Captain Denis Serov has over 10 years of marine experience, and he
is dedicated to delivering unparalleled service to his clients,
specializing in sailboats and powerboats up to 24 meters.
Denis’ engineering background, along with his rich hands-on
experience in refitting his boats, allows him to intuitively
understand engines and vessel systems, providing invaluable
insight during surveys and maintenance tasks.
He is dedicated to providing the highest level of service to every
client, ensuring their marine endeavours sail smoothly from start
to finish. Denis is strongly committed to continuous learning and
accreditation, from mastering yacht and small craft surveying to
obtaining certifications in marine corrosion, he strives to stay
at the forefront of his field.
Beyond his qualifications, Denis brings firsthand Yachtmaster
experience to the table, having logged over 6000 nautical miles as
a skipper and first mate, including traversing the challenging
waters of the Barents Sea.
As SAMS (Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors) Surveyor Associate, and ABYC (American Boat and Yacht Council) Certified Technician, he is deeply embedded in the marine community.
Why do other clients choose our services?
Experience and education: More than ten years of active
boating experience combined with a deep engineering background and
top-level specialized surveyor qualifications provide our clients
with the best quality of services on the market.
Comprehensive reporting: Our professionally written
pre-purchase survey reports serve as a reliable guide during buyer
negotiations with sellers. An essential aspect of the boat purchase
process is the need for a survey report from a professional
surveyor. This report is crucial for reclaiming your deposit if the
boat turns out to have significant problems. Professionally written
reports also serve as a safety roadmap for boat owners after
insurance inspections. They allow you not only to enjoy boating life
but do it in a manner that is safe for yourself and your loved ones.
Best value for money: Commisioning a survey with us can
become your best investment! How? Well, when you buy a used boat, we
save you time and arm you with structured knowledge about the boat
you have not yet purchased. This reduces your risks and sometimes
saves you tens of thousands of dollars, giving you a sense of
confidence in decision-making in any direction. On the other hand,
when you commission a survey for insurance – you get more than just
a formal paper with a bunch of photos to show for the insurance
company. You are likely to get enhanced, better knowledge about your
boat, which will allow you to prevent big problems from happening
when you don’t expect them. That’s truly invaluable!
Independence: We are totally independent of any brokers,
boatyards, or other boating businesses. We always report truth, our
opinions are honest and without any prejudice.
Professional qualifications: Thanks to internationally
recognized credentials, our survey reports carry substantial weight
in the eyes of brokers and sellers. Our consistent involvement in
professional surveying activities provides us with the opportunity
to focus on targeted development, investing in new skills to deliver
the highest quality of services.
Commitment to Ethical Practicess
At BoatCV, we are dedicated to upholding the highest standards of
professional ethics in all our services. To ensure transparency and
avoid conflicts of interest, we follow strict guidelines in how
we offer both marine repair and surveying services. To maintain
objectivity, we have a clear policy:
we do not conduct surveys on vessels we have repaired.
This separation ensures that our survey reports are entirely unbiased,
free from any potential influence or vested interest in the outcome.
Similarly, if we have performed a survey on a vessel,
we will not offer repair services for that same vessel. This
approach safeguards the integrity of both our survey and repair work,
allowing clients to trust that each service is conducted with the
utmost professionalism and impartiality.
By adhering to these ethical guidelines, we prioritize our clients'
best interests and provide reliable, trustworthy assessments that help
them make informed decisions.
Maintenance
Fibreglass Repair
Performing necessary repairs to address issues such as cracks,
blisters, or delamination. This may involve sanding, filling, and
reinforcing damaged areas to restore the hull's strength and
durability.
Engine Maintenance
Regularly checking and changing the oil, inspecting and replacing
filters, and ensuring proper cooling system operation is essential
to keep the engine running smoothly.
Electrical System Check
Inspecting the electrical system, including the battery, wiring,
and connections, to ensure everything is functioning correctly and
safely is crucial for reliable operation.
Marine Systems Maintenance
Regularly inspecting and maintaining systems such as plumbing,
fuel, bilge, and steering to ensure they are in good working
condition and prevent any potential failures.
Winterization
Preparing the boat for winter storage by draining fluids, adding
antifreeze, and covering or storing it properly to prevent damage
from freezing temperatures.
Types of surveys and other services
Prepurchase Survey
The most common type of survey, which is usually ordered by boat
buyers in order to better understand the technical condition of
the boat and her systems - engine, spar, electrical, etc. - before
finally striking a deal with the seller. This survey should be
performed both on land and on water, to combine both types of
checks for the most detailed results.
Sea Trial
Often confused with a fun ride, a real sea trial is a process
during which the boat is tested for failures in a real
environment. It is a harsh reality, that some defects can only be
detected only after going to sea. So, isn't it better to find them
before purchase? Propulsion and other systems are checked and
inspected under load. This includes observation and search
for failures in hull, machinery, rig, steering, etc. Leaks may
appear, the engine may overheat, gasket may blowby, and some other
systems that worked flawlessly in the marina may not work as
designed during a sea trial. It's better to know about potential
problems before you make an important decision.
Valuation
Boat fair market value assessments are rarely offered as a
separate service, since the value of a used boat is inextricably
linked to condition. Typically, the valuation is attached to the
Condition and Value report. It would be wrong to think of it as an
official price tag of the boat; however, such valuations are
usually needed for insurance, financing, divorce, inheritance, and
other life situations.
Insurance Survey
In some cases, insurance companies want to make sure that the boat
they are being asked to insure is in satisfactory condition for
its intended use, and that its value actually corresponds to what
the insurance is being taken out for. To do this, the boat owner
must invite an accredited surveyor for inspection. The surveyor
inspects the boat and writes a report to confirm for the insurance
company what they cannot assess. In essence, this type of survey
is very similar to a pre-purchase condition and value survey, but
the clients are typically the boat owners rather than boat buyers.
As a side-result of such a survey, the owner will also become more
knowledgeable of his or her beloved boat's safety and compliance
with the up-to-date marine standards.
What our customers are saying?
RATES
DESCRIPTION
PRICE
Marine Survey
$20.00 per foot, min $600.00
Sea Trial
$400.00
Marine Consultancy
$100.00 per hour
Travel Expences
ask
Qualification
FAQ
A marine survey is an examination of all accessible parts of a boat
and its systems in order to determine the general condition, as well
as estimate its fair market value. During the survey, all accessible
areas of the boat are checked, including the external and internal
parts of the hull, superstructure, and the external parts of the
engines and mechanisms. Safety and navigation equipment are also
inspected.
Boat surveying is a unique business and I choose NOT to be listed as
a surveyor recommended by brokers or sellers. The success of my
business does not depend on recommendations from brokers, lenders or
salespeople; allowing me to stay independent from any outside
influences and remain completely impartial in my opinions.
You can schedule a survey by email, phone, or by writing to me via
messenger. Please keep in mind that surveys are scheduled on a
first-come, first-served basis. So, the sooner you contact us, the
sooner you can schedule a survey. On average, surveys can be
scheduled within 14 days of the initial request. The Service
Agreement will be emailed to you and will need to be reviewed,
signed and returned to us to confirm the exact inspection date.
I understand that arranging and carrying out a survey may seem like
an expensive undertaking. Still, in fact, in most cases, I identify
serious defects that need to be corrected before or immediately
after purchase. And usually, the value of my findings far exceeds
the cost of the survey, which can directly affect the final selling
price you settle on with the seller. But the most important benefit
of a condition survey is the peace of mind you gain from knowing
that the boat you're entertaining family and friends on is in safe
condition.
Well, there will be always someone who offers cheap services.
However, I find my prices to be very competitive compared to other
surveyors with similar competencies. Remember who pays twice and
what you are paying for. Marine surveying is about the safety of the
boat and your loved ones.
If you plan to come to the site on the day of the survey, I can
accept cash on-site. If you do not intend to participate in the
survey, I can accept payment via Interac eTransfer. Please note that
payment must be received prior to the start of the survey.
Please don't take this personally, as I am not happy about this
need. Unfortunately, in today's society, some people do not take
their obligations seriously. Thus, the past actions of some clients
require upfront payment from future clients.
Depending on the size and condition of the boat, the inspection may
take from a couple of hours to several days. A survey of a typical
30-foot sailboat usually takes about three to four hours, depending
on the weather. Add to this the sea trial, which is even more
dependent on the weather.
If you have already seen the boat in person, then you do not need to
come. More than half of my clients do not come for a survey. More
than that, for insurance purposes, no one but me can board the
vessel during the course of the inspection. Remember, the completed
survey report is the final product of my work. My reports accurately
reflect the condition of the boat and allow my clients to make
informed decisions on transactions.
