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John Merrett I.Eng.,A.M.R.I.N.A.
Choosing a surveyor who is a member of a Royal Institution ensures he is well qualified to a clearly defined and internationally accepted standard.The Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA) requires its Corporate and Associate members to have a minimum qualification of a degree or endorsed HNC in the subject of naval architecture, and have at least ten years proven experience in a responsible position within a shipyard or yacht yard. This is unlike the other well known associations of the yachting trade, which require no formal qualification for membership.
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My own training began in the 1960s building and refitting yachts to the Lloyds standards and fishing vessels to White Fish Authority rules.
During the 1970s I qualified as a Naval Architect and continued building, re-fitting and repairing yachts, fishing vessels, lifeboats and MOD vessels until September 1994.
Since that date I have traded as a self-employed independent Marine Surveyor carrying the necessary indemnity insurance cover.
The main part of this present day work is for pre-purchase or insurance surveys for sailing and motor yachts.
Apart from the day to day survey work, current projects include my supervision and management of the restoration of the late Sir Francis Chichester's first famous cutter yacht Gipsy Moth 111 here in Plymouth.
Metal vessels are surveyed using Cygnus Multiple-echo thickness testing equipment.
Diesel engines are compression tested using regularly calibrated Sykes-Pickavent compression testing gear.
Standard charges for local purchase surveys are based on the simple formula of:
Length (on deck in feet) x Breadth x 1.3 in GBP
Survey Fees for larger vessels or for insurance purposes are normally less.
Engines of motor vessels and larger yachts are normally compression tested and there is an additional charge for the spanner work involved in dismantling machinery here.