Surveying Fiberglass Sailboats: A Step-By-Step Guide for Buyers and Owners

Read this book and you can evaluate boats and surveyors. This in turn will make you feel more comfortable when you hire a surveyor to meet an insurance requirement or to evaluate things you don't feel competent to do yourself.This book does a great job explaining how glass is laid up, the different types of glass, mat, roving, etc, and where they should be used. Common problems found in fiberglass boats such as blistering are discussed with lots of surprising information. I've found that my personal experiences confirmed many of the points made by the author. Like the myth that fresh water boats are better than salt water. Contrasted with fresh water boats are more likely to have blister problems than saltwater. Today, many people come to me with questions about boats. As I write this review, I realize that many of the answers I give out come out of information I found in this book. I don't believe you have to have a survey on a boat to make an intelligent purchase decision. In part, because some of the surveyors are only interested in your money, and do not look boats over thoroughly. A properly educated individual can do most or all of his, or her, own survey.Some surveyors are very good, and some are very bad. How can you tell if someone is good or not? To become a surveyor some certifying organizations only require a couple of sample copies of surveys done and that you have a few books on your bookshelf. What a joke!I personally know of a real case, which happened in 1999, where an old survey was pulled up, the date changed and it was reused without any a new survey being actually done. This is a good reason to choose your own surveyor and not the one recommended by the seller. Going aloft and checking the rigging on a boat is not easy. Is it not surprising that important steps like these get skipped.Some surveyor's haven't read this book--so how good can they be? Contrast this with someone who has taken a 8 week course on surveying, holds a USCG license, and grew up on boats. This is the kind of person you want for a surveyor.It is up to you to be knowledgeable enough to make your own decisions-including choosing a surveyor if you feel you need one. This book will help you do that.Educate yourself. Being able to look a boat over to evaluate it for purchase is an important skill. This book is a good starting point. It is cheap insurance and worth the price.

I used this and another, more detailed book, to complete my own survey on an inexpensive boat with a measure of confidence. I felt that I could gauge the safety and useability of all the major systems of the boat within reason..is it safe, does it work properly, etc. I didn't always understand the why behind some analyses, but the average person can easily use the book to a) perform a basic survey on an inexpensive boat, or b) winnow the acceptable from the unaccptable before paying a professional to complete a thorough survey.

Henry does it in one 3 1/2 hour setting - completely. I now feel confident in my search for 'Das Boot'. I drove a 27 foot Tartan for years, decided it was time for a 40 and didn't know how to proceed in my next move. Now I do. Well written, factual and even mentions, not-unfavorably, some names. I do not believe you could go wrong with this purchase, if, you are on the same quest as I. Retirement, with dive charters in the Caribbe... Buenas Suertes, y'all.

Mr. Mustin explains fiberglass boat construction in very detailed laymans terms. His real world experience dealing with the problems of fiberglass boats and his discuss of what is a real problem and what is something you can live with/expect was informative. The last chapters on the trade of surveying boats for a living were excellent.

Mustin gives a lot of good information in doing your own survey for that boat you have your eye on. I would never recommend not having a professional survey, but this book guides you through a lot of information with good pictures and sketches. Read this book before you go boat searching to eliminate the dogs. Then use this book to hire a really good surveyor and be able to talk intelligently to him. Good luck. Would I buy again. Yes