We live in a litigious world. If a boat sinks 6 months after your survey, you will be named in the lawsuit. You cannot stop people from suing you, but you can stop them from winning.
1. The Contract (Work Order)
Never step on a boat without a signed contract. Not a handshake. Not an email. A signed PDF.
Must Haves:
- Limitation of Liability Clause: "Liability is limited to the cost of the survey report."
- Scope Definition: "Visual inspection only. No disassembly."
- Third Party Clause: "This report is for the exclusive use of the Client named above. No third party may rely on this report."
2. Wording Matters
- Bad: "The hull is sound." (This is a guarantee).
- Good: "Percussion sounding of the hull produced sharp, crisp returns consistent with dry laminate. No delamination was observed at this time." (This describes your test and observation).
3. Insurance
You need Errors & Omissions (E&O) insurance. It costs about $2,000-$5,000/year. It is the cost of doing business. If you don't have it, one lawsuit will bankrupt you, even if you win.
Conclusion
The best defense is a good offense. Be thorough, be consistent, and document everything. If it isn't in the report (or your field notes), it didn't happen.