Recreational Surveys
An example of what's on the checklist.
A full pre-purchase inspection runs well beyond a hundred individual line items, each one rated for condition and backed by a comment and photos in your report. This page walks through the structure we work from — a representative example, not the complete item-by-item list, which varies with the vessel.
01 / Hull & structure
Topsides, underwater sections and underwater gear
- Topsides, superstructure, deck and deck fittings
- Hull surfaces above and below the waterline
- Osmosis (fibreglass hulls)
- Keel and keel bolts
- Bulkheads, stringers and frames
- Swim platform, ladders, handrails and safety chains
- Voids and compartments
- Propeller(s), shaft and shaft bearings
- Rudder, rudder gland and stern gland / transom shield
- Trim tabs and sacrificial anodes
- Antifouling condition
- Bow and stern thrusters, where fitted
02 / Engines, fuel & electrical
Machinery, fuel systems and the electrical installation
- Mechanical installation, engine mounts and gearbox
- Engine controls and engine instruments
- Engine oil, gear oil and coolant
- Compression testing, where arranged (diesel engines)
- Exhaust system(s) and corrosion check
- Fuel tanks, lines, filtration and shut-off valves
- Electrical safety certificate and RCD (safety switch)
- Batteries, terminals and battery management system
- Main electrical panels, distribution boards and wiring
- DC and AC voltage, and shore power installation
- Solar panels, where fitted
03 / Rigging & sailing systems
On sailing vessels, the rig and running gear
- Mast, boom and gooseneck
- Standing rigging, spreaders and base attachments
- Chainplates and deck penetrations
- Running rigging, condition and documentation
- Sail inventory and sail condition
- Rigging hydraulics, where fitted
04 / Navigation & safety equipment
Required and fitted safety gear, checked against use
- Navigation lights, external and internal lighting
- Steering system and emergency steering
- Anchoring system
- Communication equipment
- GPS, chart plotter, depth sounder, radar and autopilot
- Flares, EPIRB, life raft and life jackets
- First aid kit
- Lifelines, stanchions, pulpits and pushpits
05 / Watertight integrity
What keeps the water out, and where it might be getting in
- Electric and manual bilge pumps, and bilge alarms
- Seacocks, skin fittings, hoses and clamps
- Hatches, portholes, windows and doors
- Windscreen
- Scuppers and drains
- Clears and covers
- Signs of water ingress or damage
06 / Fire & gas safety
Fire suppression and LPG installations
- Fire extinguishers and fixed fire suppression system
- Fire detection, fire alarms and smoke / heat detectors
- Fire blanket, fire bucket and fire pump, where fitted
- LPG bottle locker, shut-off valve and compliance plate
- LPG certificate and indoor LPG alarm
- Gas appliance and ventilation checks
07 / Comfort & convenience items
Noted for condition, not cosmetic preference
- Refrigeration and water heater
- Air conditioning and water maker
- Entertainment and stereo systems
- Tender, where carried
- Vessel security system
- Bimini, clears and upper deck fit-out
Every item above is rated for the action taken and the condition found, with comments and photos attached in the report. Some items don't apply to every vessel — see our exclusions & important notes for what falls outside a standard inspection and why.
Ready to book your survey?
Tell us the vessel and where it's located, and we'll confirm a time.