YDSA Annual Conference 2025 - Knowledge Tables

The benefits and how to use the YDSA Forum

Tim Barker, Anchor Marine Surveys - YDSA Chair

Tim has been a member of the YBDSA since 1993, when he first became an associate member of ABYA whilst working for Marine Secol and then the UK Princess and Moody distributors. Before this, Tim already had broad experience in boat building and maintenance, and in 2006, he changed from the dark side of brokerage back to his routes and started surveying, becoming an affiliate in 2008 and has now worked his way through the ranks and is the current YDSA chairmen and a Fellow member of the YDSA.

Key Takeaway: Participating in the forum benefits surveyors of all abilities by providing peer support on topics beyond their own knowledge and serves as a valuable reservoir of information on surveying for every member.

Sea Cocks

Ben Sutcliffe-Davies, Ben Sutcliffe Marine - YDSA CA Chair

Ben is a YDSA Fellow Full Member, writes for several major yachting magazines and also hosts YouTube channel "The marine surveyors notebook!".

Key Takeaway: Come and join Ben Sutcliffe-Davies for one of his popular knowledge tables on that favourite subject, Sea Cocks!!!

Fixed ventilation for small craft up to 24M

Justin Green, J G Marine Services Ltd

Justin Green has over 30 years of experience within the Inland Waterways sector in an installation and maintenance role and has been a surveyor for 15 years specialising in iron and steel vessels. Justin is a Full YDSA member actively involved in the Association. He is also Gas Safe registered for boats.

Key Takeaway: Fixed ventilation is an often overlooked and misunderstood area on small craft and having an understanding of the requirements is essential.

Transoms and Mechanical Systems

Giles Innes, South Coast Marine Surveyors & Consultants
& Doug Ashley, Doug Ashley Marine

Giles is a commercial and leisure Marine Surveyor and Consultant, based in Southampton. Specialising in re-fit/build management and marine surveys.

Key Takeaway: An emphasis concerning transoms is largely to do with moisture readings, to what extent should they be considered accurate, the efficacy of moisture readings to certain components and minimising exposure to potential claims due to misinterpretation. Along with engineering aspects, in particular with regards to stern drive units.

Yacht Claims

Jayson Sibley, Jayson Sibley Adjusters

Join renowned loss adjustor and surveyor Jayson Sibley with over 25 years' experience to discuss the surveyor's role with regards to damage claim instructions.

Large Yacht Construction

Hugo Morgan-Harris, Saunders Morgan Harris Ltd

Hugo has been a member of the YDSA since 1999 and has worked within the marine industry since 1991. He has been a full member since 2011 & is a member of the Large Yacht Group.

In 2012, Hugo was asked to oversee the construction of a superyacht. Since then, he has personally overseen the construction & delivery of over 5000GT of superyachts, ranging from composite semi-production platforms to full custom builds, some projects lasting over 5 years from initial instruction to the end of the warranty period.

Hugo is currently an owner’s representative for a build at Feadship & technical lead for a custom project at Heesen Yachts in the Netherlands, while undertaking the surveying role for a tri deck explorer in Italy (his 5th delivery at the same shipyard) for a large management company.

Key Takeaway: No one project is the same, with a single surveyor role for a 30-40m construction, to a full-time owner’s team of 2-3 surveyors & engineers, along with integration & working alongside existing yacht crews for builds typically +500GT.