Articles

Are You A Marine Surveyor Or An Adjuster?

Knowing the Difference is Crucial to the Claims Handling Process After a number of years appraising insurance claims as a marine surveyor, and a stint as a licensed staff adjuster with a major insurance company, it became obvious to me that sometimes surveyors get...

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The Use & Misuse of Moisture Meters

I've noticed that whenever a group of marine surveyors spend time comparing notes and discussing their profession, the conversation often turns to moisture meters. Reactions and comments range from "they would make a good doorstop if they were heavier" to "it's...

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Did you catch a good sample?

The following article is reprinted from the Spring 2001 edition of the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors newsletter, with permission of the authors. Customers sometimes express aggravation with laboratories that ask this question when they first deliver a sample...

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The origin of the term “Bentonize”

Over the years the term "Bentonize" has come into regular use on Boatpokers, and in all probability into the off-line language of more than a few marine surveyors. The verb is; "To Bentonize". Past tense; "Bentonated". Noun; Bentonization. Tool; Bentonator. The term...

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INSPECTING A FROZEN BOAT

This week, I am compelled to take a one week break for the "Getting to Know Your Boat" series, I have been publishing, to discuss frozen boat hulls. Every year, once boat show season is in full swing, my phone starts to ring. The boat buying season starts and everyone...

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IN THE OFF SEASON – GET TO KNOW YOUR BOAT

For most of us north of 30 degrees of latitude, it is the off season for boating. The boats have been tucked away for some time, and aside from making payments to the bank or insurance company, thoughts of her have been infrequent as we navigate the holiday season....

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GET TO KNOW YOUR BOAT – PART II

Welcome to the second installment. In the first installment, I was eager to get below decks and talk about what to look at in the bilge. A week of thinking about where to go next keeps up above decks for another several paragraphs. By and large, boating is a very safe...

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GET TO KNOW YOUR BOAT – PART III

This week we open the hatch and step into the bilge. Yes I can hear the moans and groans, but I would bet most of you will learn to love your bilge if you spend some time down there. Why? We all like to know more about our boats. Most of us complain about the cost of...

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A Bit About Bilges

The leading cause of boat sinkings, mechanical failures, and fire can all be found in the bilge. That's a bold statement, isn’t it? One has to be careful when you they are in the cause-effect business of marine damage surveys. Like degrees of separation, one could...

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Boat Values and the Marine Surveyor

Some thoughts on the perils of boat appraising One of the most important and sometimes the most difficult aspects of dealing with pleasure boats from everyone's perspective; buyers, sellers, yacht brokers and marine surveyors, is the establishing of a monetary value...

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