Don’t Let Your Dream Become a $4,400 Nightmare: Get a Boat Survey

Boat-buying season is just around the corner. Since the “COVID boating boom,” the market has been flooded with vessels changing hands—sometimes at a premium. But before you sign the title and hitch up the trailer, there is one step you can never afford to skip: THE BOAT SURVEY.

Take the story of “Jenny” (name changed for privacy).

During the height of the pandemic, Jenny, a frontline healthcare worker and divorced mother of three, found what she thought was a great deal on Craigslist: a $4,400 “Sea Skiff” described as a rescue boat and “just like a Boston Whaler“.

The seller, Alan (yes, that’s his real name), was a master of the “long con.” He spent hours portraying himself as a pillar of the Chicago sailing community, claiming he worked with inner-city kids to share the joy of the water. Jenny, wanting a way for her kids to escape the stress of the pandemic, trusted him.

She hitched the boat to her car and drove it home to Wisconsin. Alan mentioned a “few wires” needed fixing.

The reality hit when she reached the mechanic

“The mechanic asked if someone had given me the boat for free. He described it as a total piece of junk. I was left with a heap of junk, and I was broke.” — Jenny

Jenny tried to reach Alan, but he had already disappeared with her hard-earned money.

Why a Boat Survey is Serious Business

With over 2 million boats changing hands annually in the U.S., the risk of buying a vessel that isn’t seaworthy is higher than ever. Whether you are spending $5,000 or $500,000, an expert eye is your only true protection.

The Expert Eye: Meet Marine Surveyor Joe Calabrese

For Joe Calabrese, marine surveying isn’t just a career; it’s the logical conclusion of a lifelong obsession with how things work. According to his parents, Joe was a “tinkerer” from the very start—the kind of baby who was constantly getting into things, taking them apart, and occasionally breaking them just to see what was inside. As his dad jokingly puts it, Joe’s need to deconstruct the world was practically built in.

That innate curiosity eventually evolved into a professional career focused on electromechanical systems. Joe spent years troubleshooting complex machinery, often finding himself fixing things that weren’t even broken just to master the system’s mechanics.

From “Playing on Boats” to Professional Certification as a Marine Surveyor

After years of what Joe calls “playing on boats,” he teamed up with Captain William Shehan. The duo was constantly knee-deep in maritime projects, from refinishing fine woodwork to replacing faulty bilge pumps. Much of this work supported No Salt Sailing, a mission-driven organization that works with Veterans and their families.

When they noticed a significant lack of local marine surveyors, Joe and Captain William decided to fill the gap. They didn’t just want to fix boats; they wanted to ensure they were safe from the waterline up.

“We were looking for boat-related work to do all year long, so we got certified,” Joe explains. “My work experience definitely aided me in the field. It’s about knowing the best practices to get things working when they just don’t want to cooperate.”

Boat Yoga and the Mission Ahead

Joe brings a refreshing sense of humor to a technically demanding job. While he has a deep background in mechanics, he’s quick to point out that he’ll take a boat engine over a household appliance any day.

“I have a deep-seated hatred for working on washing machines,” Joe laughs. “It’s not the machines themselves, but the lack of room they’re in. Surveying is a lot like that—I call it ‘boat yoga,’ but on land.”

Despite the tight squeezes and complex wiring, Joe’s reward is the adventure. Every boat survey takes him to a new location and allows him to give back to the community he loves. Whether he’s navigating a cramped bilge or inspecting a hull, Joe is driven by the chance to hang out with his favorite people—Captain William and the Veteran families served by No Salt Sailing.

The Lesson for 2026

Don’t buy a boat based on a “good feeling” or a seller’s personality. Buy it based on a professional boat survey.

At Boat Safe Chicago, we want you on the water safely. That starts with ensuring the vessel you’re on is sound.

Buying a boat this spring? Reach out to us for a referral to a trusted marine surveyor like Joe, and let’s make sure your “Sea Skiff” isn’t actually a “Heap of Junk.”

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