Capt FK Lanier & Associates Marine

If you're looking for a marine surveyor in the Norfolk area, Frank is the one to call. He's quick to respond to your questions, and has a wealth of knowledge. I was very pleased with how thorough and careful he was when surveying the boat I eventually purchased. The information he provided in his report was very detailed and gave good insight into the boat. If I'm interested in another boat in his area, I'll be calling him again

Captain Lanier conducted a survey on a Catalina 310 that I bought last year and I was very impressed by his professionalism, thoroughness and attention to detail. I was unable to attend the survey due to some unexpected health issues and I felt more than confident relying on Captain Lanier's survey and recommendations. He promptly called me after the survey concluded to give me his verbal impressions and then followed-up with a detailed report.

I ended up purchasing the boat (sight unseen!) and haven't regretted that decision once. I've referred back to his report many times and shared it with my technicians all of whom remarked on how well done the survey was (and the report). I'm a long-time sailor but a first time boat owner and having the benefit of Captain Lanier's review and recommendations has proven invaluable to me. I would highly recommend his services to anyone who is in need of a marine survey. Not only is he an expert in his field, he's also a pleasure to work with.

I would not hesitate to use Capt. Lanier's services in the future. He surveyed a boat I intended to purchase. He was extremely thorough and knowledgeable, and it was clear he had my best interests in mind. He was professional and made sure he educated me about things as he went through the boat inside and out and underneath. In the end I walked away from the vessel. He saved me thousands of dollars.

Frank is the most professional marine surveyor I have ever worked with. His attention to detail and thoroughness during a recent pre-purchase survey he performed on an older sailboat for me was excellent. Not all surveyors are created equal. It is an excellent feeling to have a great surveyor in your corner when considering a boat. In addition to being thorough he really knows what he is doing based on decades of real-world experience in the marine industry.

He answered all my questions and I learned a lot during the process. The survey report is very accurate and detailed. It has been very helpful both for final negotitations with the seller, and informing me so that I understand the scope and priority of repairs required. Frank also went the extra mile to accommodate my schedule when my haulout did not go to plan. Excellent job and many thanks. v/r Scott

I would highly recommend Frank as a marine surveyor. He is extremely professional and thorough in his survey. While surveying the boat, he would stop and answer any questions I had. He took the time to explain the different systems and his thoughts on them. He crawled through every nook and cranny of the boat, cataloging everything he found, and then had it written up in a very detailed and informative report.

Even after the survey, he stayed in regular contact with me, answering questions I had about the boat. I have learned a lot from talking to him and reading the articles on his website. Frank's services might be slightly more expensive than other surveyors, but you definitely get what you pay for. Frank's survey is money well spent, you will not be disappointed!

Hands down, Frank is the best option for a marine survey! His knowledge is second to none, and he takes the time to share it with you both during and after the survey. There is not a question that you can ask for which he will not have an answer and he will ensure that you have what you need to make an informed decision on your potential purchase. I thoroughly enjoyed my survey experience with Frank and could not recommend him more to anyone in need of a a marine survey.

The help and advice we received from Frank could not have been better. He was responsive to our needs, arrived promptly, and delivered his report on schedule. He was very capable and provided bounties of valuable information--both during the survey and afterwards as we made our purchase decision. We eventually rejected the boat, but his offer to field questions post-survey and to continue to advise us after purchase would have been invaluable.

When I bought my house, I had it inspected prior to purchasing it. I have bought many used cars over the years, and I take them to my mechanic for inspection. So, when we decided to purchase a sailboat there was not a doubt in my mind the sailboat would be inspected. Capt. Frank is fully accredited SAMS Accredited Marine Surveyor. His 40 years of experience shines as soon as he arrives at the boat.

Neither the previous owner nor I had any experience on completing a survey. Capt. Frank was there to walk us through the process. He took the time to explain everything he was doing. He answered every question that we asked. The report Capt. Franklin provided was detailed and complete. In my mind it was priceless. I will not buy or sell another boat without using his services. Thanks a million for all your help and continued support.

I was lucky enough to book a survey with Frank on somewhat short notice. He was at the boat right on time if not a few minutes early and got to work right away. He explained the survey process again and encouraged me to ask questions. Frank was very thorough and made sure he kept me informed of what he was doing and what he was finding as the survey progressed.

He was also flexible as the haul and sea trial schedule shifted during the day, making sure he was not impacting the schedule but getting all his inspections done. Frank was timely with his report and willing to answer any questions I had. He is very knowledgeable and more than willing to share his knowledge or give advice to his clients. I would not hesitate to use his services again or recommending him to others in need of a boat survey.

As an out of state buyer, I was looking for a marine surveyor who I could trust, was detail oriented (like me) and had my interests as his main priority. (Not obtaining repeat business from the sellers broker). Unfortunately, Yelp wasn't a huge help so I had to search many websites (including The Hull Truth) to find recommendations. Luckily, I stumbled across the same name a few different places and decided to use Captain Frank Lanier. Capt. Frank was very personable and friendly.

As he was doing the survey he spent extra time pointing out issues or ways to better manage and upkeep the boat. Preventative maintenance is a really important component of boat ownership and Capt. Frank was extremely knowledgeable and helpful in describing issues. He is SAMS certified so his surveys will be acceptable by any insurance company or bank unlike many "surveyors" out there.

In addition, Capt. Frank writes for about half-a-dozen magazines and online publications where he shares his breadth of knowledge gained from his time in the USCG and working as a commercial captain in Hawaii. While I didn't ultimately purchase the boat we had surveyed; Capt. Frank did a very good job of keeping an objective outlook and not attempting to influence my decision.

Each buyer needs to be honest with themselves and make that decision on their own but people like Frank are an amazing resource for helping to come to that decision. I wouldn't hesitate to use Frank again in the future if I find another boat in the Virginia Beach area.