The Murray Yacht Sales Team has observed thousands of marine surveys over the past 50+ years serving the Gulf Coast. In the post below, you will find best practices to prepare a vessel for a marine survey, starting with a pre-survey checklist of the most common survey findings.
Common Survey Finding, sorted alphabetically
- Anodes: Ignored zincs (anodes) can lead to accelerated galvanic and stray-current corrosion, which eats away at metals and propellers
- Battery Installation Faults: Unsecured batteries, missing terminal covers, corroded terminals, and improper use of wing nuts are frequently flagged
- Bilge: all compartments clean, dry, bonding wires intact, keel bolts clean
- Bilge pumps, auto-float switches, and no high water alarm
- Davit: Operation and cable age
- Decks: Decks and cabin soles often feel “spongy” underfoot when water penetrates the core through improperly sealed hardware or deck fittings
- Electrical Issues: Corroded connections, undersized wire, unfused circuits, amateur DIY modifications, GFCI outlet failures, or missing in wet areas.
- Engine Wear: Mechanics frequently find issues like leaking fuel lines, cracked engine mounts, and raw water cooling system failures
- Engine Systems – Blower, Alarms, Tachometer, Gauges
- Expiration dates: including:
- Flares
- Documentation and registration
- Fire extinguishers
- Life raft inspections
- Fire extinguishing systems (fixed) – with an outdated or no certification tag.
- Head: overboard discharge valve secured as per USCG
- Heat Exchangers: Engine, Transmission, Generator, Air Conditioning; last serviced?
- HIN not visible on vessel: Under U.S. Coast Guard regulations and federal law, all recreational vessels manufactured or imported on or after November 1, 1972, must have a permanently affixed Hull Identification Number (HIN). HIN Replacement – Click Here for a replacement plate: Hull Identification Number – Custom HIN Number Plate
- Pest Control: Rodents, Insects (termites, ants, roaches), Spiders, Birds, Reptiles (gecko)
- Propane (LPG) – Does the stove/oven operate properly? Does the system hold pressure?
- Safety Equipment missing or out of date – Missing smoke & carbon-monoxide alarms, expired fire extinguishers, missing flares, and improper navigation lights often fail compliance checks
- Shaft Seals & Stuffing Glands: Excessive leaking at the shaft packing gland or dripless seal is a common maintenance oversight
- Steering & Rudder Malfunctions: Play, stiffness, or fluid leaks in the hydraulic steering lines and rudder bearings
- Thru-Hull Valves are not operational – Seized, corroded, or damaged valves and hoses
- Lights inoperable – Running, steaming, cabin, anchor