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YDSA news
 At their recent AGM, the Yacht Designers and Surveyors Association (YDSA) appointed Richard Ayers as their new Chairman, with Ted Spears as the new Deputy Chairman, both of whom will serve for the next two years. Richard Ayers also becomes Vice President of parent company the Yacht Brokers, Designers & Surveyors Association (YBDSA) working with Nick Ryley, recently appointed YBDSA President.
Richard, a long-standing member of the YDSA, has extensive experience, starting his surveying career in 1989. His first job in the marine industry was trainee boat builder at Souters on the Isle of Wight, following this with the Boatyard Management Course at Southampton Institute. In the years that followed he managed various boatyards, build and repair projects including the construction of a 50m cold moulded timber Dhow to Lloyds 100AI+, commissioned by an Arab Sultan.
Ted comes from an established boat-building family on the River Swale at Conyer. He has designed and built a wide range of different steel and wood composite boats, moving into surveying 12 years ago. He retains an interest in the family boatyard business and supports his son Ewan and daughter Victoria who now manage it.
Richard is keen to see the Association provide increasing support for the professional development of current members and those coming into marine surveying. He is encouraging those with a suitable background and relevant knowledge to become new members. The Association is, in addition to the existing training events, now offering small group tutorials where experienced surveyors can share their knowledge with more recent entrants in to the Association. The first of these sessions will be held in October 2008.
Richard Ayers comments, "The importance of developing new, younger members of the YDSA cannot be overstated; they are the future of the Association and it is imperative that members who have a lifetime of experience endeavour to pass on their knowledge to those with their career ahead of them".
About the YDSA
The YDSA has over 125 members who undertake
surveys in locations across the world. Some Surveyor members
are also Designers, others are solely
Designer members.
Most YDSA members enter at the lowest grade as
an Affiliate, and achieve full membership after an assessment that includes a formal examination. Affiliates may therefore
have less knowledge and experience than higher
grades and are not entitled to advertise their
membership.
Surveys are needed for all sorts of purposes
- pre-purchase, condition, insurance, damage and re-fit are
the main examples. Surveyors have specialist equipment to help
them, such as moisture meters for GRP hulls and multi-meters
for steel hulls. They will provide the client with a written
report explaining any defects and how urgent the repair is,
and suggesting means of rectification. This information is helpful
to the client when purchasing as he may be able to reduce the
purchase price or have the defects rectified before completion.
If the defects are very serious, the client may wish to reconsider
buying the boat.
Surveyors have varied backgrounds - some have
a degree in an engineering discipline, whilst others may have
gained on-the-job experience in a boat builder's or repair yard.
Surveyors need to understand the materials, stresses, operation
and equipment to be able to provide the client with a professional
service. They are all experienced before becoming members of
the YDSA, and all undertake continuous training throughout their
membership. The Surveyors' Code of Practice is available for download as a PDF file here.
The YDSA Committee consists of twelve elected members, who
meet every six weeks or so to discuss issues of relevance to
surveyor or designer members, both professional and technical.
Surveyor
and Designer
members are listed on this site in their own separate directories.
Mike Blackwell
Members will be sad to hear of the death of YDSA member Mike Blackwell in mid-January. His funeral was held at Bristol Crematorium on Thursday 17th January and was well attended by representatives of the marine industry, including YDSA Chairman Richard Ayers. Mike had been a Member of YDSA since April 1980 and was well known to many members and insurers. We will miss Mike.
YDSA Chairman: Richard Ayers
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