No matter how good a surveyor you may have commissioned prior to buying the yacht of your dreams, there is only a limited amount of checking that can be done.

One of the first jobs that I undertook, especially on an aluminium yacht, is the check the bilges. I went through mine two or three times and found a multiple of items ranging from underwear, coins, and remnants from past works carried out. This clean up, not only safeguards your investment, but also allows you to familiarise yourself with every nook and cranny. In this process I discovered potential storage spaces, seeping pipes and electrical conduits. In my inspection, I checked bilge pumps, water pumps and gas alarms.

In fact one leak, which the previous owner had for many years was isolated to the fridge sea water cooling pump. This leak alluded the previous owner, so much so that he accepted it and regularly drained the water, with a specially purchased mini electric portable bilge pump. The leak was narrowed down relatively easily, by tasting the water. Discovering it was salt water, eliminated all fresh water system and allowed me to concentrate on sea cocks, engine inlets. Admittedly, the sea water fridge pump, was a bit of an oddity.

This familiarisation process is also beneficial for future servicing and troubleshooting, especially when you may be out at sea and there is no one around to give advise.