Professional Pre-purchase Inspection — Yacht Survey

Secure your investment with a comprehensive technical audit. We are expert marine engineers detecting hidden defects before you buy.

Secure Investment

Professional Inspection Service: Avoid surprises before buying

At Altair, we perform high-level pre-purchase inspections: a complete technical evaluation of the structural, mechanical, and functional state of the boat so you can buy with total security and without risks.

Osmosis in the hull

We detect moisture invisible to the eye.

Weak structures

Bulkhead and stringer review.

Deficient engines

Maintenance and wear evaluation.

Unsafe installations

Electrical and plumbing risk.

Altair marine surveyor inspecting sailboat hull

By hiring our service you will:

✔️ Know exactly what you are buying
✔️ Negotiate the price with technical arguments
✔️ Avoid unforeseen expenses after the purchase

Why a Yacht Surveyor?

All boats have defects, often not obvious or hidden. The Surveyor works for their client to find and value them. We measure osmosis, metal thicknesses and inspect the rigging, structure, and systems, as well as performing a sea trial to validate if the boat meets your expectations.

Independent appraisal is essential for a guaranteed purchase. The resulting report allows you to save money in the negotiation and provides you with a detailed list of works classified as urgent, necessary, and recommended.

Value added of the appraisal

Detection of critical defects (rigging, structure, osmosis).
Real savings in the final price negotiation.
Exhaustive list: Urgent, Necessary, and Recommended.

Boat Type	Length	Estimated Price
Sailboat or Motorboat	Up to 8m	From €350
Sailboat or Motorboat	8m to 12m	From €550
Sailboat or Motorboat	Over 12m	Consult

* Final price based on scope and inspection. Travel and stay expenses are separate for locations outside Barcelona/Garraf.

20+ Years of experience

Independence No brokers or sellers

Guarantee Industrial Engineering

What do we review during the pre-purchase inspection?

A comprehensive examination from bow to stern for your total peace of mind.

Hull and Structure

• General state of the hull and underwater body
• Hygrometry (osmosis and hidden repairs)
• Keel, rudder, and seacock review
• Decks and internal structure

Engine and Mechanics

• Condition of engines and cooling system
• Transmission, propeller, and shafts
• Detection of leaks, vibrations, and noise
• Sea trial under real load

Installations and Electronics

• Electrical panel, wiring, and batteries
• Charging systems and electrical safety
• Navigation and communication equipment
• Plumbing and bilge pumps

Technical Documentation

Detailed and clear technical report

After the inspection you will receive a professional document, easy to interpret, including real status, detected defects, and general valuation.

Critical and non-critical defects

Tool to renegotiate price

Future repair planning

This report is your best ally for:

1 Deciding whether or not to continue with the purchase.
2 Renegotiating the final price with objective arguments.
3 Having a technical roadmap for your new boat.

Frequently Asked Questions

We perform a complete technical evaluation of the condition of the boat. We inspect the hull, structure, engine, electrical installations, safety, and equipment, providing you with an independent report so you can decide with total security.

It is not legally mandatory, but it is highly recommended. A pre-purchase inspection can detect hidden problems that are not appreciated during a normal visit and avoid significant expenses after the purchase of the boat.

While a judicial or insurance appraisal requires specific certifications for legal processes, the pre-purchase inspection is a commercial technical analysis performed by experts to protect the buyer's investment.

Yes, and it is especially recommended. In used sailboats, it is common to find structural wear, rigging problems, osmosis, or old installations that only a professional analysis can detect.

The price varies according to the size and type of boat. As a guide, from €350 for boats up to 8 meters, and from €550 for boats between 8 and 12 meters. For inspections outside Catalonia, travel expenses will be added.

Yes, the sea trial is fundamental to evaluate the real behavior of the engine, vibrations, and maneuverability. For precise moisture measurements with a hygrometer, the ideal is for the boat to be 2 days in the shipyard. Shipyard costs are not included.

Yes. The technical pre-purchase inspection report is a key tool for renegotiating the price or demanding repairs before closing the purchase.

Ricard Prehn — Expert Yacht Surveyor with extensive experience in boat repairs.

Altair's pre-purchase inspections are conducted by Ricard Prehn, an industrial engineer with more than 20 years of real experience in the nautical sector. Unlike other inspectors, Ricard is regularly involved in the direct repair and maintenance of vessels.

His 'on-board' experience ranges from changing seacocks and epoxy fiber lamination to structural osmosis repairs, technical rigging renewal, electronics, and battery systems. Altair is an authorized company by the Directorate General of the Merchant Marine (Reg. 5/2024) to carry out installation, repair and maintenance services for all radioelectric and radio-navigation equipment.

"I know where to look because I also repair these same components. I work so you can buy with total peace of mind."

Don't make decisions blindly

A professional inspection is a minimal investment compared to the cost of a bad purchase. Contact us and tell us which boat you are considering.

info@escuelanauticaaltair.com