The rules that govern this site.

You may use the Site only if you are at least 18 years old and able to form a binding contract under applicable law. The Site is not intended for children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from them.

Nothing on the Site — including service descriptions, sample reports, pricing, FAQs, or the online booking form — constitutes a binding offer or contract for survey services. Submitting the booking form reserves a date on our calendar and starts a conversation; the engagement is finalized only by a written confirmation from Helm Marine Survey and, where required, a signed survey engagement agreement.

Final scope, access requirements, sea-trial or haul-out arrangements, pricing, and delivery terms are confirmed in writing before the inspection takes place.

Marine surveys offered through this Site are performed by surveyors who work with Helm Marine Survey and who hold recognized accreditations or certifications in the marine surveying profession (including SAMS®, NAMS®, and ABYC where applicable). The accredited surveyor who inspects the vessel writes, signs, and stands behind the Marine Survey Report.

Helm Marine Survey is your single point of contact for the engagement: you book through Helm, you receive your report from Helm, and Helm is responsible for the engagement under the terms of your written survey agreement with us. The surveyor assigned to your vessel will be identified to you in connection with that agreement.

A marine survey is a professional opinion based on a non-destructive, visual, and operational inspection of accessible systems on a specific date. It is not a warranty of the vessel, a guarantee of future condition or performance, a builder's certification, or a substitute for any specialized inspection.

• Scope. A standard pre-purchase survey covers the vessel in and out of the water as access allows. We do not open structure, dismantle the engine, or remove tanks, headliner, or fixed joinery. Areas that cannot be accessed are noted as such in the report.
• Engine and specialized inspections. Our survey includes a visual and operational assessment of the engine and drivetrain. A full internal engine evaluation (oil analysis, compression or borescope testing) is a separate mechanical survey performed by a marine mechanic and is not part of the standard scope unless expressly engaged.
• Sea trial and haul-out. Sea trials and short-haul / out-of-water inspections can be arranged when the seller or yard makes the boat available, and are confirmed in writing when scheduled.
• Point-in-time. Conditions observed are as of the date of inspection. We do not warrant that conditions will remain the same.

Estimates of fair-market value reflect the surveyor's professional judgment based on the vessel's condition, comparable sales, and market data available at the time of inspection. They are opinions, not appraisals for tax, lending, or judicial purposes unless expressly so designated.

The Marine Survey Report is prepared solely for the client identified on its cover, for the purpose stated in it (typically a specific prospective purchase or insurance placement). The client may share the report with their marine lender, insurer, broker, or attorney in connection with that purpose.

The report may not be relied upon by any other person, redistributed publicly, used in any subsequent transaction involving the vessel, or modified or excerpted in a way that changes its meaning. Helm Marine Survey accepts no responsibility to any party other than the named client, and no reliance by any other party creates a duty owed by Helm Marine Survey to that party.

Helm Marine Survey retains copyright and all other intellectual property rights in the report, photographs, and other work product. The client receives a license to use the report for the purpose for which it was prepared.

When you contact Helm Marine Survey or submit the booking form, you agree that:

• The information you provide is accurate and truthful.
• You are authorized to provide any information about a vessel you discuss, including if you are inquiring on behalf of a boat owner or prospective buyer.
• We may reply by email or phone using the contact details you provide.
• We may retain your information as described in our Privacy Policy.

You agree not to use the Site in any way that:

• Violates any applicable law or regulation.
• Infringes the rights of others.
• Is fraudulent, deceptive, or misleading, including submitting false inquiries, fabricating vessel details, or impersonating someone else.
• Interferes with or disrupts the Site, our servers, or networks.
• Attempts unauthorized access to any part of the Site or related systems.
• Uses automated means to scrape, harvest, or extract data from the Site without our written permission.
• Introduces viruses, malware, or other harmful code.
• Harasses, threatens, or abuses any person, including Helm Marine Survey or its personnel.

The Site and its content, including text, graphics, logos, photographs, sample reports, page layouts, and the names "Helm" and "Helm Marine Survey" as used in connection with our services, are owned by Helm Marine Tech LLC or our licensors and are protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to access and view the Site for personal, non-commercial purposes. You may not copy, reproduce, modify, distribute, publish, or create derivative works from any part of the Site without our prior written consent, except that you may print or download a reasonable number of pages for your personal reference in connection with evaluating our services.

All rights not expressly granted to you are reserved.

The Site uses third-party services for email delivery, hosting and analytics (provided by Vercel), and address autocomplete on the booking form (provided by Google Places). These third parties are not affiliated with Helm Marine Survey, and their products and services are governed by their own terms and privacy policies. We are not responsible for the acts, omissions, or content of any third party.

References on the Site to accrediting bodies and standards — including, without limitation, the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors (SAMS®), the National Association of Marine Surveyors (NAMS®), and the American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC®) — are for identification of professional credentials and standards only. SAMS®, NAMS®, and ABYC® are marks of their respective owners. References to vessel manufacturers, models, lenders, insurers, marinas, or other third parties are for identification purposes only; Helm Marine Survey is an independent professional service provider and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any such party unless expressly stated.

THE SITE AND ALL CONTENT ON IT ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE," WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, HELM MARINE SURVEY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, AND ANY WARRANTIES ARISING OUT OF COURSE OF DEALING OR USAGE OF TRADE.

Without limiting the foregoing, Helm Marine Survey does not warrant that the Site will be uninterrupted, error-free, secure, free of viruses, or that content on the Site is accurate, complete, current, or reliable. Pricing, sample reports, timelines, and service descriptions shown on the Site are illustrative and subject to confirmation in a written engagement.

Nothing on the Site constitutes professional advice about any specific vessel. A marine survey is provided only through a written engagement with Helm Marine Survey and is subject to the terms of that engagement.

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of certain warranties, so some of the above exclusions may not apply to you.

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, HELM MARINE TECH LLC, HELM MARINE SURVEY, AND THEIR MEMBERS, MANAGERS, SURVEYORS, AND PERSONNEL WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS, REVENUE, DATA, OR GOODWILL, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH YOUR USE OF, OR INABILITY TO USE, THE SITE, EVEN IF WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

OUR TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ALL CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE SITE OR THESE TERMS WILL NOT EXCEED ONE HUNDRED U.S. DOLLARS (USD $100.00). THIS LIMITATION APPLIES REGARDLESS OF THE LEGAL THEORY ON WHICH THE CLAIM IS BASED.

This section governs use of the Site only. Any liability related to a marine survey or related inspection Helm Marine Survey performs for you is governed exclusively by your signed survey engagement agreement, which contains its own limitations of liability customary in the marine surveying profession.

Some jurisdictions do not allow certain limitations of liability, so some of the above limitations may not apply to you.

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Helm Marine Tech LLC, Helm Marine Survey, and their members, managers, surveyors, and personnel from and against any claims, damages, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or related to: (a) your use or misuse of the Site, (b) your violation of these Terms, (c) your violation of any law or the rights of any third party, or (d) any content or information you submit through the Site.

Informal resolution first.

Before filing any formal dispute, you agree to contact us at hello@helmmarinesurvey.com and try in good faith to resolve the issue informally for at least 30 days.

Binding arbitration.

If we cannot resolve the dispute informally, you and Helm Marine Survey agree that any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to the Site or these Terms will be resolved by binding arbitration rather than in court, except that either party may bring an individual claim in small claims court if it qualifies.

Arbitration will be administered by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) under its Consumer Arbitration Rules, or another mutually agreed arbitration provider. The arbitration will be held in New Haven County, Connecticut, or conducted by telephone or video at the arbitrator's discretion. The arbitrator's decision will be final and binding, and judgment on the award may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction.

No class actions.

You and Helm Marine Survey agree that any dispute will be brought in each party's individual capacity and not as a plaintiff or class member in any purported class, collective, or representative proceeding. The arbitrator may not consolidate claims of more than one person or preside over any form of representative or class proceeding.

Opt-out.

You may opt out of this arbitration agreement within 30 days of first accepting these Terms by sending written notice to hello@helmmarinesurvey.com with the subject line "Arbitration Opt-Out" and including your name and contact information. If you opt out, the "Governing law and venue" section below will govern any dispute.

These Terms and any dispute arising from or related to them or the Site are governed by the laws of the State of Connecticut, without regard to its conflict of laws rules. Subject to the dispute resolution section above, you and Helm Marine Survey agree that the exclusive venue for any court proceeding permitted under these Terms will be the state or federal courts located in New Haven County, Connecticut, and each party consents to personal jurisdiction there.

Disputes arising from a marine survey itself may, depending on the engagement and the facts, be subject to U.S. federal maritime law. Where federal maritime law applies, it will govern to the extent it preempts state law.

We may update these Terms from time to time. When we do, we will change the "Effective Date" above. Your continued use of the Site after changes take effect means you accept the updated Terms. If you do not agree to the updated Terms, please stop using the Site.

We may suspend or end your access to the Site at any time, for any reason, without notice. Sections of these Terms that by their nature should survive termination (including intellectual property, report-use restrictions, disclaimers, limitation of liability, indemnification, dispute resolution, and governing law) will continue to apply.

• Entire agreement. These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and any survey engagement agreement you sign with us, are the entire agreement between you and Helm Marine Survey regarding the Site.
• Severability. If any provision of these Terms is held invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect.
• No waiver. Our failure to enforce any provision of these Terms is not a waiver of our right to enforce it later.
• Assignment. You may not assign or transfer these Terms without our written consent. We may assign these Terms at our discretion.
• Headings. Section headings are for convenience only and do not affect the meaning of these Terms.