Bad Surveyor, Bad Information

[mlanger]

Before buying my boat, I hired a surveyor to do a full boat inspection, which included the interior of the boat, the exterior of the boat (hauled out of the water), and a sea trial. The survey cost me over $1000 and I received a 40+ page Report.

I just discovered today that the boat does not have the dedicated engine starting battery that is shown in the boats operator manual. The survey report, however, claims that the battery is there. I know the battery was not removed from the boat. I assumed that the report was accurate and that the surveyor confirmed the presence of the battery. Apparently, he did not.

This puts me in a bad situation. Not only did I just pay an engine mechanic $350 to troubleshoot an engine starting problem, but if I knew the battery was missing when I bought the boat, I would’ve had the battery added. Now I’m cruising and there are no Ranger Tug service centers near here. The battery should be installed in a difficult to reach location and the wiring must be adjusted. I serious doubt a service center that is not familiar with Ranger Tugs could do the work.

What I’d like to know is what recourse I have against the surveyor for providing me with inaccurate information. At the very least, I’d like the $350 I just spent to troubleshoot a non-existing problem. I’d prefer to have my entire survey fee refunded and the surveyor to lose his certification. At this point, I don’t know what else in the survey report is wrong.

Any ideas?

 

[scross]

Ouch!
Here’s some background info on complaints about surveyors. Probably not what you want to hear though.
https://www.thelog.com/news-departments ... o-his-job/

It it were me I’d read all that fine print that was included in your written report about what the surveyors obligation were in doing the survey. My recent survey report included a lot of fine print. Then I’d go to your surveyor directly and explain the problem and ask for at least a partial refund.

PS: Even a good survey can have errors. Our survey had two - he described the galley countertop as “Corian like material” but it isn’t a solid surface material at all. He thought the dedicated trailering lights on the stern were broken because he thought they were courtesy lights. I caught both errors immediately and gave him some feedback for future reference.

 

[Red-27]

out of curiosity how did you do a sea trial without a starter battery? also it seems kina crazy that you would want the guy to lose his certification over one missed item that he could understandably think was there if it started during your trial. i could understand wanting a partial refund but its not like you wouldent have bought the boat if you knew about a missing battery

 

[Andrew Custis]

Hello,

The dedicated engine start battery is located forward of the house batteries. When we needed to replace one battery, we found it a lot easier to remove the aft refrigerator or freezer and install an inspection hatch where it could be easily removed that way. Now, the boat you purchased sat pretty much unused since the time it was delivered. This boat was delivered over four years ago. The lifespan of the batteries in the boat are rated for 3-5 years. So, I do not believe you should be focused on one battery but, you should be focused on them all.

Now, with regard to your comment about Ranger Tugs, please edit that to a more appropriate response for a public forum.

Thank you,

 

[DMD3]

+1

Now, with regard to your comment about Ranger Tugs, please edit that to a more appropriate response for a public forum.

Thank you,

 

[johnbenj]

+1

Now, with regard to your comment about Ranger Tugs, please edit that to a more appropriate response for a public forum.

Thank you,

+2

Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk

 

[mlanger]

out of curiosity how did you do a sea trial without a starter battery? also it seems kina crazy that you would want the guy to lose his certification over one missed item that he could understandably think was there if it started during your trial. i could understand wanting a partial refund but its not like you wouldent have bought the boat if you knew about a missing battery

The engine is wired directly into the house batteries. It starts fine unless I’ve been at anchor and have run down the power a bunch, then it starts when I turn Parallel to on — apparently adding the thruster battery to the mix.

This isn’t the only thing he got wrong. He also said that there were two tables ( there was one) and that all manuals were on board (they weren’t). It casts doubt on his whole report. Now that I’ve put 100 hours on the boat, And actually know it, I’ll go through the report again.

Honestly: you don’t think miscounting the BATTERIES is a serious problem? I’m looking at over $1000 of parts and labor to get this the way the manual says it should be and wired correctly.

 

[mlanger]

Hello,

The dedicated engine start battery is located forward of the house batteries. When we needed to replace one battery, we found it a lot easier to remove the aft refrigerator or freezer and install an inspection hatch where it could be easily removed that way. Now, the boat you purchased sat pretty much unused since the time it was delivered. This boat was delivered over four years ago. The lifespan of the batteries in the boat are rated for 3-5 years. So, I do not believe you should be focused on one battery but, you should be focused on them all.

Now, with regard to your comment about Ranger Tugs, please edit that to a more appropriate response for a public forum.

Thank you,

Apparently, someone else edited it.

I need the situation remedied. The remaining batteries tested fine so I’m not interested in replacing them now. But I do want the boat properly configured so I can use it at anchor without worries about getting stuck there. Is there a Ranger dealer on the Great Loop that can do this? I’ll be in Florida for all of January.

And my initial complaint was about the surveyor’s apparent inability to count to five. I’m still hoping for more advice about that.

 

[mlanger]

It it were me I’d read all that fine print that was included in your written report about what the surveyors obligation were in doing the survey. My recent survey report included a lot of fine print. Then I’d go to your surveyor directly and explain the problem and ask for at least a partial refund.

This is sound advice. The last time I contacted him about another error I found, he did not return my call. That AND this really has made me angry — especially when I consider how much his inaccurate survey cost me.

I love the boat, but having it not start after a night at anchor the other night is something that could have been prevented if he’d correctly counted the batteries and figured out how they were wired. I still have questions about the battery level indicator in the lower berth, whether the solar panel is actually connected properly, and how the electrical system REALLY works — since it obviously does not work the way it’s laid out in the manual.

I bought the boat in Olympia and could have had all this taken care of by Ranger Tug in DeMoines — if only I had known about it.

What’s the sense of having a boat surveyed if I can’t rely on BASIC INFORMATION in the report I pay for?

 

[Flats]

+1

Now, with regard to your comment about Ranger Tugs, please edit that to a more appropriate response for a public forum.

Thank you,

+3

 

[Bruce Moore]

I edited the OP which is my responsibility as moderator.

I don't know where you are currently, but here is a link to the Ranger Tug dealer network. Hopefully you can find the nearest dealer or one along your planned route.

Please feel free to continue reaching out to the factory customer service team. You know how to reach them.

Discuss your grievances directly with the surveyor and/or seller. I'm closing this thread.


Bruce