A proper survey on a Sulawesi-built wooden hull checks the keel, frames, planking, fasteners and moisture condition at defined stages — during the build, before a purchase, or ahead of class entry. This page explains each survey type, the field methods used on timber hulls, and how foreign surveyors are coordinated, with fees quoted in USD.
Answer first: what a proper survey covers on a Sulawesi-built wooden hull
Wooden vessels are honest structures: everything that will fail later announces itself early to a surveyor who knows where to look. On a Sulawesi hull that means verifying the keel timber (species, scarphs, grain, seating), frame condition and spacing, planking thickness and fastening pattern, moisture levels in structural members, and — on older boats — borer attack, rot pockets and fastener corrosion. Surveys bought at the right moments are the cheapest risk control in the entire ownership cycle: an in-build milestone inspection costs a fraction of one percent of the build, and a pre-purchase survey routinely repays itself in a single negotiated price adjustment. Every inspection the desk arranges is independent — the surveyor reports to you, not to the yard or the seller.
Survey types & scope
| Survey type | Stage | What is checked | Typical duration | USD band |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-build milestone inspection | Keel laying, framing, planking, pre-launch | Timber species and quality, scarphs, frame spacing, fastening schedule, caulking, alignment | 1–2 days per milestone | Per-visit fee plus travel; a fraction of a percent of build value per visit |
| Pre-purchase survey | Before contract on a used vessel | Full structure, machinery, systems, safety gear, documents; haul-out or dive inspection of underwater body | 2–4 days | Scales with LOA; quoted in USD after scope call |
| Condition survey | Periodic / insurance-driven | Structural condition versus last report; defect list with severity grading | 1–2 days | Lower than pre-purchase; often insurer-mandated |
| Class-entry gap survey | Before applying for BKI class | Structure and systems versus BKI wooden-vessel rules; gap list and rectification plan | 2–3 days plus report | Quoted with the class workstream |
In-build milestone inspections (keel, frames, planking, fasteners)
The four canonical visits: keel laying (species verification, scarph quality, seating), framing complete (spacing, sided/moulded dimensions, no cracked bends), planking (thickness, fastening pattern, seam preparation) and pre-launch (caulking, sheathing, through-hulls, shaft alignment). Reports are photographic and bilingual, and they gate the milestone payments in the build contract — no pass, no payment.
Pre-purchase & condition surveys
On used vessels the survey drives the price. Structural findings feed directly into the refit budget and the valuation logic described in the used phinisi valuation guide; a seller who resists survey access has answered your real question already.
Class-entry gap surveys
For owners taking a traditionally built hull toward BKI class or NCVS compliance, the gap survey maps the distance between as-built reality and the rulebook before any application is filed — details on the regimes themselves live on the class and compliance page.
Field methods on timber hulls
Moisture & borer checks
Resistance-type moisture meters profile structural members against expected seasoning levels; suspicious readings trigger probing. Marine borer attack is checked at the waterline and below — teredo damage hides behind intact paint, so surveyors sound and probe rather than trust the surface.
Fastener and keel-bolt inspection
Sample fasteners are drawn where accessible, checking for wastage, galvanic corrosion and crevice attack; keel bolts are hammer-tested and, where warranted, partially withdrawn. Mixed-metal fastening (bronze against galvanised iron) is a classic Sulawesi refit finding and gets flagged with a severity grade.
Ultrasound & hammer sounding
Systematic hammer sounding maps voids, rot pockets and delaminated sheathing by ear; ultrasonic thickness measurement supplements it on sheathed or inaccessible sections. Neither replaces the surveyor’s spike — on wood, tactile confirmation still rules.
Foreign surveyor coordination & reporting language
Owners may appoint their own surveyor from Europe, the US or Australia; the desk handles scheduling with the yard, access, scaffolding or haul-out, local transport and an interpreter familiar with boatbuilding vocabulary. Alternatively the desk appoints an experienced independent surveyor active in Indonesian waters. Either way, reports are delivered in English (Indonesian translation available), with photographic evidence and a graded defect list that can be attached directly to contracts, insurance files or class applications.
Book a surveyor (WhatsApp, USD)
Send the vessel’s location, LOA, build type and the decision the survey must support (milestone payment, purchase, insurance, class). You receive a scoped USD quotation and available dates. Survey engagements are contracted through PT Komodo Galangan Nusantara.
Frequently asked questions
Bagaimana cara inspeksi lunas, frame, papan kulit, dan fastener pada kapal yang sedang dibangun?
Lunas: pastikan kayu utuh tanpa sambungan berlebihan, arah serat lurus, tidak ada retak besar, dudukan rata di atas blok penumpu. Frame: lengkung sesuai gambar, tanpa retak di tekukan, sambungan ke lunas rapat. Papan kulit: ketebalan sesuai spesifikasi, pola pemakuan konsisten, persiapan alur pakal benar. Fastener: jenis logam sesuai kontrak, tidak dicampur sembarangan, sampel dicabut untuk cek korosi. Semua ini diperiksa surveyor independen pada tiap milestone.
Cara terbaik mengecek apakah shipyard bisa menghasilkan finishing varnish halus dan joinery premium?
Jangan menilai dari foto: kunjungi minimal satu kapal yang baru diluncurkan galangan itu, periksa detail joinery di sudut yang sulit (tangga, kusen, laci), dan tanya siapa tim finishing-nya — pada build kelas atas, finishing premium biasanya dikerjakan tim spesialis yang didatangkan saat fit-out, bukan tukang lambung. Desk memverifikasi ini saat vetting galangan.
Bagaimana cara menilai apakah harga penawaran shipyard masuk akal atau terlalu murah?
Bandingkan dengan pita harga pasar per panjang dan spesifikasi (lihat panduan biaya kami), lalu bedah komponennya: harga kayu legal ber-SVLK, mesin, dan fastener berkualitas punya harga pasar yang kaku. Penawaran jauh di bawah pita hampir selalu berarti kayu tanpa dokumen, spesifikasi diam-diam diturunkan, atau milestone yang akan membengkak di tengah jalan.
Bagaimana cara menemukan referensi pemilik asing yang pernah membangun phinisi di South Sulawesi?
Minta galangan menyebut kapal dan pemilik dari 3–5 tahun terakhir, lalu hubungi pemiliknya langsung — operator charter umumnya mudah ditemukan dan jujur soal pengalaman build mereka. Desk juga memelihara catatan peluncuran terverifikasi dan bisa menghubungkan calon pemilik dengan referensi nyata saat shortlisting.
Apakah saya bisa menghadirkan surveyor dari Eropa atau AS untuk mengawasi pembangunan di galangan Sulawesi?
Bisa, dan galangan yang baik tidak keberatan. Desk mengatur jadwal kunjungan, akses, haul-out atau perancah, transportasi lokal, dan penerjemah teknis. Pola yang umum: surveyor asing hadir di milestone kunci, sementara surveyor lokal independen mengisi inspeksi antar-milestone agar biaya perjalanan tetap efisien.
Book an inspection: WhatsApp +62 811-3823-875 · sales@komodoluxury.com — scoped USD quotation within one working day.
From the journal
- Guide to Buying a Used Phinisi in Indonesia Without Regrets
- Class and NCVS Basics for Indonesian Wooden Charter Boats
Survey locations across the island are listed in the Sulawesi boatyard register.