Trusted Boat Insurance Survey - Serving Toronto & Beyond

A Boat Insurance Survey ensures your vessel meets the safety and seaworthiness standards required by insurers. It provides a focused assessment of structural components, onboard systems, and safety equipment, offering a clear report tailored specifically for insurance underwriters or financial institutions.

Service Areas

Based in Toronto serving marinas and boatyards from Niagara to Pickering, Muskokas, Simcoe and the Kawarthas.

Why Opt for A Boat Insurance Survey?

Even if you already own a boat and know its general condition, insurance companies or lenders may require a Boat Insurance Survey depending on the vessel’s age, type, and value. This boat survey for insurance focuses on areas critical to safety and structural integrity, helping underwriters assess the risk of insuring your vessel.

Key points include:

Unlike a Pre-Purchase Survey, insurance surveys are tailored to the needs of insurers and lenders. They often omit the descriptive details valuable to buyers and focus solely on compliance, safety, and seaworthiness.

Additionally, insurers generally do not require operational testing, sea trials, or hauling the vessel from the water (if afloat) or launching (if stored ashore), unless explicitly requested.

When it’s time to renew or secure coverage, a boat insurance survey ensures that you and your boat are ready to meet the requirements for peace of mind on the water.

Boat Insurance Survey

Here are some checkpoints of a boat insurance inspection report that your relevant surveyor may account for:

Structural and safety assessment to identify potential concerns.
Basic evaluation of key systems: mechanical, electrical, and plumbing.
A professional determination of market value for insurers, lenders, or resale purposes.
Optional Sea Trial to evaluate performance on the water.
A full report detailing the vessel’s condition, market value, and any areas requiring attention.

When might a survey be required?

Boat insurance surveys aren’t just for new purchases. Many insurers, lenders, and marinas require updated reports to verify your vessel’s condition, safety, and compliance, especially for older or high-value boats. A professional boat insurance survey guarantees continued coverage and peace of mind

Age of the Boat

Older vessels usually require boat surveys to prove they’re still seaworthy and structurally sound. It is particularly important to check the safety and condition of boats over 10 years old, which is a common trigger point for insurers.

Value of the Boat

If your vessel is worth a significant amount, expect insurers or lenders to request a formal valuation. Insurance surveys provide an objective market value and help underwriters assess how much coverage is appropriate.

Used Boats

Most used boats come with unknown histories. A marine surveyor for insurance helps uncover hidden defects or past damage that may not be visible during casual inspection, such as poor repairs, moisture intrusion, or electrical hazards.

Pre-Purchase

Don’t commit to a boat without knowing what you’re getting, no matter if it's your first boat or fifth. Request a pre-purchase marine survey to protect yourself from expensive surprises and gain a stronger hand during negotiations.

Insurance Policy

Insurance providers may require a fresh boat survey before issuing or renewing coverage. This helps them verify your vessel’s safety, maintenance status, and fair market value, especially if you’ve made upgrades, had an accident, or are switching providers for better terms.

Specialty Insurers

Specialty marine insurance adjusters and companies often demand more thorough surveys, especially for yachts, custom builds, or commercial crafts with high-performance upgrades and unique configurations that fall outside typical coverage norms.

FAQs

How often do I need an insurance survey?

Typically every 5 years, though older vessels may require more frequent evaluations.

What does the survey focus on?

Structural integrity, safety equipment, and compliance with ABYC and Transport Canada standards.

Can I combine this survey with other services?

Yes, I offer additional options like sea trials and corrosion assessments.

Get in Touch with Kiki Marine

Have questions? Ready to book your survey? Contact us today!