Surveyor and appraiser
Are you looking for an independent, certified expert or surveyor? Do you value an expert valuation of your sailing boat or yacht? Has your boat been damaged or have you caused damage yourself?
Either way, you need a well-founded boat appraisal to be able to effectively assert your claims against the insurance company or the other party involved in the accident. I provide boat and yacht appraisals throughout Europe!
Purchase appraisal
Initial situation
Would you like to buy a yacht? Are you about to buy your dream yacht and have done your research? But you're not 100% sure about the price or the condition of the boat? Then you should have your boat inspected by Aquila Sailing. The objective view of a professional will help you to recognise defects and faults at an early stage, which can quickly have serious consequences for the safety of your boat and your crew. In addition, we assess the defects financially so that you can renegotiate with the seller if necessary.
Procedure of a typical expert opinion
For a report with a full scope of inspection, the duration of the assessment usually extends over two days and always begins with the uncraning of the yacht. For the hull moisture measurement and the osmosis check, it is advisable to store the boat in dry dock 3 to 4 days in advance to ensure usable measurement results.
PHASE 1: Hull inspection
The hull inspection usually marks the start of the survey and, in addition to checking the underwater hull, includes an inspection of all on-board outlets/seacocks as well as the steering and propulsion system. The entire hull is mapped with the aid of a moisture meter and critical areas of moisture are marked; if bubbles are found on the hull, it is not necessarily osmosis. There are various causes of bubbles in the gelcoat. However, the osmotic blister has something that distinguishes it from all other blisters: the odour of the trapped liquid. When a chemical reaction occurs between water and the residues of the GRP production, a slight acetic acid is produced and you can smell it! The pH value is determined using litmus strips. With strong osmosis, the pH value is between 5.5 and 4.5.
PHASE 2: Deck and superstructure
The next step is to inspect the deck and superstructure as well as all the hardware in these areas - from the anchorage to the navigation lighting to the railing. Particular attention is also paid to the hull-deck connection in this phase, as this has a particularly critical function for the structural load-bearing capacity of a boat. a water hose is used to check the tightness of all deck hatches and the condition of the sprayhood and bimini. the standing and running rigging should be examined in detail, especially in the case of used boats. For this purpose, the surveyor is hoisted up the mast in the bosun's chair and the quality and wear of all stays, shrouds, spreaders, mast rails, etc. are examined. For yachts with teak decks, it is important to check the condition of the wood and the seals. Repairing or refurbishing a teak deck is a very costly business.
PHASE 3: Machinery and on-board systems
This is followed by the centrepiece of every boat: the engine system including the associated peripherals. The oil levels in the engine and gearbox, coolants, filters, visual inspection of the electrical connections, drive belt tension, condition of the impeller, etc. are routinely checked, but the proper functioning of the drive unit can only really be confirmed by a sea trial. The drive unit is tested in various load situations in order to identify possible weak points.
PHASE 4: Interior and comfort systems
The next step is to inspect the entire interior as well as all comfort and cockpit systems: these include the refrigerators and freezers, gas cooker and oven (gas system), navigation systems and plotter, radio, AIS, radar, audio system including loudspeakers.
PHASE 5: Sea Trial
If the boat is seaworthy up to this point, the sea trial follows. Here, a detailed schedule of various manoeuvres is drawn up with the skipper to ensure that all critical systems are loaded accordingly in order to check that they are functioning properly, although the schedule may of course deviate from the sequence described from case to case. As a rule, however, this procedure has proved to be very effective, especially as it allows any faults and suspicions to be identified in advance and then given special attention during the sea trial.
Valuation report
A valuation report is basically the same as a purchase appraisal, with the difference that a cost-based calculation of the expense and scope of necessary repair work is carried out on the basis of a defect report. Furthermore, a market research of comparable boats is carried out on the basis of the ship data.
Damage assessment
Accidents happen time and again when sailing, resulting in damage to your own boat or that of another person. An expert or surveyor for pleasure boats and yachts usually comes into play to settle the claim. The appraisal of the yacht serves to preserve evidence, but also to determine the cause of the damage, document the damage (photos and other evidence) and calculate the amount of damage. In co-operation with the repair company, we determine the repair method for the proper and professional repair of the damage and calculate the repair costs.
Typical situations
Boat is damaged when being craned in or out
Boat is damaged in a collision during a regatta
Boat caught by a gust of wind and pressed against another vessel
Boat has grounding
Boat and equipment are damaged by a storm or lightning strike
As an active sailor, I see damage to yachts inside and outside marinas on a daily basis. With the right insurance and the appointment of a competent and experienced surveyor, the problem can be solved quickly and unbureaucratically.
Aquila Sailing investigates the incident and offers you a neutral, independent and competent basis for damage repair by a shipyard and claims settlement with the insurance company. This can be somewhat more complicated and time-consuming abroad. We are your trusted partner in this process and take care of it conscientiously.
Our services cover both third-party liability damage to a third party (in Germany, the party responsible pays the costs of the expert opinion, the injured party is free to choose an expert) and hull damage to their own boat (the insurance company usually commissions the expert).
Estate Valuation
Have you inherited a yacht as part of your estate or would you like to determine the value of your boat for a gift? We would be happy to help you determine the value of the boat. Based on an independent assessment, we prepare a valuation report taking into account the current condition of the boat and determine the current fair value as of the relevant date. I am a qualified engineer. for electrical engineering and information technology and qualified industrial engineer from the Technical University of Munich. As a trained and TÜV Rheinland certified expert for damage and valuation of boats and yachts, I work trustingly with numerous renowned yacht insurance companies and sailing clubs. In addition, I have held the SBF See, the BR license, the SSS license and the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore since 1999 and offer skipper training as well as SKS / SSS practical trips and sailing expeditions in the Mediterranean and Atlantic all year round. My sailing practice sets me apart from almost all yacht appraisers and I bring my experience as a skipper and sailor into the evaluation of boats and their equipment in every project. I am a member of the Royal Yachting Association and the Trans-Ocean Association and offer special conditions for members. What can we do for you? We look forward to a short message or call...
