First let me say I’ve worked with a lot of “boat people” over the years and you are simply the best. Not just at the quality and attention to detail of your work, but in your keeping me updated.

After many months of scouring listings I finally found a sailboat that appeared to be well suited for my family. After initial negotiations I found myself in need of a reputable surveyor to inspect the boat in a remote location at the last minute. Marga of Dogfish Boatworks, Inc was recommended to me by several reputable and experienced sailors as the perfect person for the job and they couldn’t have been more right.

Marga was easy to contact, quick to respond to my various questions, and friendly. From the outset it was evident that Marga is a highly qualified professional who is passionate about her trade and able to provide top-of-the-line service. Despite my narrow window of availability, significant logistical challenges with travel, and a last-minute tropical storm, Marga went above and beyond what can be expected in order to ensure the job was performed as originally scheduled.

To describe Marga’s surveying style as thorough is in an understatement. Astronauts preparing a lunar landing are thorough; Marga is on another level entirely. I observed as she went over every inch of the vessel, in some cases multiple times, scrutinizing every detail. Marga’s seemingly endless mental catalogue of in-depth knowledge on marine grade standards is truly impressive and the (very) few times she did not have an answer off the top of her head, she took note of and found the answer in short order.

Throughout the process Marga struck a perfect balance of being approachable, friendly, and downright funny, with being professional about discussing the various pros and cons she discovered along the way in an unbiased and straightforward manner. Despite spending many long hours over several days going over the vessel, Marga took the time to answer my questions and help me fundamentally understand the various findings that came up during the survey. This vessel-specific education was extremely helpful to me as I considered whether or not the boat would suit my family’s needs.

Marga’s unbiased explanations, in-depth technical expertise, and amazing eye for detail can be clearly seen in her post-survey report. Having shown the report to several other sailors the response has overwhelmingly been one of awe at the level of detail provided; so far no one has seen a more thorough survey document. Not only is Marga’s report detailed in the extreme, it is written in an understandable way and she has been available to answer several of my questions after-the-fact.

Ultimately, in large part based on Marga’s findings during the Survey, I was able to negotiate a significant discount on the purchase price of the vessel and went through with the purchase. I am confident that Marga’s thoroughness saved me far more on the purchase of this vessel than I would have otherwise and consider the survey money extremely well spent. If anything I am surprised at how affordable Marga’s rates are given the quality of her work.

We greatly appreciate how your innovative design recommendations effectively balanced our priorities for ease of use and system performance, while maximizing storage space and maintaining original build quality. Your depth of expertise and careful attention to detail during the installation were top notch. We are delighted with the results and are sure they will greatly enhance our cruising experience.

…and to be perfectly honest, I’m new to sailing. With that in mind, I don’t feel that I can really advise anyone on what to look for in a surveyor or how one surveyor is better than another. BUT I can tell you about how incredibly thoughtful, thorough and patient Marga was while helping me decide if a boat would be seaworthy and the right boat for me.

Before I met Marga, I was working with another surveyor who wasn’t comfortable answering a question about a boat’s construction. That surveyor referred me to Marga, a surveyor AND a shipwright. For context, I was considering purchasing a boat that had sorta been “brought back from the dead,” and I had some questions / concerns about its restored keel and rebuilt rudder.

Marga and I talked through my concerns and she answered / explained technical questions in a way that I could easily understand. We also discussed my needs and goals and she basically taught me how to better assess if a boat would be the right fit for me. Being new to sailing, it was an extremely informative and empowering experience.

I ended up not buying that boat, but I still talk to Marga about boats and sailing. My advice, for what it’s worth, if you’re buying a boat you want Marga on your team – if the Lakers had Magic and the Bulls had Michael, then sailors have Marga.

Hi Marga,

We just wanted to touch base & let you know we received your report & are currently going through it. To say that we’re impressed with the level of your dedication & service is the biggest understatement ever. You are a LEGEND & a rock star. I mean…even the boat owner would recommend you. Now that’s a compliment!


Thank you for such a detailed survey & report. We have great confidence in your findings & also very much appreciate your suggestions & instructions on remedies of the items noted. 


We very much hope to stay in touch and hopefully meet up with you again. Regardless of our client/customer purpose that has brought us together, you are a wonderful person & we are delighted to have met you.


Thank you again!