5 Yacht Surveys in the Ionian – 5 Very Different Problems
Hi, I’m Steve Truss, a marine surveyor based in the Ionian, carrying out pre-purchase and condition surveys around Preveza, Lefkada and the surrounding marinas.
Over the last few weeks I’ve surveyed a mixture of Bavaria, Beneteau and Jeanneau cruising yachts. They were all very different boats, but each one produced a useful reminder of why a proper yacht survey is about much more than just checking whether the boat looks tidy.
1. Corroded Seacocks
On one yacht, several seacocks and skin fittings showed significant corrosion.
These fittings sit below or close to the waterline, so their condition is important. A valve can look acceptable from above while the body or connections are already deteriorating.
They are not glamorous pieces of equipment, but they are amongst the most important fittings on any yacht.
2. Ageing Standing Rigging
Another yacht had standing rigging that appeared to be original.
Stainless-steel rigging can look perfectly reasonable from deck level, but age, corrosion around terminals and deterioration at chainplates all need to be considered.
Rigging is one of those areas where knowing the age and history can be just as important as how shiny it looks.
3. High Moisture Readings That Weren’t Moisture
A particularly interesting case involved a yacht rudder giving high moisture-meter readings.
After further investigation, part of the Coppercoat was removed and the readings dropped considerably. A small pilot hole was then drilled into the rudder core.
The core inside was extremely dry.
It was a good reminder that moisture meters are a diagnostic tool, not a final answer. Coatings, metals and construction details can all affect readings, and they always need to be interpreted alongside percussion testing and physical inspection.
4. Engine Crankcase Pressure
During another survey, noticeable pressure and oil mist were seen coming from the engine dipstick when the engine was under load.
Naturally, this raised concerns about possible internal engine wear.
Further investigation found the cause to be a heavily blocked crankcase breather. A subsequent compression test produced excellent results.
Sometimes a worrying symptom has a relatively straightforward explanation — but it still needs investigating properly.
5. Keel and Structural Details
Keel areas remain one of the places where I spend considerable time during a survey.
Keel bolts, backing plates, internal floors, structural mouldings and the keel-to-hull joint all need to be looked at together.
On one recent yacht, a backing plate appeared to have limited bearing against part of the internal structure. It was not the sort of thing most buyers would ever notice during a normal viewing, but it deserved closer investigation.
No Two Surveys Are the Same
These five examples show why there is no simple checklist that tells the whole story of a yacht.
Sometimes the problem is obvious corrosion. Sometimes it is age-related. Sometimes an instrument gives a misleading result. And sometimes a small detail hidden beneath a floorboard deserves more attention than everything visible on deck.
That is what makes yacht surveying interesting — and why every boat has to be assessed individually.
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