Brizendine & Associates

With over 25 years of specialized experience in Florida waters, Brizendine & Associates has established itself as a comprehensive marine surveying firm serving boat owners, insurance companies, and maritime professionals throughout Fort Lauderdale and the surrounding region. The company specializes in all forms of marine surveys covering both power and sail vessels, bringing technical expertise and forensic precision to every inspection.

Led by Darrell Brizendine, AMS (Accredited Marine Surveyor through the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors), the firm has conducted thousands of marine surveys including complex investigations of fire damage, theft, marine injuries, vessel sinkings, damaged cargo, and antique vessel assessments. Their client roster includes most major marine insurance companies, the Florida Marine Patrol, City of Miami, Showtime Movie Channel, and the U.S. Marshals Office, reflecting the trust placed in their investigative capabilities and technical accuracy. Brizendine has served as an expert witness in maritime legal proceedings, demonstrating the depth of knowledge and professional credibility the firm brings to boat surveying and inspection work.

The company's service portfolio encompasses purchase surveys and buyers surveys, insurance condition and valuation surveys, financial surveys for lending institutions, damage assessments, loading surveys for vessel import and export operations, refrigeration and air conditioning system evaluations, lease surveys, accident reconstruction, and cargo surveys. Strategically located at Port Everglades, Brizendine & Associates conducts numerous loading surveys for vessels being shipped internationally, providing pre-transport documentation and condition assessments that protect both buyers and sellers in marine transactions.

To achieve thorough and accurate survey results, the firm employs advanced diagnostic equipment including audio gauges, vapor leak detectors, corrosion testing instruments, moisture meters, infrared non-contact thermometers, and underwater dive and video equipment. This technology-forward approach ensures that hull integrity issues, system failures, and hidden damage are identified during the inspection process. The company maintains memberships in respected maritime organizations including SAMS, ABYC (American Boat and Yacht Council), NFPA (National Fire Protection Association), SNAME (Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers), IAMI (International Association of Marine Investigators), and the Mariners Club.

Brizendine & Associates holds a Florida State All Lines Adjuster license, enabling the firm to handle damage claims directly and provide comprehensive support throughout the insurance claims process. They are listed in the National Insurance Claims Directory for Marine Investigations and Surveying, appear on the Boat U.S. survey referral list, and are approved by TASA (Technical Advisory Service for Attorneys) for expert witness testimony. The firm's Seattle, Washington affiliate, Captain Edward McCrea, extends their reach to the Pacific Northwest, conducting condition and valuation surveys along with damage assessments, and bringing 17 years of vessel construction experience to the surveying process.

For boat owners in the Fort Lauderdale area seeking pre-purchase inspections, insurance survey documentation, or damage assessment services, Brizendine & Associates represents a well-established resource with deep connections throughout the marine insurance industry and a track record of detailed, defensible survey reports that stand up to professional and legal scrutiny.