Pro tip: Don't trust a client's 'clean' hull survey without a visual check

Last week in Port Angeles, a ferry company swore their hull was spotless from a recent dry dock. My dive partner and I went down for a routine inspection and found a thick, slimy mat of marine growth covering the entire starboard side, at least two inches thick in places. It was clear the 'survey' was just paperwork, not an actual look. That extra thirty minutes in the water saved us from signing off on a major safety issue. How do you guys handle it when a client's paperwork doesn't match what you see?

3 comments

3 Comments

bell.felix2mo ago

That "clean" survey story is classic. I never sign off until my own eyes confirm it. The paperwork is just a starting point, not the finish line.

milaw142mo agoMost Upvoted

My cousin bought a boat last year with a perfect survey. Found a cracked engine mount the first time he took it out.

jennifer_jenkins2mo ago

Oh man, that's rough for your cousin. I mean, a survey is a snapshot of that exact day, right? Stuff can get missed or even break right after. I've seen surveys call out a totally fine bilge pump, but miss a soft spot in the deck you'd find just by walking around. You still gotta do your own looking.