GO! SPARTANS!
Welcome to Beacon Marine Surveyors
Beacon Marine Surveyors serves Southern, Western and Central Michigan, North Central and NW Indiana. Pre-Purchase, Insurance Condtion and Valuation Inspections, Consulting, and Donation Value and Salvage. We work exclusively for our client.
What is A Marine Survey?
It is the detailed inspection of a boat, hopefully done by a qualified, diligent, intelligent and honest surveyor, for the purpose of determining its current condition and seaworthiness. In particular, to determine if the vessel is safe to use in conditions for which it was designed, and what maintenance and repairs are required, or are likely to be required in the near future.
Most buyers are not experienced enough, or mechanically inclined to a point where they can make an adequate evaluation on their own. Even those who are qualified benefit immensely from a second professional, cold and unbiased opinion.
Why Do You Need a Survey?
The honest answer is to stay alive, physically and financially. The open water can be a treacherous place, subject to the whims of weather, luck and skills. It is no place for a deficient boat, especially one with an inexperienced owner and an/or inept crew. There is a saying in the boating culture: “A bad boat is a hole in the water that you pour money into.”Buying a marine survey is buying peace of mind. It will give a better idea of exactly what you are getting into with your boat purchase, and help you learn what will be necessary to maintain the vessel in the future to keep you and your family safe, and your investment secure. A pre-purchase survey will also provide a comprehensive grasp of what is needed beyond the initial investment. The longer answer is certain types and makes of boats have recurring problems or requirements. A good surveyor will be familiar with most models and be able to advise you on the long term suitability of your intended purchase and its equipment, particularly in relation to how and where you will be using it. In addition, it is unlikely you will be able to secure insurance or financing without providing the insurance company or lender with an acceptable survey..... so you might as well make the survey a condition of purchase to begin with.
This page was last updated: 1 May, 2012
DVD SURVEY FAQ’s
What will the DVD include?
What will the DVD include?All critical points of the inspection process from the engine room to the bow inside and out.
Will the DVD show features of the vessel?
Will the DVD show features of the vessel?Yes, all electronics, stateroom décor, upgrades, close ups of upholstery and
other cosmetic items and special features of interest on that model
Can I expect to see less than desirable conditions?
Can I expect to see less than desirable conditions?Unfortunately yes. You as our client must see points that can lead to or
have already reached levels of concern both in safety and in overall sea-
worthiness.
Will this replace the written report?
Will this replace the written report?No, this is an added service. The written report is the heart of the survey.
The BIG question….How Much?
The BIG question….How Much? Cost is based on the vessel’s LOA and is in addition to the per foot survey charge. A mini DVD will be recorded by a professional, then transferred to standard DVD for TV-PC viewing. Call for information. 269.567.8541 or 269.668.6204.
BEACON MARINE SURVEYORS is now offering DVD Video Survey for all categories of Marine Survey-Inspections.
This is an optional, narrated visual inspection for clients unable to attend the survey, specifically those in distant regions where travel to West or Central Michigan would difficult.
Pre-Purchase, Insurance C/V, Damage/Donation/Salvage, Consulting
269.567.8541 or 269.668.6204
| ||||||
God Bless
Our Troops.
Bring Them
Home Alive!!!
BOATING
When Recreation and Lifestyle Collide.
As far back as I remember I was always attracted to boats. Fishing from shores of the mighty Niagara River I was entertained by the endless parade and variety of boats from wooden row boats, aluminum 12 footers, mid size Imperials, Century’s and Trojans to the 40+ foot Chris Crafts cruising to and from Lake Erie in no particular hurry with a gent at the helm and a lady by his side. I knew a boater was inside me waiting to come of age. Beginning with a 12’ Sears powered by a 6 horse outboard and stepping up three feet to a 4 cylinder I/O Glasstream then a Maxum V6 open bow and finally a new Rinker Captiva V-8. (There were some less notables in between that I prefer to remember as for educational purposes.) Never the less the prospect of cruiser ownership was always the dream to chase. Doing appraisals and surveys and mechanical work provided me more than adequate data and information to eventually make an educated choice. Shortly after relocating to southwest Michigan, a couple of heartbeats from the shores of Lake Michigan the opportunity came to acquire a beautiful and elegant 35’ Sea Ray. All the buttons and bells, and more. Dock space was reserved, insurance was added, and heated winter storage was in place.
The dog had caught the car it chased. This is where the recreation and lifestyle collide.
What marine surveying did not provide was the ability to adjust from boating: the recreation to boating: the lifestyle. With our trailer boat we could choose our destination waterway at will. Stay inland when the Great Lakes were grouchy, or drive to St. Joseph from NE Indiana for a run on Lake Michigan. We were always back in time to tend to the our 3 dogs and able to meet the demands of family and business. Proud as we were of our Sea Ray our usage simply did not meet the expense. Marina life was too busy for country dwelling recreational boaters with big dogs, vineyards, family 150 miles away and a business to run. Trailer boating provided more freedom and adventure when the conditions are right. It also brought boating inland less than 10 minutes away for those evenings in the work week that stress could be relieved by an hour on the lake.
I felt a need to share this with visitors to Beacon Marine Surveyors web pages and suggest that while you are searching for the right cruiser, a slip space and adding up the costs of ownership, take time to consider conflicts that will limit your use. Rough weather on your day off, other interest and hobbies, weekend work requirements, pets, health, home maintenance etc. If you have that freedom you will enjoy every minute of the marina experience. For those who do not, resolving the conflicts could be at the helm of a trailer boat. Which ever you are……………………Happy and Safe Boating
| ||||||
Beacon Marine Surveyors
Supports and Encourages Rescue & Shelter Pet Adoptions
Coolest Boat Name of 2011
| ||||||
| ||||||
| ||||||
Beacon Marine Surveyors
St. Joseph Light in the Late Autumn Sun
#2. Cooler by the Lake
#3. Slammin' Salmon
#4. Lake Effect
#5 Outercourse
MOST NEW BOATS arrive from the factory with the equipment to meet the minimum Coast Guard safety requirements, and not much more. Of course, there may be a stereo with all the latest Sirius or XM Satellite Radio, a telescoping boarding ladder, comfortable cockpit cushions, color-coordinated fenders, and everything else needed to dazzle the customer at the boat show, but there is a lot of safety gear that is not included. What else should you purchase?
Many marine suppliers like West Marine and Boaters World will offer an extensive list of “must have” equipment. As boaters ourselves, who have experienced the “sticker shock” of purchasing a new vessel, we know how the extras can add up to a lot of cash. We’ll therefore try to take a moderate approach, and suggest some key safety products you will want. Helping you equip your new boat with what you really need is good customer service, good for our bottom line and good for promoting safety on the waterways
Numbers Tell the Story
Most recent statistics show that boating accidents in the United States account for about 700 deaths, nearly 4000 injuries, and over $40 million in property damage annually. Most boating fatalities—over half of all cases—happen because a vessel capsizes or somebody falls overboard. Of those who drown, 87% are not wearing a life jacket. In most states children are required to wear a Personal Flotation Device, but adults can use their discretion, and many boaters choose to leave the PFD sitting in a locker. When an emergency happens, the PFD in the lazarette is useless.
The solution?
Invest in a comfortable PFD appropriate for your type of boating and wear it every day. We see extensive selections of unobtrusive PFDs are on the market, and we especially like inflatable life jackets. Lower priced models like the West Marine Coastal Comfort PFDs are available with 22.5 lbs. of buoyancy, instead of the 33.7 lb. coastal or offshore versions. These streamlined, lightweight vests are perfect for inshore boating on lakes and rivers, don’t inhibit your movement, and are available in automatic, manual and manual belt packs activation.
The Lifesling Product Range
If boaters go overboard with or without a lifejacket, getting hoisted back aboard is the most daunting challenge. Extensive testing of Crew Overboard Recovery gear in San Francisco Bay produced a clear consensus that one product, the Lifesling, is a great device for getting a person back to the boat and aboard safely. The Lifesling2 includes a flotation collar (a hybrid of a traditional horseshoe buoy and a helicopter rescue sling) with 125 feet of floating retrieving line. It can be towed to the victim so they do not need to swim after it, and then used as a lifting sling (using a separate hoisting tackle). The Lifesling Inflatable combines these capabilities with the compactness and throwability of a rescue throw rope bag, inflating instantly on hitting the water.
Coast Guard Safety Inspection Results
Communication, inability to contact rescuers to get assistance, is also a problem. When the Coast Guard Auxiliary performs free boating safety equipment checks, they have found VHF radios to be the most common missing piece of recommended safety gear (missing from 33% of the inspected
Safety checks also reveal that many boats are equipped with bilge pumps that are not sufficient to handle a real emergency. The common fallacy is that small boats require small pumps and big boats need big pumps, and the facts support the reverse conclusion. A small runabout, with a very limited volume of interior hull space, can afford to ship only a limited quantity of water (like one decent sized wave) before engines or batteries are submerged and a real emergency occurs. Since a typical outboard or I/O with engine failure naturally turns broadside or stern-to the waves, a disabled vessel presents its most vulnerable face at the worst time. That’s why we advise our customers, when replacing a pump, to buy the biggest model that fits the hoses in their boat. Centrifugal pumps are cheap and upgrading from 360 to 800 gallons per boats). A VHF is one of the key safety items onboard and especially now with Digital Selective Calling. DSC is like 911 for your boat—better in fact, because rescuers have the technology to determine exactly who and where you are, and sometimes the exact nature of your emergency. But to make DSC work, boaters need three things: a DSC-equipped VHF, a connection to a GPS receiver (to pinpoint your position so rescuers can find you), and to register for a free MMSI Number (so they know who you are). Push one red button on your radio, and it automatically sends a distress message to everyone within radio range.
A lack of adequate ground tackle,
Either no anchor at all or a system without the scope or weight for the local conditions has caused many boats to end up on the rocks. For smaller boats with less rigorous anchoring requirements, anchor and rode packages are economical. We test anchors frequently, and completed a series of tests in 2007 with representatives from SAIL, Yachting Monthly, and Power & Motoryacht magazines. After dozens of anchor tests in the past, this was by far our best-documented and instrumented test. We used a 10,000 lb. load cell, which read in 2 lb. increments, linked to a computer running Excel. We had cameras, GPS receivers, lots of observers, and a powerful boat with a very capable captain. The Fortress aluminum anchor once again achieved spectacular numbers. We were also very impressed by the “roll bar” anchors, including the Rocna and Manson Supreme.
Many boats that venture offshore carry an EPIRB, a satellite beacon to summon rescue during a life- or vessel-threatening emergency. Newer, less expensive and pocket-sized versions, called Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs), are available and can mobilize Search and Rescue assistance anywhere on land or water. PLBs can go along in a dinghy, and on backpacking, cross-country skiing or river rafting trips. While an EPIRB protects the boat, a PLB ensures the boater’s personal safety. The new Fast find 210 PLB, manufactured by McMurdo, include an internal GPS receiver and are the smallest, most affordable PLB ever.
Equip for the Conditions
In conclusion, these are the conditions where we encourage you to upgrade to higher performance safety products:
Cold Water:
Few environments in the world are as dangerous to humans as cold water. If you operate your boat in the Pacific Northwest, the Great Lakes or in other cold-water regions, offer gear that protects them from hypothermia.
Poor visibility:
Things get challenging in a hurry in foggy areas, rainsqualls or at night, with a far greater need for radar reflectors, radar, quality navigation lights and sound signals.
Distance from help:
If your cruising route includes the coast of Mexico, Bermuda or a trip to Hawaii, you’ll be far from the convenience of your local boating supply store and far from the security of the US Coast Guard. The need to be self-sufficient is greatly increased away from inland and coastal US waters.
Rapidly changing weather conditions:
Many boating areas are subject to squalls or other fast moving weather systems that can stir up trouble in a hurry. Boats operating in these areas should have gear aboard which can be used defensively, like larger anchors, lightning detectors and grounds, mainsail reefing equipment, drogues and sea anchors.
Rough seas:
Many areas, like San Francisco Bay in the summer, have consistently strong winds and heavy chop. That makes for great sailing, but also raises equipment requirements for sailboats and powerboats alike.
