Seven Common Boat Problems You Can’t Ignore (and How to Fix Them)

A marine surveyor with nearly two decades of experience reveals the recurring—and entirely avoidable—maintenance failures that kill resale value and put crews at risk.

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On this 1992 Sabre 425, my main concern was the mess of wiring. The electronic system kept shorting out during the inspection. (Photo/ Ray Ville)

As I approach twenty years of surveying boats, most issues that I encounter are repetitive. The root causes for these repeat problems usually involve safety issues that could have been prevented with proper maintenance and care. I do also occasionally stumble upon a few new issues, mainly related to lithium batteries and their incorrect installation.

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Ray Ville has been a Navtech Certified Marine Surveyor since 2009. He has surveyed vessels in Canada and the Dominican Republic, where he currently resides. During the summer, he flies back home to Canada and lives aboard his 1982 Mirage 33 in the North Channel of Lake Huron.