Buying a boat is an emotive act - the dream can easily cloud the facts. Before the deal is done it is wise to seek the opinion of an independent advisor in the form of a qualified Yacht and Small Craft Surveyor for a pre-purchase survey.
To get the best out of your surveyor you need to understand that his job is, as far as possible, to hunt down the signs of existing or potential problems and present you with the facts. You will also need to tell him how and where you intend to use the vessel.

On the other hand it could be that your insurance company has asked for a survey in which case you will need a slightly different type of document. If you click on 'Types of survey' you will find descriptions of the different surveys that we can provide.

Each of our survey documents is bound and has a ‘glossary’ of nautical terms and a number of short appendices covering subjects appropriate to the particular vessel (you will find copies of most of these appendices on this website). Most of our clients like to keep this bound original so a duplicate, signed copy of the survey sections is supplied for submission to the insurance company.

statement of intent
"Having been involved with yachts and small craft for over 40 years, I have studied a good number of survey documents in my time. A few have been professional; some have been hardly literate; many have been full of jargon and boring. For a first-time buyer such surveys can be incomprehensible, after all none of us is born knowing the difference between a sheet and a shroud. Fundamentally I believe that every survey should not only provide basic, understandable facts but also aim to widen fractionally the pool of public knowledge".

Josty Consulting was set up five years ago to provide a ‘yacht and small craft’ surveying service to meet the following criteria:–

1 – inspections will be carried out by suitably qualified and experienced operatives.

2 – every survey will be based on a pre-agreed schedule.

3 – survey reports will provide accurate, well researched information on a vessel as found at the time of inspection.

4 – findings will be written in plain English and such information will be marshalled and presented in a logical manner for easy location within the report.

5 – the survey document will be authoratitive, user-friendly and 'fit for purpose' with the content and cost varying according to its intended use.

6 – no assignment will be undertaken without a 'Survey Contract' being completed and signed.

7 – our 'Terms & Conditions of business' will be available in full either in printed form or on our website.