How do you vet a surveyor — and find a good independent one (Tampa / St. Pete)?

Retired surveyor. Look for SAMS or NAMS accreditation, ask for a SAMPLE report (a good one is 30+ pages with photos, not 4), and hire one YOU found — never the seller's. A real surveyor finds things; if the report has zero recommendations, you paid for a rubber stamp.

Be there for the survey. The verbal walk-around is worth more than the written report — they'll say things in person they soften in writing. It's also the fastest boating education you'll ever get.

Tampa Bay has a few solid independents — ask each how many of YOUR exact model they've surveyed. Model-specific experience catches the known weak spots a generalist walks right past.

Sample-report request sent to two of them. One already declined to share — that's my answer on that one.