The evalo blog

Practical writing for marine surveyors — software, workflow, industry.

• Marine surveyor pricing strategy: how to charge what you're worth — How to structure your survey fees, when to raise prices, and the pricing mistakes that keep solo marine surveyors stuck at break-even.
• Yacht osmosis and hull blistering: a surveyor's field guide — How to identify, categorise and report on osmotic blistering in GRP yacht hulls — moisture readings, severity grading, and what to recommend to buyers.
• Marine survey report template: what every report must include — The complete structure of a defensible marine survey report — sections, language conventions, and the legal language that protects you when claims arise.
• How to become a marine surveyor in the UK (2026 guide) — A step-by-step route to becoming a working marine surveyor in the UK — training, accreditation, insurance, first clients, and realistic earnings.
• How much does a pre-purchase yacht survey cost in 2026? — Typical UK and EU pricing for pre-purchase yacht surveys, what's included, and how to quote profitably as a small marine surveyor.
• How to digitise a pre-purchase yacht survey — A practical, step-by-step workflow for moving your pre-purchase survey process from clipboard and Word doc to a fully digital, mobile-first capture.
• Marine surveyor qualifications: IIMS, YDSA, SAMS explained — A plain-English guide to the main marine surveyor accreditations — IIMS, YDSA, SAMS — what they cost, what they prove, and which one to pursue.
• Yacht moisture meter readings: what's normal, what's not — How to interpret moisture meter readings on a GRP yacht hull, what counts as elevated, and how to document findings defensibly in a survey report.
• Insurance survey checklist for small craft — Everything an insurance condition and value survey should cover for boats under 50ft — structured so nothing slips through.
• Yacht valuation methodology for marine surveyors — A practical methodology for arriving at defensible market valuations on small yachts — comparables, condition adjustments, and how to document your reasoning.
• Marine surveyor business setup: a practical first-year guide — Setting up as a self-employed marine surveyor — insurance, tools, marketing, and how to land your first 20 paying surveys without burning out.
• Choosing survey software as a solo marine surveyor — What to look for in survey software when you're a one-person operation — and the questions that matter more than feature lists.
• What to Do When a Client Disputes a Marine Survey Finding — A calm, defensible process for handling client pushback on survey findings — protecting your professional standing, your relationship, and your indemnity.
• Marine Survey Site Visit Checklist: What to Bring and How to Run the Day — A working surveyor's pre-visit kit list and on-site routine — the gear, the prep, and the structured walk-through that keeps surveys defensible and fast.
• Organising Marine Survey Photos: A System That Survives a Full Season — A practical photo workflow for marine surveyors — naming, linking to findings, backup, and retrieval — that holds up after a hundred surveys, not just one.
• The Marine Surveyor's Guide to Choosing Survey Reporting Software — A practical buyer's guide to marine survey software — the eight criteria that actually matter, the red flags to watch for, and the questions to ask vendors before you commit.
• How to Write a Marine Survey Report Faster Without Cutting Corners — Practical workflow changes that cut hours off every marine survey report — without losing detail, defensibility, or the quality your clients pay for.
• Why Marine Surveyors Are Ditching Word Docs for Survey-Specific Software — Word was never built for marine surveys. Here's why more surveyors are moving to purpose-built tools — and what actually changes when they do.
• Pre-Purchase Yacht Survey Cost in the US (2026 Guide) — What US pre-purchase yacht surveys actually cost in 2026 — typical pricing per foot, regional variation, sea trial fees, and what's included for power and sail.
• SAMS vs NAMS: Which Accreditation Should a US Yacht Surveyor Choose? — Side-by-side comparison of SAMS and NAMS for US marine surveyors — requirements, costs, insurance acceptance, and which fits a small yacht surveying business.
• Yacht insurance claim surveys: best practice for damage investigations — How to handle a yacht damage and insurance claim survey — scope, cause-of-loss determination, photo discipline, and the report structure underwriters expect.
• How to Start a Marine Surveying Business in the US: First-Year Playbook — Practical step-by-step guide to launching a small yacht surveying business in the US — entity setup, E&O insurance, accreditation pathway, pricing, and first 10 clients.