News and events

YDSA Surveyor Training Programme 2010 -

Please refer to the Courses section of this website for further details of the training schedule.

SEAWORK SEMINAR

This Seminar is organised by the Small Craft Surveyors Forum and is being held on Wednesday, 16th June at Seawork. This year's seminar is focussing on Environmental issues. Download the details : Programme. Booking Form

YDSA Annual Conference - Yacht design changes since the 1930s and the effects on surveying

The YDSA Annual Conference was held at the Royal Institution of Naval Architects, Belgravia, on 18th March.

Sixty-five delegates received a warm welcome from YDSA President, Richard Ayres, to the Conference. This year's theme was Yacht Design - changes since the 1930s and the effects on surveying.

Andrew Simpson, himself a senior and long-term YDSA accredited member, introduced the speakers, as follows;

Tony Tucker, Fellow YDSA member & highly experienced naval architect, surveyor and consultant, reviewed traditional boat building methods. He demonstrated the large number of materials that surveyors are required to understand nowadays, and emphasized the need to keep up-to-date with modern marine electronics.

An insurer’s perspective on vessel valuations was given by Paul Winter and Alan Peake of Winter & Co (Marine) Ltd.  Insurance companies rely on surveyors’ expert opinions on valuations for insurance purposes. YDSA members are covered under their PI insurance in the event of any discrepancy.

David Johnson of Wessex Resins gave an enthusiastic review of the history of boat building materials development, including the invention of adhesives & resins leading to the development of epoxy as a popular modern bonding substance in boat building and repair.

David Cannell, Fellow YDSA member and highly experienced yacht designer, gave an informed presentation on Yacht Design changes since the 1930’s, focussing on materials available, vessel shape and fit-out design and approach, and discussing problems surveyors are likely to encounter with new technology in each area.   

Derek Bates from Materials Technology also looked at boat building materials and demonstrated examples of materials failures and the high corrosion rate in the marine industry. Materials Technology’s consulting engineers are experts in resolving technical problems with marine industry materials.

An Open Forum at the end of the day gave delegates the opportunity to discuss any questions arising the day’s presentations with the presenters and fellow delegates. Much discussion and networking took place throughout the day and delegates qualified for three CPD points.