How do I judge the safety equipment and inspection history of a charter boat?
Ask for the boat’s current inspection certificate and past inspection reports, then check every piece of safety gear against the required list. Look at condition, expiry dates and where each item is stored. Anything missing, out of date or failed in a past inspection needs a written fix before you buy.
Start with the paperwork. Ask the seller for the current inspection certificate and for earlier reports, including any deficiencies noted and how they were fixed. A clean history is useful, but a record of problems that were promptly corrected can tell you more about how the boat was run.
Next, walk the boat with the checklist in hand. Look at lifejackets, life rafts, flares, extinguishers, bilge pumps, radios and first aid supplies. Check that each item is in date, serviced and easy to reach. Test what can be tested, and ask who looks after servicing.
Then look at the hull, engines and systems with a marine surveyor. Safety gear cannot make up for a poor boat. Check recall notices for the engines and equipment, and ask what the insurer asks for. Insurance conditions often point to the items that matter most. Finally, ask your lawyer what the seller’s records and certificates mean for you as the new owner. Keep copies of everything you are shown, and note the date and the name of the person who showed it to you. If something is unclear, ask in writing. A seller who is open about a problem and its fix is usually easier to deal with than one who plays it down.
Key takeaways
- Read the current certificate and every earlier inspection report.
- Check each safety item for expiry, servicing and easy access.
- Hire a surveyor, and check recalls on the engines and equipment.
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Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Transport CanadaGovernmentIssuance Of Vessel Inspection Certificates
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentEquipment valuation: How to do it
- 03Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
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