A full pre-purchase survey will cost you somewhere between £400 & £600; if the survey is out of the water it will also cost between £100 & £200 docking charges depending how the boat is taken out of the water - dry dock and slipway are generally cheaper than a fixed crane. A mobile crane that has to be brought on site may cost as much as £450 - be wary, sometimes the price quoted is one-way only ie £300 to take it out & £300 to put it back in.

The level of survey is your choice. It can be a full pre-purchase survey of the whole craft, or an "in the water" report of the boat interior (internal services and quality of fit out etc.) or an out of the water hull survey alone, or simply an engine report.

Remember that if seeking marine finance, the survey must include a valuation.

If you have specific questions or worries, put the questions in writing to your surveyor before the inspection, asking for specific answers.

Also ask if (s)he carries professional indemnity insurance & if (s)he is a member of a professional association.

It is important to ask the surveyor what he is going to inspect and what he isn't; what he will do and what he won't do - there is no set routine/format as to what constitutes a pre-purchase survey.

The list is in county order to help find a surveyor in the area where the boat is.

Alan Jarvis, PO Box 982, Peterborough, PE2 2ED Tel: 07972 844973

Mike Carter, PO Box 389, Northwich, Cheshire. Tel: 07831 184 495

Alan Dixon, Baile-na-Cora, Holmes Chapel Road, Middlewich. Tel: 01606 833 497

Jonathon Leask, 149 Over Lane, Belper, Derbyshire, DE56 0HN. Tel: 01773 829 951

Philip Mitchell, The Lawn, 31 Wilne Lane, Shardlow, Derby. Tel: 01332 792985

John Hutley, 26 Martingale Road, Billericay, CM11 1SG. Tel: 01299 623 852

Tucker Designs, 15 Renfield, Boxmoor, Hemel Hempstead. Tel: 01442 253775

David Broatch, The Boatyard, Mill Lane, Thurmaston, Leicester. Tel: 01248 671 291

Eddie Freeman, Aquarius, Fishpond Close, Denton, NN7 1EE. Tel: 01604 891 481

Trevor Whitling, 1 Ashworth Close, Crick, NN6 7XD. Tel: 01788 824191

Derrick & Ralph Davison, Houseboat Hirondelle, Trent Lock. Tel: 0115 972 7764

Barrie Morse, 11 Silver St, Chacombe, Banbury, OX17 2JR. Tel: 01295 711941

David Fuller, Marine Consultancy, Woodedge Lane, Marchington. Tel:01283 820 228

Balliol Fowden, Burleigh house, 273, Hillmorton Rd, Rubgy. Tel: 01788 541 020

Paul Smith, 12 Canterbury Close, Studley, B80 7JF. Tel: 01527 854 039

George Gibson, The Old Builders Wharf, Honey St, Nr Pewsey. Tel: 01672 851 232

Tom Keeling, 18 Seggs Lane, Alcester, Warks, B49 5HJ. Tel: 07976 631 920