Pre-purchase Boat Inspections
Pre-purchase Boat Inspections in Airlie Beach Whitsundays and Mackay
Professional Boat Inspections by Big Sea Marine Consultants & Surveyors
Buying a boat is one of the most significant decisions a vessel owner will ever make. Whether you’re looking at a five-metre trailer boat or a 35-metre luxury yacht, a professional pre-purchase boat inspection is critical to understanding the vessel’s true condition, value, and compliance before you commit.
Big Sea Marine Consultants & Surveyors provides independent, accredited and highly detailed pre-purchase inspections across Airlie Beach, the Whitsundays, Shute Harbour, Cannonvale, Bowen, Mackay, and greater Queensland.
We are Qualified, Accredited and Fully Insured Marine Surveyors — trusted by private buyers, brokers, insurers and financiers.🚨 Buyer Beware – Avoid Unqualified ‘Outboard Mechanics’ Claiming to Be Marine Surveyors. In the Whitsundays, untrained inspectors frequently attempt to pass themselves off as surveyors. Always choose a formally accredited marine surveyor to safeguard your investment.
Airlie Beach & the Whitsundays Queensland’s Boat Inspection Hotspot.
Airlie Beach is one of Australia’s busiest locations for yacht and power-boat sales. Buyers fly in weekly from Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne and interstate to secure sailing catamarans, monohulls, power cruisers and commercial vessels.
However, the Whitsundays is a harsh marine environment, contributing to accelerated vessel wear:
- Intense tropical UV exposure
- Constant humidity and high salt saturation
- Strong tidal flow and demanding charter workloads
- Annual cyclone pressures
- Continuous anchoring, mooring and passenger loads
This environment means the difference between a well-maintained boat and a neglected vessel can be hundreds of thousands of dollars.
That’s why a professional boat inspection in Airlie Beach by Big Sea Marine is essential before any offer or contract is finalised.
Our reports are clear, comprehensive, photo-rich, evidence-based and written in plain English — transforming complex marine findings into buyer-ready advice.
What Is a Pre-Purchase Boat Inspection?
The inspection is an independent, expert evaluation of the vessel’s structure, systems, safety and compliance. Big Sea Marine’s inspections assess:
- Hull and structural integrity
- Machinery, engines, propulsion and running gear
- Electrical systems and battery banks
- Safety equipment, communication systems and navigation electronics
- Watertight integrity and operational seaworthiness
- Maintenance history and condition trends
- Compliance with AS1799, TOMSA, AMSA NSCV (where applicable)
In simple terms:
We assist buyers to avoid inheriting someone else’s expensive problems.
A Big Sea Marine pre-purchase inspection ensures you know:
- What is functional and in good order
- What is non-compliant or unsafe
- What requires repair, replacement or urgent attention
- What may fail soon
- Whether the vessel represents real value
What a Pre-Purchase Boat Inspection Includes
Our inspections typically involve:
- Out-of-Water Hull & Keel Assessment
- Internal Structural Review (bulkheads, frames, stringers)
- Deck, Hatches & Superstructure Condition
- Rig, Mast & Sails Inspection (for sailing vessels)
- Mechanical & Systems Engineering Review
- Electrical & Battery System Testing
- Sea Trial & Performance Evaluation
- Safety Equipment Verification
- Compliance & Regulatory Review
- Professional Written Report with photos and expert commentary
Our reports are accepted by insurers, financiers and brokers across Australia.
Why a Pre-Purchase Inspection Is Essential
A professional marine survey identifies hidden defects that can cost buyers thousands:
- Structural failures — delamination, osmosis, cracking, corrosion
- Rig and mast issues on sailing vessels
- Machinery defects or poor maintenance
- Propulsion and steering faults
- Electrical hazards, fuel risks, plumbing issues
- Watertight integrity failures
- Non-compliance with AMSA, NSCV, TOMSA or AS1799
Every vessel is assessed against the relevant Australian standards and marine legislation.
Vessels We Inspect in Airlie Beach, Whitsundays & Mackay
We specialise in:
- Trailer boats & runabouts
- Power cruisers & motor yachts
- Sailing catamarans & monohulls
- Commercial vessels & superyachts up to 35m
Our Pre-Purchase Inspection Process
- Client Consultation & Scope Confirmation
- Comprehensive On-Site Inspection
- Full Photographic Documentation
- Deficiency Identification & Condition Review
- Professional, Easy-to-Read Report Delivery
Professionally Prepared Marine Survey Reports
Our pre-purchase reports include:
- Clear and logical presentation
- Detailed condition evaluations
- Evidence-supported findings
- AMSA/NSCV/TOMSA/AS1799 references
- Defect explanations and repair recommendations
- Independent and unbiased professional opinion
Why Choose Big Sea Marine – Airlie Beach’s Leading Marine Surveyor
- Local Whitsundays business
- Accredited AMSA Surveyor #45820
- Accredited AIMS Surveyor #69332437
- 25+ years of marine industry experience
- Independent, objective and unbiased
- Trusted by insurers, banks and brokers
- Fast, professional turnaround
- Mobile service from Bowen to Mackay and all Whitsunday Islands
Your trusted pre-purchase boat inspection specialists in
- Airlie Beach
- Whitsundays
- Bowen
- Mackay
- Yeppoon
Additional Marine Survey Services
Insurance condition assessment surveys
Machinery and hull damage assessments
Email today
Contact us today to take your first step towards booking your Pre-purchase Boat Inspection.
Big Sea Marine Pre-purchase Inspection Process
Pre-inspection file review
Out-of-Water Hull Inspection
Out-of-Water Hull Inspection
Before inspecting the vessel, we examine:
- Ownership history
- Maintenance records
- Service receipts
- Rigging certificates
- Insurance claims
- Previous surveys
- Compliance documentation
- Engine service logs
- Any DCV/NSCV certificates
This helps identify hidden issues such as accident history or incomplete repairs.
Out-of-Water Hull Inspection
Out-of-Water Hull Inspection
Out-of-Water Hull Inspection
We recommend a haul-out at one of these locations:
- Coral Sea Marina Airlie Beach
- Hawkes Boatyard Travel Lift
- Shute Harbour Slipway
- Bowen Harbour Slipway
- Mackay Marina Travel Lift
Inspections Include:
- Hull condition (osmosis, blistering, corrosion)
- Keel, rudder, skeg and running gear
- Through-hull fittings & seacocks
- Antifouling condition
- Transducers
- Structural damage or repairs
- Weld quality (if aluminium or steel)
- Steel corrosion & pitting
- Fibreglass delamination
This is the most critical stage—you should not purchase a boat without a pre-purchase out-of-water inspection.
Internal Structural Inspection
Internal Structural Inspection
Internal Structural Inspection
Inside the vessel's hull, we check the following items:
- Bulkheads & frames
- Bonding & tabbing
- Stringers & stiffeners
- Chainplates
- Mast support posts
- Moisture & delamination
- Signs of movement or flexing
- Water ingress
In older Whitsunday charter boats, we commonly find:
- Bulkhead separation
- High moisture in decks
- Soft cockpit soles
- Window frame corrosion
Machinery and Engineering
Internal Structural Inspection
Internal Structural Inspection
Big Sea Marine specialises in mechanical and propulsion inspections, including:
- Diesel engine assessments
- Generator sets and prime movers
- Fuel systems (and fuel contamination)
- Exhaust systems (wet & dry)
- Cooling and jacket water circuits
- Gearboxes & drives
- Propellers & shafts
- Hydraulic steering
- Pumps and tanks
- Bilge systems
- Stabiliser equipment (if fitted)
This is an area where most 'boat inspectors' are not trained engineers, but Big Sea Marine Surveyors' engineering background provides deep diagnostic insight from years of hands-on experience.
Common Defects Found in Whitsunday Vessels
The most common defects and deficiencies we find in boats in Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays
After conducting numerous pre-purchase and insurance condition boat inspections in the Airlie Beach region over the years, we've found the most frequent (and expensive) issues include:
Structural
- Rotting or delaminated decks
- Bulkhead separation
- Osmosis in GRP hulls
- Corrosion in aluminium catamarans
- Weak or leaking windows/hatches
Mechanical
- Overheated and failed exhaust elbow diffusers
- Failing heat exchangers
- Diesel contamination (very common)
- Worn injectors
- Engine mounts degraded
Electrical
- Unsafe battery installations
- Failing alternators
- Aged wiring
- Corroded terminals
- Solar regulators failing in heat
Rigging (sailing vessels)
- Old rigging (overdue replacement)
- Bent mast tracks
- UV-damaged sails
- Loose or fatigued chainplates
Safety Equipment
- Non-compliant lifejackets
- Expired flares
- Expired EPIRB batteries
- Incorrect anchor sizing
Compliance & Documentation
- Missing stability booklets (for DCVs)
- Incorrect Builders Plate information
- Outdated electrical certification
Conclusion
A vessel purchased in the Whitsundays can be a dream—or a disaster—depending on the quality of the inspection. With tropical corrosion, UV damage, ex-charter fatigue and a huge variety of vessel backgrounds, you need the region’s most experienced and technically skilled surveyor protecting your investment.
Why a Big Sea Marine Survey Protects Your Investment:
- Because repairs in the Whitsundays can be expensive.
- There are limited shipyards and high labour demand.
- Because corrosion progresses faster in tropical climates.
- Humidity + salt = fast degradation.
- Because ex-charter boats may have heavy wear despite looking clean.
- Because DIY modifications are extremely common.
- Because insurance companies rely heavily on survey reports.
- Because a boat that “looks fine” may have $50k–$200k hidden issues.
- A pre-purchase inspection is not an optional expense—it is a financial safeguard.
Why we lead in the Region:
- Most technically qualified local surveyor
- Government inspector and authorised officer background
- Expert witness capability
- Precision, detail, accuracy
- Local knowledge of Whitsunday vessel conditions
- Professional formatting and documentation standards
- Trusted by insurers, owners, financiers and boat brokers
Big Sea Marine Consultants & Surveyors provides the highest-standard inspections in Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays, backed by engineering expertise, AMSA accreditation, and decades of hands-on marine experience in this region and beyond.
Book Your Boat Pre-purchase Inspection with us today.
Big Sea Marine Consultants & Surveyors – Airlie Beach, Whitsundays
📞 +61 (0) 407645893
📧 surveyor@bigsea.com.au
🌐 www.bigsea.com.au
Needing a Pre-purchase inspection or Insurance Appraisal
Peace of mind prior to your boat purchase, or Insurance assessment prior to the storm season. We're offering 10% reduction on our regular fees for the month of November. Take advantage of our offer.
Booking in advance is recommended.