Hamilton & Hamilton Marine Surveyors
Palm Beach, FLCertified Marine Surveyor – Palm Beach Florida
Yacht & Boat Inspection Services
Hamilton & Hamilton Marine Surveyors is a father-and-son team providing independent, unbiased marine surveys in Palm Beach, Florida, and throughout the Treasure Coast. We are proud members of the Association of Certified Marine Surveyors (ACMS®) and American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC®) Certified Marine Technicians, delivering detailed inspections and professional reporting you can rely on.
We provide comprehensive boat and yacht inspection services for both power and sail vessels, including trawlers, sportfish yachts, sailboats, catamarans, center consoles, and express cruisers. Our expertise includes outboard, inboard, and diesel propulsion systems, as well as fiberglass and composite hull construction.
Why Marine Inspection Surveys are Important in Palm Beach
If you are buying, selling, or insuring a boat or yacht in Palm Beach, working with a certified marine surveyor is an essential step in the process. A marine survey is a thorough inspection that documents a vessel’s condition and overall seaworthiness at the time of evaluation.
During the survey, your marine surveyor examines structural integrity, mechanical and electrical systems, onboard safety concerns, and potential risks that could lead to damage, fire, sinking, or personal injury. Marine surveys are often required for insurance underwriting, financing, and valuation, and they play a critical role in protecting your investment.
Pre-Purchase Marine Surveys Protect Your Investment
Hamilton & Hamilton provides detailed pre-purchase yacht and boat surveys to help buyers make informed decisions before closing. A professional marine survey typically evaluates:
- Hull and Structural Condition
- Mechanical and Electrical Systems
- Safety Equipment and Regulatory Compliance
- Cosmetic Condition and Overall Maintenance
- Fair Market Value and Recommendations
Whether you’re purchasing a vessel in the Palm Beach area or taking delivery from another port, don’t buy a new or pre-owned vessel without a professional marine survey.
How a Marine Survey Can Save You Money Before You Buy
A marine survey is often the most cost-effective tool available to boat buyers. Certain vessel types and manufacturers are known to have recurring issues, and an experienced marine surveyor can identify concerns that may not be obvious during a casual inspection.
We regularly assist clients in Palm Beach and throughout the Treasure Coast by uncovering hidden defects, negotiating purchase prices, or advising when it’s best to walk away — often saving buyers thousands of dollars in unexpected repairs and future expenses.
What Our Clients Are Saying
Trusted by boat owners across the Florida Treasure Coast
Yacht & Boat Surveys and Inspection Services
Palm Beach, Florida
If you don’t see the boat or yacht service you need in the Palm Beach area – just ask!
Pre-Purchase Marine Survey – A pre-purchase vessel survey is one of the most thorough surveys you can have. It provides a prospective boat buyer with detailed documentation to confirm or deny that a vessel is free of operational hazard, sea worthy, appropriately valued, and free of defect or damage.
Boat or Yacht Purchase Consulting – To ensure you are buying the right boat for your needs and that you are correctly interpreting a pre-purchase survey from a seller, John Hamilton can be your boat or yacht consultant. His expertise can be the best investment you’ll ever make.
Insurance Marine Survey – A Condition & Value Survey (insurance survey) is what your insurance carrier or lender may require you to obtain in order for them to bind or renew coverage, or even to close a loan on your vessel.
Boat Appraisal and Inspections – If you are selling, donating, settling a divorce or estate; or other types of legal matters you may need an Appraisal Survey. This type of inspection should be from a certified marine surveyor and determines the fair market value of the vessel. The vessel is inspected to ascertain its correct market value along with market research for comparables.
Video Presentation – Can’t view your boat issues in person? We provide videos for prospective boat buyers and owners who can’t be a part of the inspection process in person. This is especially helpful when considering buying a boat or yacht or for legal matters. The detailed video inspection can be very useful in determining if further interest is desired.
Yacht Repair Inspection Surveys – Sometimes it takes a trained eye to spot inadequacies in repairs. Some repairs may even require a sea trial. After any kind of boat or yacht repair we can inspect the repair and prepare a report for your insurance or prospective buyers.
Damage Inspections – Fire Damage, Towing Damage – When damage occurs it’s impossible to gauge the severity and the extent of the damage by eyesight only.  A professional marine damage survey will effectively diagnose which structural components and systems were negatively affected from the damage.
Sea Trials – Before you buy a boat or yacht, after a repair, or even to diagnose a problem a sea trial is a must. There can be various levels of sea trials as well. The goal of a sea trial is to determine if all systems function normally even when run hard and to do so under conditions, time, and place of your choosing; otherwise, issues can take place when you are least prepared.
Accident and Fraud Investigations – We conduct marine investigations as needed by insurance companies or boat owner clients. We often work with boat owners who are having trouble with insurance claim issues, usually assisting the boat owner to obtain a proper claims settlement.
Litigation and Expert Witness Support Services – Our 30+ years of marine survey experience enables us to be reliable fact witnesses or expert witnesses for dispute claims in federal and state courts. We can provide collection of damage claim evidence, photo or video documentation, and samples for laboratory analysis.
Additional Boat Inspection Services – We offer a wide variety of additional marine inspection services such as:  Oil samples & Analysis, Moisture meter testing, Corrosion Inspection Analysis,  Hull sounding with phenolic hammer, Commissioning services and USCG Safety inspections.
Infrared Thermal Imaging/Scanning – This service can be incorporated into marine surveys by revealing abnormal temperature anomalies or moisture readings using a thermographic infrared camera. This is highly beneficial for revealing hidden or visually obscured mechanical equipment malfunctions such as leaks or overheating.
Our Marine Surveyor Accreditations
Marine Survey Methods Used in Palm Beach, FL
- Images & Video Documentation – Ideal for out-of-state buyers, remote owners, or legal documentation.
- Infrared Thermal Imaging – Detects hidden moisture, overheating components, and concealed system issues.
- Sea Trials – Essential for pre-purchase evaluations, post-repair inspections, and system diagnostics under real operating conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a marine survey cost?
Every vessel is different, so the cost of a marine survey varies based on the boat's size, age, make, model, and the type of survey requested. After a brief conversation about your vessel and your needs, we'll recommend the appropriate survey and provide a clear, accurate quote before scheduling your appointment.
Do you work with buyers purchasing yachts in Palm Beach?
Yes. We frequently assist buyers purchasing pre-owned yachts and boats in Palm Beach. Our pre-purchase marine surveys and buyer consultations provide an independent assessment of the vessel's condition, so you understand exactly what you're buying. We identify structural, mechanical, and safety concerns that could affect the vessel's value or require expensive repairs, helping you make an informed purchase decision.
Do I need to be present for the survey?
No, you do not need to be present during the survey. However, many clients choose to attend so we can explain our findings and answer questions as we inspect the vessel. Whether you're there or not, you'll receive a detailed marine survey report outlining our observations and recommendations.
Which marinas do you serve in Palm Beach?
We perform marine surveys at virtually all marinas, yacht clubs, boat dealerships, and boatyards throughout Southeast Florida. If your vessel is located at a marina, private dock, or storage facility, simply let us know where it's located, and we'll arrange the inspection. We also work with facilities that offer travel lifts for haul-out inspections when required.
What type of vessels do you inspect in Palm Beach?
Hamilton & Hamilton Marine Surveyors inspects virtually every type of recreational vessel, including center consoles, fishing boats, cruisers, trawlers, sailboats, sportfishing boats, and luxury yachts. We tailor every marine survey to the specific vessel and the purpose of the inspection, whether it's for a pre-purchase evaluation, insurance, appraisal, damage assessment, or consultation.
How quickly can you schedule a survey?
We do our best to schedule marine surveys as quickly as possible, and we can often accommodate urgent or last-minute requests. While last-minute scheduling is one of our specialties, we recommend booking as early as possible, especially during busy boating seasons, to ensure your preferred appointment date.
What Happens During a Marine Survey
- Hull & structural inspection
- Mechanical & electrical systems review
- Safety & compliance evaluation
- Moisture detection & thermal imaging (when applicable)
- Detailed written report with findings & recommendations
Why We Love Palm Beach Florida!
Henry Morrison Flagler Museum
Take a step back and enjoy the history, artwork & antique furnishings that adorn this stately Gilded Age–era mansion built for an oil tycoon. This mansion has beautiful architecture and is built in a spectacular location right on the water.
The Society of the Four Arts
A true feast for the eyes. Founded in 1936, this beautiful spot houses an art gallery, auditorium, library, botanical & sculpture garden. There are lovely flower gardens to walk around in that will be enjoyed by children and seniors alike.
Phipps Ocean Park
Ocean Park featuring a tennis center, cabanas, ocean views, picnic tables, a boardwalk & restrooms. Fun for the family to swim, snorkle, and have a picnic and then to take a stroll on the beach to take your pick of seashells.