Condition
& Value Surveys of Sailing Vessels
When
selecting a surveyor for a sailing vessel the client should ask if the surveyor
is a sailor, has ever owned a own a sailboat, and goes aloft to inspect the
rigging. If the answer is no then youve found us in time. Many
qualified surveyors will survey a sailboat although they are power boaters and
not sailors. The propulsion system of a sailing vessel involves all aspect
of the vessel, from its keel to the height of the mast. Unless a surveyor
understands the balance of the helm, the ability of the vessel to point, and the
ease or difficulty of tacking how can a surveyor justly render an opinion of the
vessels propulsion system.
Both our
surveyors are competent sailors. Both have owned sailing vessels and both will
go aloft to inspect the rigging.
Capt.
Tom Calahan: Learned to sail at the Junior Yacht Club (Prams & SunFish). First
sailboat owned (age 17) was a Hobie Cat. First Cruising experience at age 18
on Whisper, a 48 foot custom built, steel ketch. Of the half dozen sail
boats Tom has owned the most memorable was a 1968, Morgan 30, Sloop. It was in
this boat Tom did most of his personal cruising. Other boats owned,
refurbished, and sold include 31 Hinterhoeller, 25 Annapolis, and 26 Westerly.
Finally Tom has delivered many sailing vessels over the years from new Hunters
and Catalinas to Cruising vessels like the Maple Leaf and CSYs.
Capt. Tom Martin --
Tom was recruited by home land security but remains
available for consultations.
Captain Tom Martin sailor and sailboat
builder brings a lifetime of experience to surveying sailboats. Over the years
Tom has build and restored both wood and fiberglass sailboats. His first
sailboat was an eight foot dinghy he acquired as a sea scout with money earned
from a paper route. That boat needed quite a bit of work and there was a huge
learning curve yet with that same approach to repair and maintenance over a
lifetime Tom has learned a lot about boats.
Capt. Tom Martin worked for Irwin Yachts building 37 foot sailboats and
spent several brief periods working as a boat mechanic and rigger in boat yards
while cruising.
Capt. Tom Martin just didnt fix them he sailed and raced at every
opportunity until he went full time as a USCG Captain. For five years Capt. Tom
taught sailing for Annapolis Sailing school and as Manager of the St. Croix
branch he managed a fleet of 24, 37 50 and 60 sailboats. Capt. Tom is an ASA
certified instructor for small boats and ocean cruising. As branch manager Capt.
Tom started and ran an off-season comprehensive maintenance program that led to
the sailing schools first breakdown free season for all ten sailboats.
Working as a private yacht Captain, Tom has both sailed and maintained a
variety of vessels. A short sampling is: CSY 37, 44; Irwin 54, 37, 28 ;
Morgan 28, 38, 40, 48, 41, 52 ; Gulfstar 34, 37 41, 46, 50, 60 ;
Catalina 30, 34, 44 ; Jeaneau 39, 46 ; Shannon 38, 42 ; Oday 37, 39 ;
Rainbow 24 ; Hinckley 40 ; and many others.
Surveying any vessel is not just a critique of the physical condition of
the vessel but a review of the efficiency of design and safety, plus the
operational aspects of the vessels construction. Captain Tom Martin has the
experience and knowledge to bring those elements to his surveying.
