Not every boat can be disassembled or altered.
Especially when the survey is commissioned by the buyer, the inspection will be visual and thorough investigation is not possible.
In this case, no extra survey tools are used except the digital hygrometer.
Hull inspection
The marine surveyor performs an analysis of the type of construction i.e. if in wooden planking fixed with nails and caulking, critical issues are analyzed.
One critical issue might be possible decay of the wood to the point of rotting, rusting of the nails which can lead to the detachment of the planks from the ribs and finally the condition of the suture material between the planks which after many years on the ground drying out does not guarantee waterproofing.
Best condition
The best condition would be a virgin hull i.e. exposed wood that does not have layers of previous coating paint applied.
However, if you can’t proceed with the removal of the paint, the visual analysis focuses on the points where the anomalies may emerge.
The wooden caps of the nails are very important to be seen.
If they are perished and blown out, that is a clear sign that at least the heads of the nails themselves, made of ferrous material have somehow, given the presence of rust, pushed away the layer of filler.
Next, the marine surveyor checks boards, looking for the possible absence of nail sealing.
Now, we search for major rot of the wood and related elements.
Caulking lines, on the other hand, are analyzed for dryness, leaving points to see air between boards.
Finally, with the digital hygrometer, the surveyor measures wood moisture. If it’s too high, we can presume it rot in the past, or that water stagnated.
Are you buying a wooden boat? Do you need the help of a marine surveyor?