Why you need a yacht broker/consultant and a marine surveyor that work for you
Our guests this episode are Scott Woodruff, a seasoned boat broker and consultant, and Ian Stewart, an experienced marine surveyor. It's a great episode, worth careful listening for the nuggets are plentiful and the conversation moves quickly through a bunch of great topics. This episode dives into how to buy and sell used cruising sailboats wisely, focusing on when you absolutely should hire a marine surveyor, what “big‑ticket” items really matter, and how keel type, rig age, and moisture issues can make or break a deal. We discuss and compare the casual, trust‑based sales with thorough, survey‑driven purchases. We dive into how insurance companies and smart buyers now expect rigging within a certain age, documented keel and grounding history, and solid structural condition. Scott and Ian, our guests highlight how meticulous maintenance records and independence between brokers and surveyors build buyer confidence, protect both parties, and meaningfully increase a boat’s resale value. Finally, they offer practical tips on choosing a good surveyor—like reviewing sample reports and looking for NAMS or SAMS accreditation—especially when you lack personal recommendations or are buying in a new region.
We get into the issues of trust and clear communication with a surveyor, and why buyers should attend the survey day to see and feel issues firsthand rather than relying only on paperwork. Scott & Ian also discuss managing emotions and expectations on survey day, the role of insurers in approving a deal, and how a good surveyor presents facts and costs without telling you whether to buy—framing the boat as a “problem” you may or may not want to own. They emphasize that there is no perfect boat, that online design dogma (like insisting on a full keel) can mislead buyers, and that both bolted and encapsulated keels have failure modes that a survey should uncover. Finally, they highlight practical takeaways: build a long‑term relationship with a qualified surveyor, review the full written report before deciding, keep realistic expectations about age‑related wear, and, if you’re selling, invest a weekend in cleaning and organizing the boat—especially the bilge—to show care and give buyers confidence in its condition.
Find out more about our guests:
Scott Woodruff:
https://www.thebrokerage.yachts/
https://collectionyachts.com/scott-woodruff/
Ian Stewart:
https://www.shearwatermarinesurveying.com/
Music:
Tim Eriksen (Ben's Brother)
https://timeriksenmusic.com/
We get into the issues of trust and clear communication with a surveyor, and why buyers should attend the survey day to see and feel issues firsthand rather than relying only on paperwork. Scott & Ian also discuss managing emotions and expectations on survey day, the role of insurers in approving a deal, and how a good surveyor presents facts and costs without telling you whether to buy—framing the boat as a “problem” you may or may not want to own. They emphasize that there is no perfect boat, that online design dogma (like insisting on a full keel) can mislead buyers, and that both bolted and encapsulated keels have failure modes that a survey should uncover. Finally, they highlight practical takeaways: build a long‑term relationship with a qualified surveyor, review the full written report before deciding, keep realistic expectations about age‑related wear, and, if you’re selling, invest a weekend in cleaning and organizing the boat—especially the bilge—to show care and give buyers confidence in its condition.
Find out more about our guests:
Scott Woodruff:
https://www.thebrokerage.yachts/
https://collectionyachts.com/scott-woodruff/
Ian Stewart:
https://www.shearwatermarinesurveying.com/
Music:
Tim Eriksen (Ben's Brother)
https://timeriksenmusic.com/
