Situated just outside Ipswich on the sheltered reaches of the River Orwell, Fox's Marina & Boatyard is widely recognised as one of the East Coast's most comprehensive refit, repair, and berthing facilities. Navigating these active estuarine and coastal waters requires complete confidence in hull integrity, underwater running gear, and onboard electrical systems.
SafeGuard Marine Survey provides fully independent small craft surveying services directly on-site across the Fox's Marina & Boatyard facility. Whether you require an out-of-water pre-purchase survey, Ultrasonic Thickness (UT) hull gauging on a steel vessel, or an insurance evaluation for a GRP motor yacht or sailing cruiser, our technical audits deliver clear, objective findings with zero commercial ties to local yards or brokers.
Haul-Out & Slipway Capabilities: Equipped with heavy-duty lifting infrastructure, including a dedicated 70-tonne boat hoist, craning facilities, and extensive secure hardstanding for lifting yachts, motor cruisers, and commercial craft out of the water. Out-of-water structural assessments are coordinated alongside yard staff to ensure safe blocking for full access to the hull bottom, deep keel assemblies, and underwater running gear.
Surface Preparation & Wash-Down: Dedicated on-site pressure washing bays allow for the rapid removal of estuarine silt, marine bio-fouling, and loose bottom coatings prior to inspection. Clearing these surfaces ensures clean plate access for accurate ultrasonic transducer coupling during NDT testing and reliable GRP moisture profiling.
Moorings & Site Utilities: Offers extensive deep-water floating pontoon berthing, supported by metered shore power, fresh water points, a major on-site chandlery, and world-class marine engineering, electronic, and rigging workshops, serving as a premier operational base for vessels navigating the Suffolk coastline.