What an Underwater Inspection Actually Covers

If you're buying a used boat, you want to know what's going on below the waterline before you hand over the money. An underwater inspection gives you a visual look at things you literally cannot see otherwise — unless you haul it out.

What we check

Hull condition — blistering, damage, cracks, repairs that might indicate previous grounding or impact. We look at the overall state of the antifouling paint too.

Propeller and shaft — damage, wear, play in the shaft, fishing line or rope wrapped around it (more common than you'd think).

Rudder — condition, play in the bearings, any visible damage.

Through-hull fittings — corrosion, condition of the valves, weeping.

Zincs — how depleted they are tells you something about how well the boat has been maintained.

Keel (sailboats) — the keel-to-hull joint, any signs of movement or damage.

Everything gets recorded on video so you can review it and show it to whoever you want.

Important: this is not a marine survey

We are not licensed marine surveyors. An underwater visual inspection is exactly that — a visual inspection by a commercial diver. We document what we see and provide you with observations and footage.

If you need a formal marine survey for insurance, financing, or legal purposes, hire a certified marine surveyor. What we provide is a great complement to a survey — many surveyors can't see the bottom of the boat without a haul-out, and our inspection fills that gap.

Think of it this way: we show you what's down there. A surveyor gives you the official assessment.

When it makes sense

Before buying any used boat, no question. It's a small cost compared to finding out about hull damage after you've signed the papers.

If you've had a grounding or collision and want to see if there's damage before deciding whether to haul out.

Annual check-ups — just to keep an eye on things between haul-outs.