Maritime Surveyors

What Maritime Surveyors does

Maritime Surveyors is a sole-proprietor marine surveying practice operated by Ross Hubbard from Channel Islands Harbor in Ventura/Oxnard, California, serving boat buyers, boat owners, insurance companies, banks and lenders, and marinas across the Southern California coastline with emphasis on Ventura, Channel Islands, Santa Barbara, and Marina del Rey harbors. The firm offers Condition & Valuation (C&V) surveys for both purchase and insurance purposes, damage inspections, marine appraisals (for estates, tax assessments, donations, and court cases), corrosion and stray-current testing using a silver-silver chloride half-cell probe, walk-through inspections for remote buyers, expert witness testimony, and hourly consulting and boatyard coordination services. Pricing is per-foot for purchase and insurance surveys ($24-$35 per foot), with fixed and hourly rates for appraisals, expert witness work ($600 half-day, $1,200 full-day), corrosion testing ($250 base plus hourly), and consulting ($150/hour, free under 30 minutes).

Technically, the practice relies on a set of specialized diagnostic instruments rather than software platforms: Protimeter moisture meters for wet laminate coring detection, Fluke 112 True RMS multimeters and Ideal SureTest AC circuit analyzers for electrical continuity, bonding, and ground fault testing, a Fluke 360 AC leakage clamp meter, silver-silver chloride half-cell probes for underwater corrosion testing, acoustical tapping for hull laminate assessment, and thermo-imaging cameras deployed selectively. Survey reports are produced manually with full textual and photographic documentation and are delivered within 24-48 hours. The firm holds SAMS®-AMS® accredited marine surveyor status and ABYC membership, which is the gating credential required for survey acceptance by major insurance companies, lenders, and marinas.

The go-to-market model is direct-to-consumer field service delivery. Marketing is conducted through the firm's WordPress website, an educational blog covering marine safety topics, organic social profiles (Facebook, Twitter/X, LinkedIn), a free initial advice consultation, and word-of-mouth referrals supported by published client testimonials. All work is performed personally by Ross Hubbard on-site at client vessels; there are no employees, no intermediaries or resellers, no app or API, and no third-party technology integrations. The business is privately held with no external investors or institutional backing.

Name

Maritime Surveyors

Legal name

Maritime Surveyors

Website

https://maritimesurveyors.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Maritime Surveyors is a sole-proprietor marine surveying practice in Ventura, California, operated by SAMS-AMS accredited surveyor Ross Hubbard, providing vessel condition surveys, appraisals, corrosion testing, and expert witness services to boat buyers, owners, insurers, lenders, and marinas across Southern California.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Surveying Services

NAICS

Building Inspection Services (54135)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine Surveying, Inspection & Claims (EDAOANAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Marine Surveys, Testing & NDT (Thickness Gauging, UT/MPI, Pressure Testing, Commissioning) (TLAHAMAK)

Keywords

• Marine surveying services
• Vessel condition inspection
• Boat valuation appraisal
• Pre-purchase marine survey
• Corrosion testing survey

Headquarters

HQ city

Oxnard

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Pre-Purchase Condition & Valuation Marine Surveys: Per-foot pricing for comprehensive boat inspections for prospective buyers. Includes sea trials if done the day of survey.
2. Insurance Condition & Valuation Marine Surveys: Per-foot pricing for insurance renewal inspections.
3. Marine Appraisals: Base price plus hourly for donations, estates, court cases, and tax assessments.
4. Walk-Through Inspections: Cost-effective inspection service for out-of-area clients to evaluate boats before traveling or making offers.
5. Expert Witness Services: Legal expert witness services for court cases.
6. Corrosion Testing: Base price plus hourly corrosion inspection services.
7. Consulting Services: Hourly consulting with free initial consultation under 30 minutes. Includes boatyard coordination and ongoing project supervision.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Maritime Surveyors performs on-site marine surveys and vessel condition assessments for boat buyers, boat owners, insurance companies, banks/lenders, and marinas along the Southern California coast. Core deliverables are Condition & Valuation (C&V) Marine Surveys for purchase and insurance, with specialized offerings in damage inspection, marine appraisal, corrosion testing, walk-through inspections, expert-witness testimony, and hourly consulting. Surveyor Ross Hubbard personally inspects vessels using moisture meters, multimeters, AC circuit analyzers, acoustical tapping, and thermo-imaging, and delivers comprehensive reports within 24-48 hours.

Product overview

Maritime Surveyors is a marine surveying service business operated by Ross Hubbard (SAMS®-AMS® certified) offering vessel inspection and valuation services. The core offering consists of Condition & Valuation (C&V) Marine Surveys for both purchase and insurance purposes, along with specialized services including Damage Inspection, Marine Appraisals, and Corrosion Inspection. Additional fee-based services include Walk-Through Inspections, Expert Witness testimony, Consulting, Boatyard Coordination, and Project Supervision. The company also provides free boat advice and a downloadable Float Plan template. Survey reports include full documentation of boat systems and cosmetic/structural condition, testing information, inventory, findings & recommendations, photographs, educational comments, replacement & market valuation, and are typically delivered within 24-48 hours.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Condition & Valuation (C&V) Marine Survey for Purchase Comprehensive vessel inspection performed for prospective buyers to assess overall condition on the day of inspection, covering all boat systems, structure, cosmetic condition, findings, recommendations, and market valuation, with sea trials included at no additional charge when conducted the day of survey.
• Condition & Valuation (C&V) Marine Survey for Insurance Survey required by insurance carriers to renew or issue policies, assessing the vessel's current condition and value for underwriting purposes.
• Damage Inspection Assessment of damage extent (large or small) and determination of appropriate repair methods for vessels that have suffered damage.
• Marine Appraisals Valuation service for estate settlements, tax assessments, donations, and court cases, using value guides, proprietary vessel sold databases, standard depreciation scales, and professional opinion to establish fair market value.
• Corrosion Inspection Underwater inspection using a silver-silver chloride half-cell probe placed in the water to test all underwater metal fittings for stray electrical current, including shore power supply on dock and water around the boat, billed at a base price plus hourly.
• Walk-Through Inspections Cost-effective inspection service for out-of-area clients needing an evaluation of a boat to determine whether to travel to see it or make an offer.
• Expert Witness Services Professional expert testimony for legal proceedings, billed at half-day ($600) or full-day ($1,200) rates.
• Consulting, Boatyard Coordination & Project Supervision Hourly advisory services covering consulting, boatyard coordination, and ongoing project supervision, billed at $150/hour with a 1-hour minimum and 1/4-hour increments afterward; free for under-30-minute consultations via phone or email.

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• The Boatyard Channel IslandsminorOthersReferenced boatyard partner in Channel Islands area. Listed on the Links page as a recommended service for boat owners. Phone: (805) 985-6600.
• Bellport Anacapa Marine ServicesminorOthersReferenced boatyard partner in Channel Islands area. Listed on the Links page as a recommended service for boat owners. Phone: (805) 985-1818.
• Ventura Harbor BoatyardminorOthersReferenced boatyard in Ventura. Listed on the Links page as a recommended service for boat owners. Phone: (805) 654-1433.
• Ventura Harbor Marina & Yacht Yard, LLCminorOthersReferenced marina and yacht yard in Ventura. Listed on the Links page as a recommended service for boat owners. Phone: (805) 642-4950.
• Classified Ad Listing Site (usedboatgear.com)minorOthersReferenced used boat gear marketplace. Listed on the Links page as a recommended resource for boat owners.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves3 records

Regional players

• Pacific Marine Surveyors: West Coast-based marine surveying firm offering condition surveys, insurance inspections, and damage assessments for recreational and commercial vessels. Comparable in service mix; competes for overlapping SoCal clientele from a different primary geography.

Direct peers

• Cline Yacht Surveyors: Independent SAMS-style yacht and marine surveying firm serving clients in the U.S., offering pre-purchase, insurance, and damage surveys. Directly comparable as a small, accredited, owner-operated surveying practice competing for the same buyer, owner, and insurance customers.
• Marine Survey Group: Accredited marine surveying company offering pre-purchase, insurance, and damage surveys with multiple surveyors. Closely comparable in services but operates as a multi-surveyor firm, contrasting with Maritime Surveyors' sole-proprietor model.
• Maritime Survey Associates: Florida-based accredited marine surveying firm providing condition & valuation, insurance, damage, and corrosion surveys. Comparable small independent practice offering the same core service stack to boat buyers, owners, insurers, and lenders.

Broad incumbents

• BoatUS (Boat Owners Association of the United States): National boating association offering marine insurance, towing, and consumer-facing boat-related services. Comparable because it sits in the boat-owner/insurance service ecosystem and influences where consumers and insurers source surveying recommendations, even though it does not directly perform surveys.
• National Marine Surveyors: U.S.-wide network of accredited marine surveyors handling pre-purchase, insurance, and claim investigations. Comparable core offering, with broader geographic reach that overshadows Maritime Surveyors' regional footprint.

Others

• American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC): National standards body for the recreational boating industry, of which Ross Hubbard is a listed member. Comparable as an ecosystem participant that defines the standards Maritime Surveyors applies during inspections and as a referral source for accredited surveyors.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/boatross
• Facebookfacebook.com/ross.hubbard.73
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/maritime-surveyors

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Maritime Surveyors