- 6 - the capstans, the barge connector winches, the communications equipment, and the equipment in the galley. Appraisers of towboats rely upon asking or selling prices of comparable vessels to arrive at estimated fair market value. Appraisers do not necessarily inspect a towboat’s condition. When a towboat’s condition is inspected, the appraiser generally performs a visual inspection or a walk-through of the towboat being appraised to determine its general, overall condition. At that time, a visual inspection of the exterior of its main engines may be performed as the towboat is being inspected and maintenance records for the towboat may be requested, but a detailed inspection of the main engines is not performed. A potential towboat buyer is interested in the vessel’s towing capacity, age, condition, and maintenance, all of which would have an effect on the price. Towboats are generally classified as being in poor, fair, good or excellent condition based on either a survey or a visual inspection. As long as a towboat’s engines are operating and are said to have been well maintained, no further examination or inspection of a towboat’s engines is performed as part of a typical valuation. Towboats are valued as a single asset and separate values are not assigned to the various components. Likewise, petitioners do not allocate the purchase or selling price of a towboat among its various components.Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Next
Last modified: May 25, 2011