Don't Forget the Electronics Survey!
Published: Thursday, January 19, 2012 7:00 am
By: George Schivley, South Shore Marine Electronics
I have been pondering whether or not to write this for some time now but some recent experiences with clients have sealed my decision that it is a necessary timely topic worthy of discussion.
When considering the purchase of a used vessel, it is commonplace to arrange a survey for the vessel to insure that it is truly worthy of your consideration. Surveys that I have been privy to also suggest a mechanical survey of the machinery on-board to verify its condition. What often times is omitted is any mention of an electronics review to ensure all of that gear is up to par.
As I read down the survey of the most recent vessel I am recalling, I noticed that it went through the electronics suite that was on-board and made some simple notations as to whether it powered up, model number, etc. There was no definitive evaluation of the marine electronics on-board. I found this to be completely unacceptable. While the marine electronics may not be in the same class dollar-wise as the machinery on-board, they certainly still warrant a close examination by a technically competent individual.
In the case I am recalling, there was approximately $20,000 worth of gear on-board. The gear really spanned the gamut of age as well as condition. Specifically, the GPS/Plotter was evaluated as "unit powered up." While the vessel was outside under shrink-wrap, it was certainly possible to ascertain whether or not the unit was capable of providing a fix indicating some degree of worthiness — but there was no notation of this. When I went aboard, I found the unit would not power up and was old enough that it was not only not worthy of repair, but also that parts were not even available for it any longer. Given that this piece of gear had to be replaced and the dollar value of this was close to $3500, I consider this to be a grave oversight.
Allow me to be clear here in that I am in no way impugning the Marine Surveying community. They do a good job at what their specialty is; however, there are sub-specialties associated with most larger surveys that deserve to be completely evaluated to ensure that the potential new owner is not going to get stuck with a bill that they did not expect.
Engaging in a conversation with the prospective new owner and learning of their expectations is also very critical to help ensure that what the new owner is expecting to get, he actually receives. Allow me to explain; for example, the prospective owner may have a vessel where his electronics are in great shape, have all been kept updated as required and the systems are fully integrated. This owner has some degree of expectation that the new vessel he is buying should be somewhat the same. Many times this is not the case. A good example here is DSC. Is the VHF radio on the vessel DSC capable? Is it interfaced properly to ensure that when one raises that little red cover and depresses the "Distress" button, that it will work? Is the radar on-board aligned properly so that what one expects to see on the top of the screen is rendered in front of the vessel? The part of a radar that actually generates the radiation is called the magnetron. The lifespan of this transmitting device varies wildly depending on how the radar has been used. The repair/replacement of a magnetron can cost between $400-1000 depending on the model and age of the radar. Bottom line here is that we are not talking about small dollar amounts if your luck does not hold out. There have been so many great deals out there in the used boat market but one has to be just as concerned with the electronics that are on-board as with the machinery that is propelling the vessel. Not having this as part of your overall survey of the vessel can end up costing you more money than you had planned on spending. Conversely, if you know what the condition is of the electronics that are on-board, you will be in a much better position to negotiate with the seller to arrive at a price that is fair.
It is also worth noting here that the electrical systems on-board are also very much worth taking a close look at and verifying their integrity. If I look under the helm and all I see is a large "rat's nest" of wiring, that is something about which the prospective new owner needs to be aware, as this type of situation often bespeaks other issues that may not be so obvious. I was recently poking around on a 50-something Sunseeker that had been re-possessed. It was in the usual aesthetic condition of a re-possessed vessel and that, to some degree, is not uncommon. I went inside and started looking a bit closer and found wiring that was certainly not up to standard.
The evaluation of the electronics on-board is not a large expense. I have been involved in doing this for some of my clients and the cost has rarely exceeded $400.00. That is considerably less than an unexpected repair or replacement of a critical piece of navigation, OR entertainment electronics that are not functioning as they were expected.
Again, I feel it important to say that just as a qualified mechanic has in-depth knowledge of the systems he is charged with reviewing, so does the qualified marine electronics expert. A good marine surveyor is only a portion of the review process to make sure all is well or expected with a boat one may be considering. Make sure that you do not omit a solid review of the electrical and electronics on-board.
