to
resell your asset.
However, the seller's good faith often does not allow for an accurate judgment of the vessel's condition…
It is important to know that the profession of maritime expert is not regulated in France! And that
among the many maritime experts, attention must be paid to their experience to ensure the quality of the expertise.
How to choose a competent expert? In this profession, a minimum of 5 years of maritime experience is required to remain credible with the Comité d’Études et de Services des Assureurs Maritimes et Transports (CESAM).
An Economic Interest Group providing services, CESAM brings together all French and foreign insurance companies practicing in the "Maritime and Transport" sector.
If the expert is competent, they will conduct a thorough examination of the boat (both afloat and on land), paying particular attention to sensitive points (structural condition, engine, rigging, specific details already noted on certain boat series, etc.), and finally, a sea trial. A report must be provided to you, including an "expert opinion" valuation of the vessel. This report may also be required by insurance companies. A complete inventory will be detailed; however, the expert will not guarantee the proper functioning of onboard electronics, as this is not within their
responsibilities. In such cases, they may call upon a specialist for specific points.
An inspection can be conducted during a pre-purchase process and is often requested by the buyer, as it constitutes a comprehensive assessment. However, an inspection or a counter-inspection may also be required by insurance companies in the event of
damage.
The first step is to review all the boat's documents, including maintenance and repair invoices, service records, and the engine logbook if applicable.
A more thorough investigation should then allow for the inspection of:
- The general condition of the boat (electrical system, plumbing, linings, bilges, etc.)
- Water leaks (saltwater or freshwater)
- Fuel leaks, other liquids, or oil
- The condition of upholstery and flooring
- The state of electronic equipment
- The engine condition with an oil analysis
- The condition of the standing rigging, including an inspection at the masthead
- The condition of the running rigging
- The condition of all deck and rigging hardware
- The condition and functionality of the sails
- The state of the safety equipment on board
- The condition of the anchor locker
During navigation, it is essential to test the full operation of the engine at all speeds, from forward to reverse, including a visual analysis of exhaust smoke.
Indeed, based on the smoke color, the expert or professional can already form an idea about the engine. The exhaust should also release a sufficient amount of water in the case of a wet exhaust, whether it is directly or indirectly cooled. The engine's temperature must not exceed the nominal temperature specified by the manufacturer.
Finally, for a comprehensive inspection, the boat must be lifted out of the water to examine the submerged parts of the hull. This allows for the detection of osmosis marks, which, as a reminder, are considered normal. Osmosis is a natural aging process of polyester/fiberglass hulls that eventually permits moisture ingress. The on-land inspection can also reveal and assess:
- Potential impacts
- Poor repairs
- The hull/keel joint
- The condition and functionality of the centerboard
- The rudder play and rudder condition
- The condition of the propeller shaft, sail-drive
- The state of stuffing boxes and other seals
- The condition of anodes and the propeller
Aside from requests from the insurer or ensuring a good purchase, it might be wise to call on a maritime expert if you lack experience.
Often, the seller already has a wealth of information about the boat, its maintenance, and its history over many years. An inspection is only valuable if it is thorough; the visit must cover all the elements mentioned above. The professional's experience in these matters must be significant. The report from a professional, who may not necessarily be a maritime expert but rather a "knowing professional" or "specialist," should allow you to negotiate your purchase more effectively by identifying certain elements that may sometimes be invisible due to a simple lack of experience.
A report should highlight the boat's general condition and provide recommendations to avoid encountering difficulties at sea.
This is fundamentally about the safety of the crew on board and ensuring worry-free navigation. We can only advise you in your choices.
It might be worth focusing on the crew onboard! Having a good boat is great… but knowing how to use it safely is even better…
The safety audit involves verifying, inspecting, and assessing whether your projects are feasible in a "maritime" sense.
Our 30 years of experience in managing risk prevention and forecasting will help guide you in analyzing your project.
- Assessment and coherence of your project
Ensuring that all indicators are green at every level (boat, knowledge, training, skills, and reactions). The choice of the boat must perfectly align with the desired adventure. At this stage, it is important to have at least some basic knowledge.
A family cruise or any other sailing venture must not be taken lightly. The same applies to a one-day sea outing… and unlike on land, assistance won’t be available within 10 minutes. Risk management will require knowing basic first aid or even how to detect and extinguish a fire onboard.
Additionally, modern technology and equipment advancements must be considered while trying not to overburden the budget. Ideally, leveraging the experiences of others can be incredibly beneficial.
- Estimation of your needs and evaluation of your knowledge
The distance from shelter (a safe location for the boat and passengers, where embarkation and disembarkation can be carried out safely) often determines the needs of our sailors, but as the saying goes, "better safe than sorry!"
Evaluate your skills before embarking on the adventure. Consider your experience and the tools you have at your disposal, including, of course, the boat.
At every stage, it is useful to consider the remaining journey both technically and financially, as the two are interlinked.
Training remains important, though it’s not about overtraining either. Obtaining a boat license, even if not mandatory for sailboats, is far from a bad idea, especially for understanding relevant regulations. It may sound trivial, but knowing how to use paper charts for navigation is absolutely essential! Imagine a major onboard power failure, leaving you unable to use electronic devices…
Conduct drills and maneuvers at sea with the entire crew, practicing how to retrieve a man overboard. Learn how to reef the sails in degraded conditions or even simply how to heave-to. Use the three capes technique if the engine stops working for some reason. And what about your emergency tiller? Have you tested it? Your boat could take on water! Will your pumps operate long enough? Have you tested the manual bilge pump, and how high are your batteries if water floods the bilge? It’s better to prepare for all these scenarios in calm conditions rather than in a storm…
How will you get your weather updates once you’ve set off? That’s a great question… but yes, how will you download GRIB files once at sea? There are software programs, chart plotters, and equipment that can sometimes be quite complex to use…
You want to buy a boat, sail, or perhaps even go on a cruise
with your vessel for several years around the world.“The choice of boat must match your navigation program”, and it is very important not to make a mistake knowing that it is always complicated to
resell your asset.
However, the seller's good faith often does not allow for an accurate judgment of the vessel's condition…
It is important to know that the profession of maritime expert is not regulated in France! And that
among the many maritime experts, attention must be paid to their experience to ensure the quality of the expertise.
How to choose a competent expert? In this profession, a minimum of 5 years of maritime experience is required to remain credible with the Comité d’Études et de Services des Assureurs Maritimes et Transports (CESAM).
An Economic Interest Group providing services, CESAM brings together all French and foreign insurance companies practicing in the "Maritime and Transport" sector.
If the expert is competent, they will conduct a thorough examination of the boat (both afloat and on land), paying particular attention to sensitive points (structural condition, engine, rigging, specific details already noted on certain boat series, etc.), and finally, a sea trial. A report must be provided to you, including an "expert opinion" valuation of the vessel. This report may also be required by insurance companies. A complete inventory will be detailed; however, the expert will not guarantee the proper functioning of onboard electronics, as this is not within their
responsibilities. In such cases, they may call upon a specialist for specific points.
An inspection can be conducted during a pre-purchase process and is often requested by the buyer, as it constitutes a comprehensive assessment. However, an inspection or a counter-inspection may also be required by insurance companies in the event of
damage.
The first step is to review all the boat's documents, including maintenance and repair invoices, service records, and the engine logbook if applicable.
A more thorough investigation should then allow for the inspection of:
- The general condition of the boat (electrical system, plumbing, linings, bilges, etc.)
- Water leaks (saltwater or freshwater)
- Fuel leaks, other liquids, or oil
- The condition of upholstery and flooring
- The state of electronic equipment
- The engine condition with an oil analysis
- The condition of the standing rigging, including an inspection at the masthead
- The condition of the running rigging
- The condition of all deck and rigging hardware
- The condition and functionality of the sails
- The state of the safety equipment on board
- The condition of the anchor locker
During navigation, it is essential to test the full operation of the engine at all speeds, from forward to reverse, including a visual analysis of exhaust smoke.
Indeed, based on the smoke color, the expert or professional can already form an idea about the engine. The exhaust should also release a sufficient amount of water in the case of a wet exhaust, whether it is directly or indirectly cooled. The engine's temperature must not exceed the nominal temperature specified by the manufacturer.
Finally, for a comprehensive inspection, the boat must be lifted out of the water to examine the submerged parts of the hull. This allows for the detection of osmosis marks, which, as a reminder, are considered normal. Osmosis is a natural aging process of polyester/fiberglass hulls that eventually permits moisture ingress. The on-land inspection can also reveal and assess:
- Potential impacts
- Poor repairs
- The hull/keel joint
- The condition and functionality of the centerboard
- The rudder play and rudder condition
- The condition of the propeller shaft, sail-drive
- The state of stuffing boxes and other seals
- The condition of anodes and the propeller
Aside from requests from the insurer or ensuring a good purchase, it might be wise to call on a maritime expert if you lack experience.
Often, the seller already has a wealth of information about the boat, its maintenance, and its history over many years. An inspection is only valuable if it is thorough; the visit must cover all the elements mentioned above. The professional's experience in these matters must be significant. The report from a professional, who may not necessarily be a maritime expert but rather a "knowing professional" or "specialist," should allow you to negotiate your purchase more effectively by identifying certain elements that may sometimes be invisible due to a simple lack of experience.
A report should highlight the boat's general condition and provide recommendations to avoid encountering difficulties at sea.
This is fundamentally about the safety of the crew on board and ensuring worry-free navigation. We can only advise you in your choices.
It might be worth focusing on the crew onboard! Having a good boat is great… but knowing how to use it safely is even better…
The safety audit involves verifying, inspecting, and assessing whether your projects are feasible in a "maritime" sense.
Our 30 years of experience in managing risk prevention and forecasting will help guide you in analyzing your project.
- Assessment and coherence of your project
Ensuring that all indicators are green at every level (boat, knowledge, training, skills, and reactions). The choice of the boat must perfectly align with the desired adventure. At this stage, it is important to have at least some basic knowledge.
A family cruise or any other sailing venture must not be taken lightly. The same applies to a one-day sea outing… and unlike on land, assistance won’t be available within 10 minutes. Risk management will require knowing basic first aid or even how to detect and extinguish a fire onboard.
Additionally, modern technology and equipment advancements must be considered while trying not to overburden the budget. Ideally, leveraging the experiences of others can be incredibly beneficial.
- Estimation of your needs and evaluation of your knowledge
The distance from shelter (a safe location for the boat and passengers, where embarkation and disembarkation can be carried out safely) often determines the needs of our sailors, but as the saying goes, "better safe than sorry!"
Evaluate your skills before embarking on the adventure. Consider your experience and the tools you have at your disposal, including, of course, the boat.
At every stage, it is useful to consider the remaining journey both technically and financially, as the two are interlinked.
Training remains important, though it’s not about overtraining either. Obtaining a boat license, even if not mandatory for sailboats, is far from a bad idea, especially for understanding relevant regulations. It may sound trivial, but knowing how to use paper charts for navigation is absolutely essential! Imagine a major onboard power failure, leaving you unable to use electronic devices…
Conduct drills and maneuvers at sea with the entire crew, practicing how to retrieve a man overboard. Learn how to reef the sails in degraded conditions or even simply how to heave-to. Use the three capes technique if the engine stops working for some reason. And what about your emergency tiller? Have you tested it? Your boat could take on water! Will your pumps operate long enough? Have you tested the manual bilge pump, and how high are your batteries if water floods the bilge? It’s better to prepare for all these scenarios in calm conditions rather than in a storm…
How will you get your weather updates once you’ve set off? That’s a great question… but yes, how will you download GRIB files once at sea? There are software programs, chart plotters, and equipment that can sometimes be quite complex to use…