Marine Consultancy and Surveying by
Robert W Burton

Who we are:

Burton Marine Ltd provide marine consultancy and surveying services by Robert Burton, a qualified marine surveyor and engineer.  We specialise in vessels under 24 metres (78 feet) and provide pre-purchase surveys, condition or damage assessments, insurance surveys and valuations.  We also provide consultancy services to various organisations and navigation authorities and can also provide advice and supervision for vessel new-builds, re-fits and renovation projects.

What we do:

Burton Marine Ltd is owned by Robert Burton. He has an engineering degree from Heriot Watt University and qualifications from organisations such as the International Institute of Marine Surveying and the Boat Safety Scheme.

He is passionate about boats, our waterways and maritime heritage, and specialises in surveys of sailing and motor yachts, narrowboats, workboats, barges, day boats and other small craft.

Marine Surveys

We offer a range of survey types.  Surveys use a variety of inspection techniques to ascertain condition and identify damage, deterioration, defects or other potential issues.

The surveys we offer are relevant to various types of craft including sailing and motor yachts, workboats, powerboats, narrowboats, residential barges, day boats and small commercial vessels.

These surveys include pre-purchase surveys, insurance surveys, valuations, condition and damage surveys, pre-sale surveys and refurbishment surveys.

We also provide consultancy and advice for boat refurbishment, restorations and new-build projects. Contact us to discuss your requirements.

 Why might I need a marine survey? 

Marine surveys are typically carried out when a yacht, small craft or work boat is being sold, refurbished, repaired, or after it has sustained damage.  The surveyor might be instructed by the owner, seller, potential buyer, boat builder, shipwright or insurance provider. In some circumstances they may also be requested by a navigation authority, harbourmaster or marina operator.  Most insurance companies will require a survey to be carried out before insuring craft over twenty five years old.

Yacht and small craft surveys within the marine leisure sector differ to those required for commercial craft due to the different legislation governing small craft under 24 metres.  Most new leisure craft in the UK will have been constructed in accordance with the EU Recreational Craft Directive (RCD) or the UK Recreational Craft Regulations along with relevant British Standards or harmonised EN standards. Various parts of government legislation including relevant Codes of Practice and Marine Guidance Notes, the Merchant Shipping Regulations, COLREGs and SOLAS are also applicable.

Boat Safety Scheme (BSS)

Robert Burton provides services as a Quality Assurance assessor and consultant to the Boat Safety Scheme.

Most of the waterways of Britain require boats to have insurance, a licence and a valid BSS Certificate in place.  This requirement includes craft using most of the rivers, canals and some lakes of the UK’s inland waterway network.

The Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) minimises the risk of boat fires, explosions, deaths or injuries, and pollution to the waterways. 

All powered craft, or vessels with an electrical, gas, or heating system require a BSS Examination every four years in order to be compliant with the requirements of most navigation authorities.

The Boat Safety Scheme is often likened to the UK’s MOT requirement for cars and other motor road vehicles. The majority of the inland navigation authorities, together with some National Parks and coastal areas such as the Norfolk Broads require boats to have a valid BSS Certificate before granting a licence for the vessel to navigate their waterways. A BSS Certificate will currently last four years.

The Boat Safety Scheme places a heavy emphasis on aspects of the boat’s safety including gas installations and the engine’s fuel systems, together with all electrical systems, safe escape routes, and precautions such as portable fire extinguishers and carbon monoxide detectors.

A stringent set of checks must be met before a Certificate can be issued.