About
Independent.
Rigorous.
On your side.
Westmar Surveys was founded to provide independent yacht surveys, owner representation and yacht management grounded in real, hands-on experience. Over more than 15 years in the industry — from offshore sailing and full refits to brokerage, and surveys conducted on behalf of shipyards and government agencies — the focus shifted steadily toward the technical side of the process, and toward supporting owners and buyers at the points where independent judgement is what is actually needed.
That range matters. Having worked inside brokerage, it is obvious how a listing is constructed and what tends to be left out of one. Having run refits, it is clear which corners get cut in a yard and where they are hidden. Having surveyed for shipyards and government agencies, the standard of evidence required to make a finding stand up is not a matter of opinion.
The management work grew out of the survey work. Clients who had been given a straight answer once tended to want the same person involved afterwards — through the refit, then through the season, then permanently. Running a vessel turns out to be the same discipline applied continuously rather than once: knowing the actual condition of the boat, knowing the standard of the work being done to it, and keeping the owner informed in terms they can act on. Today that runs from a single pre-purchase survey to full operational responsibility — crew, technical condition, budgets, flag and class, insurance and berthing.
The priority throughout is clarity: understanding the actual condition of a vessel, the quality of the work carried out on it, and what both mean for ownership. Working across Spain, France, Belgium, Germany and parts of Africa, and supporting clients in English, Spanish, French and German, the approach is technically rigorous and proportionate — built on detailed observation and practical experience rather than on templates.
A shipyard works for themselves. A broker works for the deal. I work for you.
The approach
Observe carefully
Every survey begins with methodical, unhurried observation. Structure, systems, rigging, machinery — inspected in sequence, without rushing to conclusions. What is present matters. So does what is absent: the maintenance record that stops three years ago, the repair nobody mentioned, the spare that was never replaced. A vessel under management gets the same treatment, only continuously.
Assess thoroughly
Findings are evaluated in context — relative to the vessel's type, age, use, and what the owner intends to do with it. Not every finding is a crisis. Not every problem can be ignored. Telling the two apart is most of the job, and getting it wrong in either direction costs the client money. The same judgement decides what goes in a maintenance budget and what can wait another season.
Communicate clearly
Reports are written to be understood, not filed. Findings are ranked by urgency and explained plainly — so that whoever reads the report, in any of the four languages, can make an informed decision without needing a technical background to interpret it. Owner reporting on a managed vessel follows the same rule: enough to decide on, without unnecessary noise.
Stay accountable
Where the involvement continues — through a refit, a yard period, or year-round management — there is one point of contact and one person answerable for it. Decisions are documented, work is verified before it is paid for, and the owner is never the last to know.
What owners and buyers say
5.0on Google →We used Thomas for the survey and sea trial on our Hanse 455 and could not recommend him highly enough. From start to finish it felt like being in expert hands.
La inspección fue muy completa y el informe claro. Nos explicaron todo de forma sencilla y sin complicaciones. Nos dio mucha confianza para seguir adelante.
Die Begutachtung war sehr gründlich und professionell, der Bericht klar strukturiert und gut nachvollziehbar. Hat uns bei der Entscheidung sehr geholfen. Klare Empfehlung.
Inspection sérieuse, rapport clair et détaillé, avec des explications précises sur les points techniques. Cela nous a permis d'avancer en toute confiance.
Describe your vessel.
We'll take it from there.
Whether you are buying, refitting, or looking for someone to take on the running of the vessel — get in touch to discuss it and the most appropriate next step.