marine surveyor

[t-roy]

So thinking about a career change because construction sucks right now . I was thinking about doing marine surveying,and wanted to know if it is a good choice considering the economy.Would like some opinions (i.e pros. cons. etc.) and also what education and courses needed. all input welcome.

Thanks Troy

[t-roy]

any suggestions

[frankypettolina]

I have been surveying since the end of 1995- not an easy career to break into in a normal economy. In my first year I did 11 surveys. I do ok now, but it took several years to get past 30 or 35 surveys a year.

I went through Chapmans' Surveying Program in Stuart FL- I would call it a good start depending on your background. I think the school is around 5 grand for the 6 week program.

I have around 3k worth of tools/equipment, not counting computer stuff.

Memberships per year run around 2500, Insurance all depends, but figure another 3 grand give or take.

Advertising runs me between 3 and 4 grand.

I would be glad to talk to you further about it.

[seapower]

you'd better not wear your feeling's on your shirt sleeve. Anything that goes wrong with a boat purchase will be the "surveyor's fault". In this day and time no one want's to be responsible for making a stupid descision. I know some very good marine surveyor's (haven't met Franky P yet), just because I'm in the marine service business. I hear these guy's get "trashed" all the time. I don't do "engine survey's" just because of this reason. If I have a long standing customer that is looking at another boat, I will go with them and give them my opinion only. Absolutely nothing in writing, the legal ramifacation's just aren't worth it to me. Like Franky told you, you're gonna have a healthy "real world" education to go through (the same is true in about anything "marine"). An honest living is about all you can expect. Just my opinion. What do you think Franky, straight enough? Frank

[frankypettolina]

Straight enough.

Surveyors do get bashed all the time, sometimes justly sometimes not. Lawsuits happen frequently.

THere is a ton of liability like Frank said. Disclaimers and work agreements only limit liability so far.

Honest living yeah, but you will never get beyond that in my opinion. I survey more than most guys (100 + condition and valuation surveys per year, plus a handful of claims and some consulting) and I still need to charter fish and do some commercial fishing to survive.

ANother thing not mentioned here is the amount of competition in the job market. THere are a fair amount of established NAMS and SAMS surveyors in your area. THey will get more work than you, period. One good thing I can say is that a number of surveyors will help you out and steer some jobs your way.

What is your background? Besides working construction. Do you have a marine background? I grew up in boatyards. My father is a charter captain, my grandfather was chief engineer on a dredge, and also had a commercial dragger. I started working on charter boats as a washboy and mate in training at 9 years old. I can honestly say that I lived, ate, breathed sportfishing boats. I went through survey school, and like I said it was a start, but thats it. THere is alot of continuing education and I am constantly learning on the job. THe technology in boatbuilding and marine electronics is constantly evolving and as a surveyor you need to be on top of it. THe home entertainment systems in the new high end boats cost more than I make a year, and I have to be proficient in their use just as much as I need to understand composite construction, just as much as I need to know what the electronic aids to navigation are capable of doing.

Like I said, I would be glad to talk to you more about it- I know Frank and I paint a little bit of a grim picture, but it ain't all roses out there.

Do I love my job, yes I do. It is very interesting and I get to crawl around boats all year long. Will I get rich, nope.

[t-roy]

Thanks for the replies.

about my background i am a carpenter by trade specializing in trim work. it is a family business so i've been doing it since i could walk.

As far as marine work a have been sportfishing since i was little. Done some commercial fishing as well (gillnetting,crab pots) so boat maintenance and upkeep is part of the deal.

I have done some fiberglass repair work,and i have built a complete boat also from a GLEN-L book . I have always been around boats and find myself trying to find every detail out about them (I have a boat **** issue so doing it for a living would be great.


For me i get along with everybody and don't take everything to heart. I am very opinionated and brutally honest. i have a good attention to detail and can usually find a flaw in something that gets overlooked. so i figured this is a good move for me. the only bad thing sounds like the lawsuits and liability issues.

thanks troy

[frankypettolina]

Troy- I am in NC now, but when I get back to MD I will look through my roster and find you someone in your neck of the woods to talk to- might help you out.

Sounds like your background gives you a decent enough start, and the eye for detail is important.

Again, if I can be of any assistance I would be more than glad to help.