Buy with confidence.
Over 200 checks across multiple categories — digital report with photos and recommended actions, delivered on the spot at the end of the inspection.
✓ Report on the spot
✓ We come to you
✓ Repair quotes included
- Buying a secondhand boat and want an independent condition assessment
- An owner wanting a full vessel condition report for insurance or peace of mind
- A seller wanting to provide a certified condition report to a buyer
- An engine service (annual, 50-hour, logbook)
- An engine health check on a boat you already own
- A repair or fault diagnosis visit
What we check
Every inspection covers the 8 standard categories below. The last 2 are optional add-ons available at booking.
Hull & structure
Hull condition, gelcoat, stress cracks, transom integrity, deck hardware, hatches and seals.
Engine & propulsion
Visual inspection, compression check, flushing system, trim and tilt, propeller, gear shift and throttle operation.
Electrical systems
Battery condition and charge, navigation lights, bilge pump, instruments and wiring condition.
Steering & controls
Steering free-play and response, throttle and shift cables, kill switch, trim tabs operation.
Bilge & through-hulls
Bilge pump operation, bilge condition, through-hull fittings and seacocks integrity.
Safety equipment
Flares, life jackets, fire extinguisher and EPIRB — compliance class and expiry dates checked.
Trailer
Lights, wheel bearings, brakes, tyres, winch, frame condition and coupling.
Fuel system
Fuel lines, primer bulb, tank condition, venting and connections — age and condition of fuel noted.
Thermal imaging Optional
Thermal camera scan of the engine while running — identifies hotspots, cooling faults, exhaust blockages and bearing issues invisible to the eye.
Oil condition test Optional
On-the-spot oil analysis — one drop tested instantly for contamination, water ingress, fuel dilution and wear metals. Independent of seller’s service claims.
We strongly recommend arranging the inspection at a boat ramp so we can conduct a full water test. Some issues only reveal themselves under load — engine power output, cooling, trim operation, overheating and propeller sizing can only be verified on the water.
On engines with diagnostic capability (e.g. Evinrude E-TEC, Yamaha, Mercury SmartCraft) we download the full engine history — hours of operation, fault codes and running profiles. This data is included in your report and cannot be falsified by the seller.
How it works
Ready to book your inspection?
The first question we ask at a repair job on a boat that was just purchased:
“Did you get a pre-purchase inspection?”
The answer is almost always no. In over 30 years of marine work we have seen it countless times — a boat bought in good faith, on the water within weeks, and then a repair bill that dwarfs the purchase price. A seized impeller, corroded wiring, a cracked exhaust manifold, diesel bug in the tank. None of these are visible to the untrained eye. All of them show up in an inspection.
A pre-purchase inspection costs a fraction of what a single hidden repair costs. The average repair bill we see on uninspected purchases runs to many times the inspection fee — before you factor in the time off the water, the towing, and the frustration of owning something you can’t trust.
years of marine experience behind every inspection report
3,000+
boats tested and assessed
1 in 3
inspections we conduct reveals a significant issue the buyer was unaware of
What our customers say
“He went through the boat with a fine tooth comb, both on dry land and on the water, and gave me a comprehensive inspection report. I was able to use that report to not only confirm my intention to purchase the boat, but also to negotiate a better price with the vendor. What I found most incredible was Res’s professionalism, guidance and advice throughout the inspection process. He systematically showed me things about the boat that I simply had no idea about. The service Res provides is second to none.”
— Verified customer, Sydney