© 2024 - LuxorFG.com
Boat appraisal
To carry out the appraisal, a standardized procedure will be adopted and the report should be read keeping in mind the procedures based on the following guidelines:
• The hull profile above and below the waterline will be checked for any deformations or defects, identifying the possible applicable causes.
• The hull will be examined above and below the waterline for cracks, damage, or corrosion that could cause structural problems.
• The thickness of the plates of the hull's underwater body and structures will be measured using ultrasound, following the procedural standard described by ISO 16809:2012.
• The adequacy of the protective paint coating system for metals will be checked, including the safety, effectiveness, and probable lifespan of all sacrificial anodes.
• The level of safety of the installations and the sealing of the hatches, the closures, and the adequacy of the materials used will be checked.
• All discharges, bow thruster and stern thruster pipes, scuppers, vents, drains, and outlets will be checked for watertightness and weather resistance, ensuring they comply with the required conditions. The efficiency of the valves and sea inlets will be verified; no valve will be disassembled during the inspection. The interior of the boat will be examined and signs of dezincification will be checked by sample scraping of the most suspicious parts. All valves and sea chests will be opened and closed to the maximum extent possible. All structural bolts will be tested with a hammer where accessible. Metal valve parts or sea inlets will be hammer tested inside the boat. All deck closures will be thoroughly tested from inside the boat to ensure hull safety. All stainless steel clamps on the piping and all accessible pipes will be checked to verify their safety level. All hose tails below the waterline will be checked to ensure they are doubled and properly positioned. All sea inlets will be checked for correct installation and easy access. The type of construction material of through-hulls and valves will be verified for their quality and function.
• All sea inlets and strainers will be checked to ensure that there is no marine growth and that water can pass through the grids, grates, and strainers, making sure that the closures are secure. All closures related to propulsion and steering systems will be checked for safety, condition, and watertightness.
• The internal hull will be inspected to assess the presence of cracks, damage, and corrosion that may contribute to structural weakening or waste. Where surfaces are covered by linings, some of them will be removed to check for any risks or indications of hull weakening.
• All bilge compartments will be inspected to check for damage, cracks, corrosion, or the presence of oil or water in the compartments. All limber holes in the floors, stringers, bulkheads, and other internal reinforcement structures will be checked to verify their condition and ensure the proper drainage of bilge water.
• All compartments, lockers, technical rooms and other openings will be inspected to check for cracks, damage and corrosion that could contribute to structural weakening or the formation of weak points.
• All bulkheads and their attachment to the hull and deck will be checked to verify the possible presence of damage, cracks, or corrosion that could contribute to structural weakening or the formation of corrosion.
• All hinges and closures, both watertight and non-watertight, will be checked to verify the efficiency of the closing mechanisms and their solidity.
• All areas around the hatches will be inspected to check for cracks, damage, and leaks, including checking the condition and any necessary interventions to ensure the sealing of the gaskets and the functionality of the scuppers of the gutters.
• The engine and its mounts, as well as the inverter mounts, will be checked by a specialist to verify any damage and excessive use, including possible damage to the hull. The propeller shaft will be visually inspected with rotation to check its straightness and freedom of movement, tested with a magnet to verify the quality of the stainless steel. The engine room will be inspected with all available means for traces of rust and corrosion. Flexible piping will be checked for defects, as well as certifications, if available. Any clamp and connection found in the engine room will be checked with mirrors and a hammer. The safety level of the stuffing box will be checked along with the safety level of the tube's watertight seal. The bronze components of the engine room will be checked and scraped to verify any loss of zinc and possible weakening. The hull will be visually inspected along with some components using a galvanometer to check for any leaks. The hull plating around the intake strainer and mountain flange will be inspected for impacts, damage, cracks, or corrosion that could cause structural weakening, wastage, or water ingress.
• The bases and supports, bolts and joints of all the machinery in the engine room and technical rooms will be checked to verify the presence of cracks, damage or corrosion that could cause structural weakening or water ingress.
• All the piping in the steering gear compartment will be checked, as well as the rudder trunk and the watertightness of the rudder trunk to check for leaks or corrosion. The rudder trunk will be checked for safety level from inside the hull. All bushings will be checked and clearances verified and measured. The steering transmission components, including the quadrant, will be visually inspected. The emergency steering system will be checked.
• All navigation, deck, and interior lights will be checked.
• The bollards and all deck equipment will be checked and inspected to verify their efficiency, the safety of their fastening on board, and their watertightness.
• All superstructures will be checked for signs of distortion or deformation of their profile. All reinforcements used for the structural stiffening of the superstructures will be checked. All accesses to the reinforcement structures will be examined. All lockers and cabinets, floorboards will be removed to look for signs of corrosion or defects. The bulkheads will be carefully checked with a hammer at their joints near the deck and hull for signs of corrosion and stress. The area around the base of the mast will be checked for compression problems.
• The entire deck, including the bulwark, will be inspected to check for corrosion, damage, or cracks that could weaken its integrity. The teak covering will be checked and its condition verified, as well as that of the components on which the durability and integrity of the underlying layers depend, whether marine plywood or metal. The cockpit floor and the entire deck will be checked for slip resistance.
• All water drainage systems from the deck and the scuppers, including those of the cockpit, will be checked and their efficiency will be assessed.
• The robustness of the assembly and the efficiency of the anchor windlasses will be inspected, as well as any signs of impact from the anchor on the hull plating.
• The safety level of the installation of stanchions and all devices designed to prevent falling overboard will be checked, extending the inspection also to their fastening bolts and the presence of any cracks near their attachment points.
• Windows, lights, and screens will be checked for security level and weather resistance, including the efficiency and adaptability of blinds, deadlights, and storm covers, following the protocol.
• All waterproofing and safety devices related to all deck openings will be identified and checked for their ability to withstand weather and waves that may break over the deck.
• All air ducts, ventilation, and vents installed on deck will be assessed for their integrity and robustness, as well as for their watertightness.
• All internal access doors will be checked for efficiency and robustness, verifying the level of their quality and type of fastening.
• All ladders, both internal and external and those of the engine room, will be checked and the quality of their attachment to the boat's structures will be assessed.
• All fixed rigging of the sailing equipment will be inspected for cracks using a magnifying glass of at least x10; all bolts will be tested with a hammer for their strength, and a magnet will be applied to check the quality of the steel.
All potential movements, distortions, misalignments on terminals, turnbuckles, terminal angles, abnormal distortions of masts, small masts and booms, stress cracks, both on metal and wood, compressions, fittings, spreaders, spreader attachments, and hardware, both on the deck and on the masts, will be inspected for damage, signs of stress or corrosion that could weaken them.
• All blocks, pad eyes, lashings, and running rigging will be inspected to verify their efficiency and robustness. The winches will be tested for their integrity, attachment to the deck, and efficiency, but not under load.
• The bilge drainage and emptying system will be checked and tested for correct operation, size, capacity, and positioning of the suction points.
• The entire fire protection system, both fixed and mobile, including the condition of the cylinders, will be checked for efficiency and compliance. The smoke detectors will be inspected.
• All emergency equipment will be checked for condition, date, and suitability for service and navigation category.
• The condition of the fuel tanks, the supply systems, the state and adequacy of the piping, the valves, visible signs of leaks, the operation of the level indicators, and the positioning of potential sources of ignition will be meticulously checked.
• The accommodations will be checked for signs of dampness, cracks, and damage. The condition of the furniture, floorboards, cupboards, ventilation, and the maintenance of the furniture will also be verified.
• The water tanks, black water and grey water tanks, as well as all the piping, will be carefully checked.
• All electrical installations, circuits, insulation systems, assembly quality, visual condition of batteries and terminals, ventilation system, and protection systems will be visually inspected, where accessible. All systems will undergo a switch test and be powered.
• The onboard electronic equipment will be powered, inventoried, and its efficiency will be evaluated.
• The refrigeration and heating systems will be visually inspected in all their components and powered on to test their efficiency.
Estimate of a boat's value
The "commercial value of boats" assessment service is aimed at buyers, nautical leasing companies, insurance companies, and for determining VAT on imported boats.
The "commercial value" is determined by the marine surveyor based on market conditions and the main characteristics of the boat, after an onboard inspection to gather the necessary information.
Consultancy on the "commercial value of boats" is provided to buyers, for the purpose of VAT payment in case of importation, and for leasing companies and insurance companies.
If requested, the consultancy can be supplemented with a report on the condition of the boat, useful for confirming the value established by the Maritime Broker or for any reductions, based on issues that emerged during technical inspections.
Delamination and Detachment Inspection in Boats
During a nautical survey (pre-purchase, evaluation, damage inspection), a wooden hammer is used to determine whether there are any delaminations/separations and/or imperfections between the skins and the material in between on the laminate.
Sometimes, there are thicknesses that do not allow you to assess, with a simple percussion, the existence of imperfections (in the case in the photograph, the imperfections were made artificially) and whether there are others below the imperfection. The artificially made hole is located beneath a lamination of the outer skin with a lack of adhesion to the core (internal material), probably occurring during the manufacturing process. Until now, to perform a non-destructive analysis, ultrasounds have been used, that is, a sensor that defines a thickness. It often happens that if you are not aware of the lamination and construction plans, an echo can give uncertain results.
To be certain about the anomalous situation found, internal verification of the point in question is often used. It often happens that inside there are counter-molds, furniture, and/or equipment that do not allow this counter-verification. The need that arises is therefore to have a tool that allows verification (in a non-destructive way) by providing a defined and clear image.
Private naval appraisal
The party-appointed naval appraisal is a fundamental tool in the event of disputes and maritime accidents, used by both the parties involved and law firms.
During a dispute concerning technical and/or commercial issues related to a vessel, the Judge may decide to acquire further information to support their decision by appointing a Court Technical Consultant (CTU).
COMPENSATION FOR DAMAGE TO THE MOTORBOAT
The parties involved have the right to appoint their own Party Technical Consultant (CTP) to draft the naval appraisal and participate in the expert operations together with the expert appointed by the Judge. The CTP's task is to provide useful elements to facilitate the work of the party's lawyer and contribute to the successful outcome of the judgment.
INSURANCE ASSESSMENTS
In addition to the party-appointed naval appraisal, consultancy is available for insurance assessment, aimed mainly at insurance companies, but also useful for the owner in case of dispute.
COMPENSATION FOR BOAT SINKING
For insurance companies, the goal is to ascertain the extent of the damage caused by extraordinary events, agree on the methods for functional and aesthetic restoration, and carry out an appropriate commercial evaluation for settlement.
For the owner, in case of dispute, the consultancy serves to assert their rights against those who caused the damage or those responsible for compensation.
