Wood Boats

SURVEY REQUIREMENTS

Information provided by Hagerty Insurance

We require an out of water survey before writing insurance, with an update

every four years thereafter.  We have found that the information included in a

surveyor's report can vary greatly. Accordingly, we encourage the owner

 or surveyor to contact us with questions. The surveyor update should include

pertinent information regarding the structural, mechanical, plumbing,

electrical, navigational, and safety components and systems of the boat.

Wooden boat surveys must include a report on the type and condition

of the bottom fastenings. Although some judgment is called for with

older boat surveys, we like to know whether various system components comply

with current USCG, ABYC and NFPA standards. Compliance with certain

standards is mandatory (approved fuel hoses, GFCI protection, battery terminal

covers, grounded fuel fill piping, etc.) We may waive compliance with other

standards (stranded wiring, fuel tank isolation, etc.) We look to the surveyor

for guidance with regard to the suitability of a non-compliant component or system.

Finally, the survey should include information pertaining to the current

fair market and replacement values of similar boats together with a

statement of insurable value of the inspected vessel based upon

its current condition and unique characteristics.

Things we want to know about

planks, plating, frames, beams, stem, sternpost, horn timber, floor timbers,

stringers, carlins, clamps, butt blocks, seam battens, fasteners, keel,

keel bolts, chain plates, shaft logs, struts, stuffing boxes,

cutlass bearings, rudders, steering, clutches, throttles, linkages

pumps, hoses, clamps, thru hull fittings, valves

wiring, AC and DC circuits, bonding system, battery

protection fuel fills, tanks, piping, bonding engine and generator installation,

condition, wiring, pumps, filters, cooling, exhaust systems stoves, heaters,

a/c units, LP systems, heads, alarms, detectors stanchions, rails, ladders,

fittings, hardware, standing and running rigging

fire extinguishing equipment, ground tackle, safety gear

navigation equipment and lighting

General location on hull bottom where fasteners may be inspected

below the head

below the engines

 along the garboard rabbets

at the hood ends

at butt blocks

Other information

 date of survey

location of survey

verification that boat was hauled for survey

name of person requesting survey

name of owner of boat, color 35 mm or digital photos

A few WOOD BOAT terms

Clamp:    A strake of heavy planking laid fore and aft and secured to frames as a

support for the ends of deck beams.

Horn timber:    A heavy longitudinal timber that angles upward from the stern to

support the underside of the fantail.

BATTEN SEAM PLANKING

In the past, many v-bottom planing powerboats were built using batten seam methods.

It uses longitudinal battens, but behind each planking seam, so there will likely be more

battens than would be the case with cold molded planking, and they will be wider in order

 to receive plank fastenings. Battens are notched through  and fastened to frames, and

spaced to suit planking widths which must be determined first.

Sternpost: