Common survey findings and what they cost
The items that show up again and again in pre-purchase surveys, with the cost ranges BoatSurveyReader uses in its reports. Every range shows its assumptions and sources.
Estimates, not quotes. Labor is priced at $110–$165 an hour, a typical Florida shop rate from two Florida shops' published guides (Marco Boatworks (Southwest Florida), Boat Repair Miami FL). Confirm with your surveyor or a qualified yard.
| Finding | Usually | Estimated range | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wet or delaminated deck core | Negotiate | $1,500–$15,000 | Boat owners' reported prices |
| Corroded exhaust manifolds and risers | Negotiate | $1,500–$3,000 per engine | Boat owners' reported prices |
| Seized or corroded seacocks and through-hulls | Fix | $290–$950 each | Parts + labor-hour assumption |
| Cracked sterndrive bellows | Negotiate | $600–$1,000 per engine | Boat owners' reported prices |
| Hull blisters (osmosis) | Watch | $3,000–$10,500 for a 30 ft boat | Boating publication |
| Wet or soft transom | Negotiate | $3,500–$20,000 | Boat owners' reported prices |
| Expired fire extinguishers | Fix | $30–$90 each | Parts + labor-hour assumption |
| Missing or expired CO detector | Fix | $100–$440 each | Parts + labor-hour assumption |
| Old standing rigging | Negotiate | $3,000–$10,000 | Boating publication |
| Leaking or corroded fuel tank | Fix | $3,000–$10,000 each | Boat owners' reported prices |
| Worn cutless bearing or leaking shaft seal | Negotiate | $400–$1,600 each | Boat owners' reported prices |
| Raw-water pump impeller service | Watch | $200–$500 per engine | Boat owners' reported prices |
Why ranges are wide
Most survey repairs are labor, and labor depends on access: the same part can take one hour or ten depending on what has to come off to reach it. Wide ranges are honest. Your survey's details, and a yard's look at the boat, are what narrow them.
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