This is the most comprehensive type of inspection and is strongly advised when purchasing a new or used vessel. It is used to ascertain the condition and the overall operation of the vessel. This includes such items as structural integrity, out of water inspection, electrical systems, propulsion system, fuel system, machinery, navigation, and miscellaneous on board systems, cosmetic appearance, and overall maintenance. Fair market value will be determined.

Visible and accessible areas of the underwater hull will be examined, by hammer soundings, and by moisture meter readings as appropriate. If the hull has not been cleaned, or retains substantial layers of paint or pitch, then clearly an inspection of all areas is impossible. In such circumstances the surveyor will scrape clean sample areas, both selected on the basis of his assessment of likely areas of defect, and also selected at random. The assessment of condition will be based on the evidence presented by the sample areas inspected, and obviously a degree of risk remains, in that, other unexpected defects may be concealed by paints or fouling.