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Chris Halliwell, Canal boat Surveyor covering Central, Southern England & Wales

Chris Halliwell is a professional, fully independent marine surveyor of all small craft specialising in steel canal boats, mainly covering central England, Southern England and Wales, based on the Kennet & Avon canal. If  considering buying a canal boat it is essential to use a canal boat surveyor, Insurance Companies & Finance Houses will insist on a survey and it is in your interest when making a major investment for this survey to be truly independent.

Why do I need a canal boat surveyor?

A pre-purchase canal boat survey will examine the condition of the whole vessel & include a valuation. It will cover the hull, machinery, propeller & prop shaft, steering gear, electrics, superstructure, paintwork, cabin interior, safety equipment & fire fighting appliances. A pre-purchase canal boat survey will not include testing of appliances or the gas system or the removal of any linings unless specifically agreed.

It will need to be out of the water so the condition of the underwater hull, rudder, propeller etc can be examined. Particular attention is paid by the canal boat surveyor to the condition of steelwork identifying corrosion & any poor welding or impact damage. Ultra-sonic non-destructive testing is used to determine steel thickness. The protection of the hull is examined, paintwork & anodes & every report contains a list of recommendations graded "Urgent" & "Non-urgent" for remedial or preventative maintenance. Even a 2 year old boat can have serious underwater defects.

When an offer to buy a boat "Subject to survey" has been accepted any unseen defects identified can often be used either to renegotiate the price or to get the vendor to contribute to the expense of repair.

Very occasionally hidden faults uncovered by a canal boat surveyor will result in a sale falling through. When this happened a client once said to me "I've just wasted £400 on a canal boat survey". I replied, "No you've just saved £40,000. He subsequently found another boat which I surveyed & he was very happy with the final purchase.

Insurance Companies will usually insist on out of the water hull surveys on older craft which are not being sold when quoting for fully comprehensive cover. These canal boat surveys are similar to pre-purchase surveys but restricted to the hull only & are valuable because they will identify problem areas of corrosion & wear caused by the hull dragging on the bottom. Older boats need over-plating in time & with a hull survey you will either get peace of mind that all is well or adequate warning if not.

Forty Years Marine Engineering Experience on Inland Waterways and Deep Sea.