Yacht and motorboat surveys on the Solent
I'm Nick Palmer, an independent marine surveyor based in Hampshire. I do pre-purchase, insurance and damage reports on sail and power boats around the Solent, Southampton Water, the Isle of Wight and the wider south coast.
What I do
Three main jobs, all built around giving you an honest picture of the boat.
Pre-purchase Survey
Yachts and motorboats, sail or power. I look the boat over in and out of the water and write it up so you know what you're buying: what's fine, what needs work, what would give me pause. Useful whether you go ahead, walk away or use it to negotiate the price.
- Hull and structure
- Rig and deck gear
- Engine installation
- Systems and safety kit
- Prioritised findings
Insurance Survey
Most UK insurers want a condition report and valuation once a boat gets past about fifteen or twenty years old, and again every few years after that. My reports are written to be accepted by the underwriter, but I also throw in service intervals and best-practice notes so you get something useful out of it too.
- Condition assessment
- Current market valuation
- Insurer-accepted format
- Practical maintenance notes
Damage Report
If you've had a grounding, collision, fire or storm damage and your insurer has appointed their own surveyor, it's often worth having someone on your side too. I attend quickly, document what happened, and push back if the scope of repair looks light.
- Fast attendance
- Full damage schedule
- Repair recommendations
- Post-repair inspection on request
Where I work
I'm out surveying boats most weeks at yards and marinas around the Solent. The regulars:
Southampton: Ocean Village, Shamrock Quay, Kemp's, Saxon Wharf. Hamble and Southampton Water: Port Hamble, Mercury, Universal, Swanwick, Hythe. Portsmouth and Gosport: Haslar, Gosport Marina, Port Solent, Portsmouth Harbour. Isle of Wight: Cowes, East Cowes, Yarmouth, Bembridge. West Solent and New Forest: Lymington, Beaulieu, Bucklers Hard. Chichester and beyond: Chichester Harbour, Emsworth, Poole. Further afield if it makes sense.
Boats typically 20 to 48 ft LOA, sail or power. Bigger or smaller, just ask. See pricing or get in touch.
What previous clients have said
See what our customers have to say about their experience with our platform.
Mark H.
Swan 48, Port Hamble
Had my eye on a Swan lying at Port Hamble. Looked lovely on paper but Nick's survey turned up wet decks and some dodgy rewiring the broker hadn't mentioned. Got a decent chunk off the asking price on the back of it. Fair, thorough, took the time to walk me round the boat afterwards to point out what he'd found.
Sarah P.
Fairline Squadron 42, Ocean Village
Insurer wanted a condition report before they'd renew. Nick came down to Ocean Village on the day he said he would, had the write-up with me inside the week, and the underwriter accepted it without a quibble. He also flagged a couple of jobs I'd been putting off, which was useful.
James R.
Princess 50, Lymington
Grounded coming back into Lymington on a big spring tide. The insurance company sent their own surveyor but I'm glad I had Nick in my corner as well. His photos and repair spec meant there wasn't much to argue about, and the yard worked to his notes. Back on the water quicker than I'd expected.
Helen D.
Bavaria 37, Cowes
Rang Nick about my Bavaria in Cowes on a Wednesday, he was on the boat by the following Monday. Turned up on time, no faff, and the report was pitched so I could actually understand it. Will use him again.
Chris M.
Beneteau Oceanis 40, Mercury Yacht Harbour
First time buying a yacht and I was pretty nervous about the whole thing. Nick met me at Mercury and talked me through what he was looking at as he went, which I appreciated. The report was clear and included a sensible list of things to keep an eye on through the first season. Money well spent.