A pre-purchase survey in Panama means an independent surveyor who knows small craft, plus a haul-out at a yard that can lift the boat. Panama City and the Colón coast have the most choice. In Bocas and Chiriquí, you may need to move the boat or fly a surveyor in. Prices aren't published, so get written quotes.
What a pre-purchase survey is, and what it isn't
A pre-purchase (condition and valuation) survey is an independent inspection done for you as the buyer. It covers:
- the hull and structure, in and out of the water,
- through-hulls and running gear,
- electrical, fuel and safety systems,
- a market value your insurer will usually ask for.
Engines are often a separate survey by a mechanic. Large sailboats need a rigging check.
Don't confuse it with the inspections an AMP-recognised inspector does for a registered vessel's safety certificates. Those check compliance, not whether the boat is worth the price. The inspections a charter vessel needs are different again; see charter boat safety inspections. Even the best survey has limits, because a surveyor can't see inside sealed structure, so make the contract conditional on the result. See boat purchase agreements.
Finding a surveyor anywhere in Panama
Most surveyors in Panama work on commercial shipping, and only a few do yachts and sportfishers. Wherever the boat is, use the same filters:
- Small-craft experience. Ask how many recreational surveys they did last year and ask for a sample report.
- Accreditation your insurer accepts. SAMS, NAMS and IIMS publish member directories. Ask your insurer which ones it accepts before you hire.
- Independence. Use someone who isn't recommended by the seller and won't be doing the repairs.
- Willingness to travel. Panama City surveyors cover the Pacific coast and the Colón coast by road. For Bocas or Chiriquí, budget for travel time and costs. On a six-figure boat, flying in a Florida surveyor can be worth it.
On the Caribbean side, the yard offices at Shelter Bay and Linton Bay know who surveys cruising boats locally. Panama City specifics, including surveyor directories, are in boat surveys and sea trials in Panama City.
Where to haul out, coast by coast
| Area | Yards and lifts | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Panama City | Flamenco Marina travelift; Balboa Yacht Club railways | Flamenco hauls on high water only, so the tide table sets the slot |
| West of the city | Vista Mar, San Carlos: hydraulic trailer haul-out to 40 ft beam | A good fit for catamarans on the Pacific side |
| Chiriquí | No published travelift at Boca Chica or Pedregal; Pedregal has a ramp and dry storage to about 30 ft | Larger boats usually go to Vista Mar or Panama City |
| Colón coast | Shelter Bay: 100 t travelift. Linton Bay: 160 t, 39 ft beam. Panamarina: yard and dry storage | The main yards for cruising sailboats and catamarans |
| Bocas del Toro | Bocas Yacht Services near Almirante, listed by Noonsite at up to 60 t | Red Frog and Carenero have no lift; larger boats go to Linton Bay or Shelter Bay |
Capacities come from marina sites and Noonsite and change over time, so confirm the lift, the beam limit and the date with the yard. Marina details are on the Panama marinas pages, and yards in more depth in haul-out yards in Panama.
What a survey costs in Panama
Neither surveyors nor yards in Panama publish rates, so build the figure from quotes. Ask the surveyor whether they charge per foot of length or a day rate, and what travel adds. The costs to collect:
- the surveyor's fee, plus travel if they're not local,
- the yard's short haul: lift, pressure wash, blocking for a few hours and relaunch,
- an engine survey and oil analysis, if the engines are large or high-hour,
- a rigging inspection for sailboats,
- fuel, and a captain if needed, to move the boat to the yard.
Agree with the seller who pays the haul-out. Buyers usually pay for their own survey, but practice varies. Put the arrangement in the offer, and add the total to your boat-buying budget.
Using the report in a Panama deal
Read the report for the problems this climate creates:
- moisture in cored decks,
- corrosion in wiring and seacocks,
- UV damage,
- fouled running gear,
- signs the boat sat unused.
Check that the report lists the hull identification number and engine serials, and that they match the AMP registration and the import declaration. Your insurer, the AMP and any future buyer will compare them; see ownership and lien checks.
Then get the major items priced by a local yard and use that list to renegotiate or walk away. If the boat is foreign-flagged and in transit, remember that its time limit keeps running during the survey and any repairs. Finish with the sea trial, ideally on the same visit.
Your practical starting checklist
- Ask your intended insurer which surveyor accreditations it accepts.
- Shortlist two independent small-craft surveyors and ask each for a sample report and a quote.
- Book a yard near the boat that can lift its weight and beam, on a suitable tide on the Pacific side.
- Agree in writing with the seller who pays for the haul-out and how long the boat stays on the hard.
- Attend the survey, then check the HIN and serials in the report against the boat's papers.
- Have a local yard price the major findings, and renegotiate or withdraw within your contract's deadline.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a Florida surveyor for a boat in Panama?
Yes. Some SAMS and NAMS surveyors travel to Panama for their fee plus travel costs. Confirm your insurer accepts them, and make sure they understand tropical wear and local yard practice.
Is a survey required to buy a boat in Panama?
The AMP doesn't require a buyer's survey to transfer ownership. Insurers and lenders often do, and a buyer who skips it takes on all of the hidden-defect risk.
Where can I haul out a catamaran for a survey in Panama?
Linton Bay's 160 t travelift takes beams up to 39 ft, and Vista Mar's trailer haul-out takes beams to 40 ft. Confirm current limits with the yard before you move the boat.
¿Cómo se dice survey en español en Panamá?
Se habla de inspección o peritaje de la embarcación, hecho por un perito o inspector marino independiente. Pida que incluya la inspección en seco (con la lancha fuera del agua) y una prueba de mar.
En español: inspección de embarcaciones en Panamá
Antes de comprar, contrate a un perito marino independiente con experiencia en lanchas y yates. No use al recomendado por el vendedor. Para una inspección completa hay que sacar la embarcación del agua:
- En la ciudad: la Marina Flamenco (solo con marea alta) o el Balboa Yacht Club.
- Al oeste: Vista Mar en San Carlos.
- En el Caribe: Shelter Bay y Linton Bay, cerca de Colón y Portobelo.
- En Bocas del Toro: el astillero cerca de Almirante.
Pida cotizaciones por escrito al perito y al astillero, y confirme que el informe incluya los números de casco y de motor.
The next question to answer
Where the survey fits in the whole process. Read How to buy a boat in Panama.
Flamenco, Balboa YC, Vista Mar and the bay. Read Surveys and sea trials in Panama City.
What to test, Pacific and Caribbean. Read Sea trials in Panama.
Same topic in Florida: coming from the US? Compare Marine Surveys Before Buying.
Official resources
Use the relevant Panamanian authority for current requirements and fees. These resources are the next place to check; a practical recommendation is not an agency determination.
- Yachting Pages: surveyors in Panama (secondary directory) ↗
- Noonsite: Balboa boatyards (secondary) ↗
- ACP: Amador tide table 2026 ↗
- IIMS: things surveyors cannot find (secondary) ↗
- Decreto Ejecutivo 4 de 2025, turismo náutico (Gaceta Oficial) ↗