MARINE DAMAGE SURVEY FORT LAUDERDALE
Marine Damage Surveys & Loss Incident Reports
Damage reports written by a licensed FL insurance adjuster.
When your boat has been damaged, the quality of your survey report directly determines whether your insurance claim gets paid, how fast, and for how much.
Clayton Marine Surveys provides boat and yacht damage surveys across South Florida, covering sailboats, sailing and power catamarans, and motor yachts, from small craft to large vessels.
Jack Clayton is a Florida all-lines licensed insurance adjuster as well as a credentialed marine surveyor. That means every damage report is written in the exact language, structure, and level of evidence that adjusters are trained to look for, which means your claim moves faster and closes at full value more often.
The licensed-adjuster advantage
Jack regularly works both sides of marine claims. He knows the claims-handling playbook from the inside. That experience translates directly into damage reports that:
– Pre-answer the questions adjusters ask – Use terminology that maps cleanly to policy language – Distinguish clearly between covered and non-covered damage – Eliminate the back-and-forth that stalls most claims
Post-repair surveys, the one most owners skip
After repairs are complete, an independent post-repair survey verifies that the work was done correctly, captures any new or overlooked issues while the claim is still open, and creates the documentation that protects your vessel’s insurability and resale value for years. Most insurers don’t require it. Most owners should still get one. Read: 8 Essential Steps in a Yacht or Boating Accident.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Survey Scope
Collision, grounding, or allision
Collision, grounding, or allision
Storm or hurricane damage
Storm or hurricane damage
Lightning strike
Lightning strike
Fire, smoke, or electrical...
Fire, smoke, or electrical damage
Sinking or partial submersion
Sinking or partial submersion
Mishandling by charter operator,...
Mishandling by charter operator, marina, yard, or management company
Disputed pre-existing vs. new...
Disputed pre-existing vs. new damage claims
Post-repair verification (recommended after...
Post-repair verification (recommended after every major repair)
On-site inspection
with high-resolution photographic and video documentation
Detailed damage assessment
the damage identified, documented for your claim
Extent-of-damage mapping
the affected systems, components, and structural elements identified during the inspection
Electrical evaluation
when electrical causation is suspected, with ABYC as the reference standard. Jack Clayton is an ABYC Certified Marine Electrician.
Repair scope recommendations
aligned with industry standards
Marine damage report for your insurer
clear loss documentation structured the way adjusters expect
Report written to insurer and adjuster expectations
structured to be acted on, not argued over
Damage Survey FAQ
What is a marine damage survey?
A marine damage survey is an independent inspection that documents the damage to a vessel after a loss. The report records the extent of the damage in the structure and detail an insurer and adjuster expect, so it can be acted on rather than argued over. Because Clayton Marine Surveys writes from the adjuster’s side of the desk, the marine damage survey is built to move your claim toward a full, fast settlement.
Do you handle boat damage surveys as well as larger yachts?
Yes. A boat damage survey and a yacht damage survey follow the same process: a thorough on-site inspection with high-resolution photo and video documentation, and extent-of-damage mapping across the affected systems and structural elements. Whether it is a sailboat, a sailing or power catamaran, or a motor yacht, the report is organized the way an adjuster needs to see it.
How is a damage survey different from an insurance condition survey?
An insurance condition and valuation survey looks at a vessel’s overall condition for a policy. A damage survey documents a specific loss event, such as a collision, grounding, storm, fire, or sinking. If you are not sure which you need, the insurance survey page explains the condition-and-valuation side.
How soon after an accident should I get a damage survey?
As soon as the vessel is safe to inspect. Early documentation records the damage before repairs, weather, or salvage change the picture, which protects both your claim and your position if pre-existing versus new damage is disputed. See 8 Essential Steps in a Yacht or Boating Accident for what to do first.