Marine Survey Cost: What Drives the Price and How Quoting Works

A plain-language guide for buyers and owners from Stuart to Miami Beach, from Veteran Yacht Services.

No single flat price covers every marine survey. The quote depends on the boat in front of us and the job you need done.

This guide covers what moves the price, which extra costs to plan for, and what to send us so the quote is accurate the first time.

Tell us about the boat and we’ll send you a quote. Request a quote or call 269-998-6767.

How Much Does a Marine Survey Cost? It Depends on the Boat and the Job

The cost of a marine survey is quoted for each boat. It mostly depends on the vessel’s length and type, the survey you need, whether a haul-out and sea trial are planned, and where the boat sits. We quote by the foot for boats up to 50 feet and by the job for boats over 50 feet. Every survey we do includes an appraisal of the boat’s value. Whoever you hire, get a written quote before you book.

We don’t publish rates because a 24-foot outboard center console and a 60-foot twin-diesel motor yacht are different jobs.

What Affects the Price of a Marine Survey?

The biggest drivers are length overall, vessel type and complexity, the survey type, haul-out and sea trial arrangements, and travel. A bigger, more complex boat takes longer to inspect and longer to write up, so it costs more.

Vessel length

More length usually means more beam as well. What this means is more hull, deck and interior to cover. That adds time on site and pages in the report.

Vessel type and complexity

An outboard center console, a twin-diesel cruiser and a sailboat with standing rigging each carry a different set of systems. Generators, air conditioning, watermakers and stabilizers each add a system to check. A full survey looks at structure and moisture, through-hulls, engines, fuel, DC and AC electrical, plumbing, steering and controls, and safety gear. More equipment on board means more time spent on each of those areas.

Age and condition

Older boats, and boats with known problems, can take longer to document properly. The findings have to be recorded, photographed and explained, and that takes time.

Does the Survey Type Change the Cost?

Yes. A pre-purchase survey is the most detailed, because the buyer needs condition and performance before money changes hands. An insurance (condition and value) survey focuses on whether the boat is a reasonable risk. Appraisals and damage surveys are scoped to their purpose, so each is quoted separately.

Pre-purchase survey: the buyer’s deep look at condition and performance.
Insurance survey: condition and value for underwriting.
Yacht appraisal: documented value for financing, estate, legal or donation needs.
Damage or claim survey: scoped to the loss.

Not sure which one you need? See which survey do I need, or just tell us what the survey is for when you call.

Is the Haul-Out Included in the Survey Price?

No. The buyer books and pays for the haul-out. A boatyard does the haul-out, and the yard charges for the lift. Hauling the boat lets the surveyor see and sound the whole bottom, running gear, struts, rudders, through-hulls and zincs. If the boat isn’t hauled, the report says what couldn’t be inspected.

Yard rates vary by yard, so ask the yard directly when you schedule.

Does a Sea Trial Add to the Cost?

No. Sea trial time is part of our pre-purchase quote and is included in the price. A sea trial adds time, and someone has to run the boat, often the owner or a captain. During the trial the surveyor records RPM, temperatures and oil pressure at idle, cruise and wide-open throttle. Steering, vibration, smoke and leaks are checked under load.

If a captain runs the boat, any captain’s fee is between you and the captain.

Do You Charge for Travel in Southeastern Florida?

Yes, when the boat is more than a one-hour drive from Stuart, FL. Veteran Yacht Services is based in Stuart and surveys along the coast from Vero Beach down to Miami Beach. Where the boat sits is one of the factors in the quote, so include the marina or yard name when you ask for one.

We cover Vero Beach, Ft. Pierce, Port St. Lucie, Jensen Beach, Stuart, Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Ft. Lauderdale and Miami Beach.

How Do I Get an Accurate Survey Quote?

Send the year, make, model and length, the engine setup, the survey you need, where the boat is, and whether a haul-out and sea trial are planned. Add any lender or insurer requirements and your closing date. With that, we can send you an accurate quote.

You don’t need every detail to start. Any of these gets the ball rolling:

Why the Cheapest Survey Isn’t Always the Best Value

A survey is often the only independent look at a boat before money changes hands. Be careful hiring a surveyor who charges much less than the rest. Experienced surveyors who belong to SAMS and/or NAMS and keep up with their standards charge a reasonable fee, deliver a complete condition survey, and give useful feedback on repair options.

Veteran Yacht Services is veteran-owned and operated. We’re members of SAMS, ABYC and NFPA, and the work is led by John P. DeGoede IV, a SAMS Accredited Marine Surveyor, USCG 100-ton Master and instructor for the Chapman School of Seamanship surveying course. More on our SAMS membership and credentials.

What You Get for the Fee

You get a thorough inspection of every accessible area, bow to stern, and a written report. The report gives each system’s condition, findings ranked by priority, photos and the surveyor’s signed certification. Every survey includes an appraisal of the boat’s value.

For a walkthrough of what we inspect, see the companion guide, Overview of a Marine Survey Inspection. For the rules behind the findings, see our guide to survey standards.

Call 269-998-6767 if you want to talk through the job before you book.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you publish a price per foot?

No. We quote each boat individually. Boats up to 50 feet are quoted by the foot, and larger boats by the job. Call 269-998-6767 or send the boat’s details through the quote form.

Who pays for the haul-out?

The buyer books and pays the boatyard for the haul-out.

Is the sea trial part of the survey?

Yes. Sea trial time is part of our pre-purchase quote.

Can I get one survey for both buying and insurance?

Yes. A pre-purchase survey can be used for both purposes, buying and insurance. Tell us both needs when you ask for a quote.

Request Your Survey Quote