The Yacht Surveyor

'The depth and detail of his report was exceptional, demonstrating a remarkable level of attentiveness and expertise' November 2024.

'I've had experiences with surveyors before but this was a new experience. Theo surveyed the whole boat in a very methodical and accurate manner. I can't praise his work enough and I highly recommend his work to others' August 2024.

'A marine surveyor and seafarer whose approach to assessing potential issues aboard is practical, thorough, and trustworthy' December 2024.

For a professional yacht surveying service, contact Theo Wakefield Marine Surveys for a consultation.

Theo's two-pronged approach to yacht surveying is holistic and refreshing and ensures that his work is of, and remains at, the highest standard.

Experience:

Theo works practically within the marine industry when not conducting yacht surveys. He has worked in the marine industry for over 15 years, but has continued to have active roles after qualifying as, and becoming a, fulltime yacht surveyor. This hands on, experienced based approach is vitally important to the role of the professional yacht surveyor. Past, and ongoing, physical experience offers greater insight and understanding into the marine yachting industry as a whole. This way, by working actively within the marine industry - typically with professional yacht rigging companies, and completing yacht refits, maintenance and overhauls - Theo gains more valuable insight and understanding, and further training every single day, all of which translates into perfected surveys and survey reports, and second to none advice and support to each client.

Furthermore, Theo owns a sailing yacht and continues to sail when time permits. He has sailed his 32' yacht extensively and continues to complete the necessary overhauls and adjustments seemingly required on all yachts. Last year he installed a new engine which required removing and redesigning the FRP cockpit sole.

Hands on experience is vitally important and the passion Theo has for boats and the marine industry speaks for itself.

Academia:

Theo Wakefield has a diploma in Yacht and Small Craft Surveying. This was attained via practical training, assessment and examination in Ipswich, UK, under tutelage of MSA (Marine Survey Associates) senior surveyors. This practical training course is the only one of its kind in the UK and refines and hones the practical skills of professional yacht surveying, such as; a methodical approach, thorough examination, and conducting objective testing and assessments. However, the training did not stop there. Theo has certifications in Surveying Yacht and Small Craft Engines, and Marine Incident Investigation attained via correspondence study with the Lloyds Maritime Institute. He is an associate member of the Royal Institute of Naval Architects (RINA), and an affiliate member of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST), and continues to undertake further training courses, as well as setting time aside to reading a library of related publications.

This on-going academic training is mutually beneficial to the on-going hands-on physical marine industry work experience. It highlights the aim of holistically (practically and academically) understanding everything about yacht design, construction, and maintenance, and yacht and craft surveying. This disciplined and holistic two pronged approach ensures that Theo Wakefield Marine Surveys will complete work of the highest standard.

Yacht Surveys. Yacht Surveyor. Marine Surveyor. Malaga. Spain

Personal Experience

Theo Wakefield has been working in the marine industry for over 15 years to date.

He has extensive past experience in the instruction and coaching of sailing in dinghies and keelboats, and operation of power boats, which naturally moved into the sphere of racing sailing yachts, and crewing on coastal, offshore, and blue water deliveries. Consequently Theo qualified as an RYA Yacht Master.

From here Theo's interest was drawn towards the construction, maintenance and overhauling of vessels, and he aligned these interests with employment at various boatyards and boatbuilders over several years while holistically restoring his own classic offshore racing yacht.

With this experience he was accepted on the practical marine surveying training course hitherto mentioned. This is the only practical yacht and craft surveying course of its kind in the UK, and a far cry from the 'learn surveying via correspondence' courses that qualify many a surveyor. The course was completed with a merit grade with positive feedback from the senior surveyors.

Since qualifying as a Yacht and Small Craft Surveyor, Theo has built a reputable business which has enjoyed very positive feedback for the entirety of his work. See the Testimonials, and the reviews on Google Maps for more information.

In 2022 Theo sailed his restored classic Van de Stadt yacht from Falmouth in Cornwall to the Mediterranean. The vessel was well prepared and equipped for the trip, but getting attacked by orca whales while sailing along the Portuguese coast could not be helped. Theo completely repaired the vessel's rudder and reinforced the hull by way of the rudder stock over several weeks before completing the trip to Malaga.

Now in Malaga, Spain, and delivering various yacht and craft surveys throughout Spain and Europe to private clients and businesses.

The ambition as a yacht surveyor is to put this knowledge and experience to good use, and offer the best service possible in the form of top quality, factual, insightful surveys and reports, created with each individual client in mind to assist them in making informed decisions to improve their safety and understanding in all regards, and to improve the reputation of the yacht surveying industry.