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: 16 June, 2013
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 offers
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
Coolest Boat Name of 2012
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Beacon Marine Surveyors
#1 Nice Az
#2. Big Weenie
#3. Wet Spot
#4. Split Decision
#5 By Reason of Insanity
Bicentennial Bridge, St. Joseph, Mi.
A Stunning Azimut 43 from South Haven, Michigan. Lighting Up the Black River
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MESSAGE BOARD/FORUM TECHNICIANS
There are many online forums where various questions are posted and responded to by forum members. The information exchanged is helpful and well meaning but it may NOT always suit your vessels circumstances and spec's. Beacon Marine Surveyors strongly reccommends consulting your manufacturers authorized service center and /or your owner's manual for guidance regarding your vessels repair and maintenance from stem to stern. Use of wrong parts and/or procedures can lead to unsafe conditions and will likely increase problems and failures.
God Bless Our Troops, Bring Them Back Alive
Safe Boating Checklist
When you're preparing for a day on the water, always cover the basics:
Arm yourself with swimming and boating skills:
Enroll in a swim course and boating
course in your area.
Buckle up with a comfortable and properly fitted life jacket.
Install and maintain a CO detector in accommodation areas. Remember that you can be
exposed to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide both inside and outside the boat.
Watch the weather to prepare for local conditions and electrical storms. Because water
conducts electricity, it is time to stop boating if you can see or hear a storm.
Communicate your trip details in case of emergency. Tell your plan to a friend on the
mainland: who is on the boat, where you will be, and how long you will be gone.
Never operate a boat while or after drinking alcohol.
Remember to keep all boat maintenance chemicals in their original containers. Keep
these, as well as medications, lighter fluid, bug killers, lamp oil and alcohol out of sight
and reach of children.
Post the Poison Control Center number, 1-800-222-1222, on the boat and call its 24-hour
hotline for any suspected problems or questions concerning carbon monoxide or other
poison emergencies.
List CPR instructions and a local emergency number on the boat. Keep up-to-date on
CPR procedures.
Maintain constant supervision of children, regardless of their swimming abilities or use
of life jackets.
Do not swim or wade near a boat's exhaust pipe, sit on the swim platform when the
engine is running, or hold onto the deck while the boat is moving.
Keep your boat a minimum of 20 feet from the nearest running generator or engine.
Never, ever enter theenclosed exhaust vent area under a swim platform! Exhaust from boat engines can be
deadly sources of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Courtesy of:
THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF POISON CONTROL CENTERS
AND
THE NATIONAL SAFE BOATING COUNCIL
Fuel Saving Tips
Boating season is underway on the Great Lakes and inland waterways. Many recreational boaters are starting to feel the pinch of high fuel prices. The Boat Owners Association of The United States has a few tips that could help boaters stretch their fuel dollars and keep the fun on the water going all summer long.
Leave the extra 'junk' home: Don't load the boat up with weight you don't need. Do a little spring cleaning - unused equipment that has been collecting mildew in the bottom of lockers for years should be left at home.
Leave the extra 'junk' home: Don't load the boat up with weight you don't need. Do a little spring cleaning - unused equipment that has been collecting mildew in the bottom of lockers for years should be left at home. Fuel weight: Why keep the fuel in the tank topped off if you're only going out for the afternoon? If you know for certain that you will not be using a full tank of gas, then don't top off your gas tank. This will also help keep the fuel fresher for those who don't get on the water much.
Fuel weight: Why keep the fuel in the tank topped off if you're only going out for the afternoon? If you know for certain that you will not be using a full tank of gas, then don't top off your gas tank. This will also help keep the fuel fresher for those who don't get on the water much.Tune her up: An engine tune-up is an excellent investment and should easily pay for itself over the summer.
Tune her up: An engine tune-up is an excellent investment and should easily pay for itself over the summer.Tune your prop: If your boat goes 30 mph with a like-new prop and only 27 mph with a prop that's dinged and out of pitch, that's a 10 percent loss in fuel economy, or, you're wasting one out of every 10 gallons you put in your tank.
Tune your prop: If your boat goes 30 mph with a like-new prop and only 27 mph with a prop that's dinged and out of pitch, that's a 10 percent loss in fuel economy, or, you're wasting one out of every 10 gallons you put in your tank.Paint the boat's bottom: When boating in salt or brackish waters a fouled bottom is like a dull knife. It takes a lot more fuel to push your boat through the water.
Paint the boat's bottom: When boating in salt or brackish waters a fouled bottom is like a dull knife. It takes a lot more fuel to push your boat through the water. Keep the boat in trim: Using trim tabs or distributing weight evenly will help move your boat through the water with less effort - and less fuel.
Keep the boat in trim: Using trim tabs or distributing weight evenly will help move your boat through the water with less effort - and less fuel. Go with the flow: Consult tide tables and try to travel with the tide whenever possible.
Go with the flow: Consult tide tables and try to travel with the tide whenever possible.Install a fuel flow meter: A fuel flow meter is like a heart monitor; when consumption starts to rise, it's an early warning that something is amiss. A fuel flow meter also allows you to select a comfortable cruising speed that optimizes the amount of fuel being consumed.
Install a fuel flow meter: A fuel flow meter is like a heart monitor; when consumption starts to rise, it's an early warning that something is amiss. A fuel flow meter also allows you to select a comfortable cruising speed that optimizes the amount of fuel being consumed. Do the math: If you don't want to spring for a fuel flow meter (about $300), you can calculate your fuel mileage by dividing distance traveled by gallons at fill-up. Using your logbook, you can then approximate fuel flow using average speeds and time underway.
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