Marine surveying in Barbados
Pre-purchase, insurance, damage and valuation surveys on sail and power vessels — carried out by a diploma-qualified marine surveyor who is also a working marine engineer.
The survey
Know exactly what you are buying, insuring or selling
A survey is the one report on a vessel written for you. It is where the money is saved — or lost. Ours are carried out by someone who has spent forty years inside engine rooms and switchboards, not only with a moisture meter and a clipboard.
That matters in Barbados. Boats here live in constant heat, salt and UV, often at anchor rather than in a marina, and many have been repaired more than once by more than one hand. Knowing what normal tropical wear looks like — and what a bodged repair looks like — is the whole job.
Surveys we carry out
- Pre-purchase / condition & value — the full inspection before you buy
- Insurance survey — for new cover or renewal, written to underwriter format
- Damage survey — cause, extent and repair scope after an incident
- Valuation / appraisal — market value for finance, sale or cover
- Pre-delivery and post-repair inspection — confirming work was done properly
- Hull, machinery and systems inspection for owners planning a refit
Scope
What a KURIJARA survey covers
Hull & structure
Below and above the waterline, moisture readings, laminate condition, blisters and osmosis indicators, keel and rudder attachment, deck and bulkhead condition, structural repairs.
Machinery
Main engines, gearboxes, shafts, couplings, propellers, generators, cooling, exhaust, fuel systems, mounts and alignment, engine-room ventilation and fire risk.
Electrical
AC and DC distribution, batteries and charging, bonding and galvanic protection, corrosion, wiring standards, shore power, navigation and communications equipment.
Steering & systems
Steering and control systems, seacocks and skin fittings, bilge pumping, plumbing and tankage, gas installation, hatches and glazing.
Rig & deck gear
Standing and running rigging (deck-level inspection), winches, ground tackle, davits, guardrails and deck hardware.
Safety equipment
Lifesaving and firefighting equipment, service dates, placement and adequacy for the intended use and area of operation.
How a survey runs
Brief and quote
You tell us the vessel, the purpose of the survey and where she is. We confirm scope and a fixed fee.
Access arranged
We coordinate with the owner, broker or marina — and arrange haul-out if an out-of-water inspection is needed.
Inspection
Systematic inspection of hull, machinery, electrical and systems, photographed throughout. Sea trial where included.
Verbal summary same day
If something is a deal-breaker, you hear it before you leave the dock — not a week later.
Written report
A full report with findings, photographs, recommendations graded by urgency, and valuation where requested.
Follow-up
We talk you through it, and — if you want — quote the remedial work. You are never obliged to use us for the repairs.
Buying a boat in Barbados from overseas?
We regularly act for buyers who cannot travel. You get photographs, a detailed written report and a phone call to walk through it, so you can make the decision with the same information you would have had standing on the deck.
Questions
Marine survey FAQs
How much does a marine survey cost in Barbados?
Survey fees are usually based on the length and complexity of the vessel and the type of survey required. Give us the make, length, engine configuration and where she lies and you will get a fixed quote before anything is booked.
How long does a pre-purchase survey take?
A typical pleasure craft takes most of a working day in the water, plus additional time if she is hauled for an out-of-water inspection and if a sea trial is included. The written report follows shortly after.
Do I need the boat out of the water?
For a pre-purchase or insurance survey, yes wherever possible. The hull below the waterline, running gear, skin fittings and anodes cannot be properly assessed afloat. We can arrange the haul-out or lift-out as part of the job.
What is in the report?
Vessel particulars and identification, the scope and any limitations of the inspection, condition findings by system, photographs, recommendations graded by urgency, and a market valuation where one has been requested.
Can you survey for my insurance renewal?
Yes. Underwriters commonly require a condition and valuation survey at renewal, particularly on older hulls. Tell us the insurer and any template they require and we will work to it.
Book a marine survey in Barbados
Give us the vessel, the location and the reason for the survey. You will have a fixed quote and a date, not an hourly guess.