This was my first experience with purchasing a pre-owned boat and having it surveyed. The excellent reviews John has from previous clients are very well deserved. He arrived around 10am, after driving several hours, and did not leave until late in the evening to ensure every item was covered. John documented, tested and evaluated every system on the boat. The engine survey was especially thorough as was Johns written survey report. Thanks to Johns excellent and thorough work, we have only a few minor details to address to give my family the assurance that we have purchased a safe, sound boat that will give us many years of enjoyment.

John is exactly who you want when having a Boat surveyed or engines surveyed. He has amazing qualifications and knowledge. He is methodical in his work and takes the time to do things correctly. He has very high ethical standards and professionalism and most importantly he communicates with you throughout the process!He recently surveyed our 31-ft Intrepid with twin Yamaha 300s. We will call on him again because Im sure theres another boat in our future sometime down the road!

John Banister came out and did an engine diagnosis March of this year (2021). We had thought the problem with one of the engines was totally different than what John had found, we are very thankful. If you are buying an outboard boat and want a survey done the right way, John is the one you want there. He does hull and outboard surveys. Will continue to use an refer him in the future. Thank you!

Captain John Banister did an outstanding job surveying a boat for us. He showed up earlier than our meeting time and was working before I got there. He was thorough and competent. I appreciated his calm demeanor and courtesy, both to me and to the owner of the vessel which I had hoped to purchase. (The owner was also present at the survey and he navigated that with professionalism and grace.) His knowledge, skill and training was impressive to me, and being a boat broker myself, I have been present at more than just a few surveys. John uncovered an issue with the vessel that was not readily apparent, and in doing so saved me tens of thousands of dollars, along with an untold amount of consternation, aggravation, and frustration. Ultimately, I did not purchase the vessel, and have not regretted that decision for a minute. I will be forever grateful and plan to use John when I find my next potential vessel. (I am still shopping.) My only hesitation in recommending him wholeheartedly and publicly is my fear that he will become so popular, and therefore busy, that he will not have time to fit me into his schedule when I finally find my next boat candidate!Menette Burns, boat broker & ASA sailing instructor (101, 103, 104, 114)Thomas Burns, USCG Master 100 ton & ASA sailing instructor (101, 103, 104, 114)THANK YOU JOHN!!!

Could not make a higher recommendation for a marine surveyor in South Florida. John showed up on time, performed exactly as he promised and provided one of the most detailed survey reports I have ever seen.

AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT. DONT USE THIS SURVEYOR!He agreed to do a cursory vessel inspection for me and after much coordination on my part with numerous parties for the survey to be performed within a week, HE BAILED AND REFUSED THE JOB FOR NO REASON AND THEN HUNG UP ON ME!VERY UNPROFESSIONAL!Dont waste your time with this guy! Too many other good ones out there.He should have stayed in the Coast Guard!

John surveyed a 32 foot center console for me. He was very thorough and knowledgeable. I also liked that he is a Yamaha tech and could do the engine inspection at the same time. He is one of those people completely dedicated to his work. I would highly recommend him.

I hired Suenos Azules to survey a 26 Regulator for me. Being from VA I didnt know any Surveyors in the south FL area. After talking to a couple of surveyors I decided to go with Suenos Azules. John seemed to be the most responsive and professional out of the bunch. I had to wait an extra week because he was so busy, but im glad I did. John was on time and spent an entire day going through a 26 foot center console. He found some minor issues with the boat, which in turn more than paid for his fee when I renegotiated the price. During the survey John checked the usual pumps, switches, lights etc... But he was also able to scan the hull with a moisture meter, a thermal camera (which can show hull patches not visible to the naked eye), and a complete Suzuki engine diagnostic check complete with hours run at different rpms, fault codes and last but not least a compression test on all the cylinders. I would not hesitate to hire John again. For the service that John provides his fee is nominal. I am a licensed Captain and have been around boats my entire life. Even so, having an accomplished surveyor on your side is worth the cost and adds a piece of mind.

John did an amazing job with my pre-purchase survey. His survey was extremely thorough and very professional. I highly recommend his services when purchasing a boat or needing an inspection performed. He helped me to make the right decision when it came to my boat purchase and his service was worth every penny.

Capt. John Banister is our savior! Literally!! He saved us tens of thousands of dollars, which would have been needed for future repairs for broken and leaking parts that had not been disclosed to us by the seller and broker, and John Banister may very well have saved our and our childrens lives. Yes, thats how bad this boat was and weve have never known about the dangerous situation if we hadnt hired John!Heres our story: We had been shopping for a 50-60 foot motor yacht (a live-aboard) for several months. We thought wed finally found the perfect one! The boat looked awesome from the outside, and even the inside. Clean, beautiful furnishings - the works!When the broker kept delaying the survey and sea trial, we and Capt. John started getting suspicious. When the date finally arrived, the broker claimed theyd spent $10K in repairs to get the boat ready. Hmmm...Capt. John arrived for survey day with his impressive, high-tech equipment. Starting in the engine room, he tore that boat apart, leaving no stone (or knob) unturned. And, what he found hidden under the bilge and behind the electronics was terrifying! He was professional but stern when the broker got nervous about driving the boat at full throttle, claiming the engines were too old and it might damage them. Uh huh... Johns suspicions then proved correct. The port engine overheated. A seal blew and oil sprayed in the engine room. Leaks started appearing everywhere. A manifold broke. And, things went downhill from there.The brokers mechanic had painted the engines and they looks so pretty...until John revealed all the hidden leaks, broken parts, and more that should have been disclosed to us, the buyers, by the seller/broker in the very beginning. Then, John tackled the rest of the boat. From non-working electronics, to a missing needle on the fuel gauge (and other missing needles as well), to the hour meters being non-functional, to the overheat alarm not working, and even to a soft spot on the hull, and dry wood termite dung, John found all this and more!The worse problem was a leak under the guest stateroom (gray water). John pulled back carpet to find mold and rotten wood and even live wires in the water. The broker admitted that problem had happened before. But, it was never disclosed to us.John also discovered the generator was venting into one of the staterooms, which could have been deadly! Per his evaluation: The natural ventilation vent from the generator compartment vents to the forward stateroom. This can potentially leak deadly CO gas into the forward stateroom and head if there was an exhaust leak in the generator compartment.So, John not only saved us thousands of dollars but he also very well may have saved our lives. Needless to say, we didnt buy that boat. Were now back to square one, shopping for a live-aboard for us and our children. And, John will be the ONLY surveyor we will ever hire in the future. The good news is he travels all over Florida for his clients so we can shop all over the state.Hire Capt. John Banister, AMS® of Suenos Azules Marine Surveying and Consulting as your personal surveyor.BROKERS HATE HIM. Youll LOVE him!

Where do I Start?John is extremely knowledgeable of all the marine industry and helped me and my father to buy our dream boat for a couple of days. Very attentive and exceptional work ethic.I can confidently say that they got a customer for life.Thanks again!

We would not buy a boat without consulting Captain John Bannister! He is honest, thorough and professional! Boat sellers and brokers will tell you what you want to hear, but Capt. John will tell you the TRUTH! He leaves no stone unturned and pays attention to every detail in a no BS kind of way. If you are buying a boat and can schedule him as your surveyor he could save you thousands and a lot of heart ache. We learned so much from our time with him and will be forever grateful.

Captain John surveyed my a boat for me in Florida. I live in NY. I did my research and found the best man for the job. Thank you capt John I love my boat and the I attention to detail you did for me from so far away. I thank you.

John did a faboulous job on two surveys for me. First did not go well for me but he saved me a very big headache and even refunded me a few dollars back. He is very thorough and is very easy to work with. He will help with any questions you might have along the way also. I highly recommend him to anyone looking for an amazing surveyor. You will not be disappointed.

John did an amazing job surveying our boat. He was on time the morning of the survey and worked all day going over the boat. He did far more than we had contracted for and the survey itself was so complete that we felt as if the boat was ours for a long time. He is thorough, timely, reasonable and a very nice guy. We felt we got very lucky finding John at Suenos Azules .

I am giving John 5 stars and he didnt even survey my boat. I live in California on the opposite side of the country. I thought I was going to head out east to look at boats and contacted John because of his stellar reviews online.In the process,​ he gave me invaluable advice and insight into buying boats. Not just a tip or two, but he wrote some lengthy messages about what to look out for etc.I cant thank him enough for his wise words. He really set me straight with the most important things to look for when buying a boat.PS. I tried to pay him as a consultant but he wouldnt take my money. Really great guy who really knows his stuff!

Capt. John Bannister is very knowledgeable professional and conducted a survey on my now boat & engines about a year ago. Happy to say that he gave me peace of mind in choosing to go forward in purchasing the vessel and I’ve enjoyed it for the last year. He also gave me valuable information and tips on how to maintain and keep my boat in tip top condition, which was very helpful being that this is the first boat of my own. He also recently took a call from me (a year later) when I had an additional question regarding my engines. I strongly recommend Capt. John Bannister and Suenos Azules Marine Surveying for your boat & engine surveying needs.

Captain John Banister made the surveying process an enjoyable event. He employs the newest of technology to make the process as seamless as possible. Great website, easy payment system, super fast response time, available for phone calls, etc! His actual report was extremely thorough and included numerous photos. Would highly recommend Suenos Azules for all your surveying needs! Thanks John for a job well done. And yes, we bought the YACHT!

John performed two surveys for me and I couldnt have been more impressed. The first boat had several significant issues that I was unaware of and he detected them and took the time to explain what he found. I ended up looking at another boat which he surveyed and he found this one to be very well cared for and we purchased it. His depth of knowledge is outstanding and he is very professional. The money we spent was well worth it.

I hired John to survey my boat before purchasing. I am in Chicago and the boat was in Miami so I really needed someone I could trust. John surpassed my expectations-his service was top notch. He provided me with a detailed survey report which he explained to me in English (first time boat owner). Because of his detailed inspection of the boat we were able to drop the boats price by a couple thousand dollars!! Anyone that saves me that much money is definitely worth a great review!!! Dont second guess it -John is the best!

Suenos Azules Surveying is a true gem in the marine industry. They are professional, on time, on budget, and perform all the services advertised. They will go above and beyond and make sure you have the data you need to make the right decision in the purchase of your boat. I cant say enough good things about this company. Their work is thorough and detailed, if their is a potential issue with your boat, they will find it.

John did an outstanding job. I was an out of state boat buyer and he spend the time to speak with me at length of the telephone. He always conducted a very thorough inspection of the vessel, to the point that even the experienced seller of the vessel commented to me that he was impressed with the professionalism and thoroughness of John. The final report was very well done and is impressive to read. Lastly, he was responsive to all my needs and was very competitive in his price. I also liked how I could pay for his services via Paypal. You will not regret working with John. Stand up guy.

John was contracted to do the survey on our research vessel. His prompt response and timeliness was really refreshing. He conducted a very thorough survey with the Vessel Master and was able to help identify items of concern and corrective actions. We really appreciated Johns professionalism and attention to detail. Remembering that a survey can be a very useful tool more than an hindrance, we came away with solid feeling that our vessel was in great shape and seaworthy. Thanks John.

John is the man, I rarely write reviews, but was blown away by the marine survey he did recently for me! He is extremely knowledgeable when it comes to anything boating/marine related. I stayed with him during the entire surveying process and felt like I got an entire education about the engines, boat and everything in between.Hes very personable and easy to talk to which made the day fly by. Hes the only local surveyor I have seen who uses a FLIR camera which gives you and added piece of mind. He also scoped out each cylinder of the engine which helped. Ive had a number of engine inspections after buying boats over the years, but he goes above and beyond anything I could have imagined.Without a doubt I would recommend him to anyone in a second and will definitely be using him on any boat purchases again in the future.

I was looking into buying my first pre-owned World Cat. Even though I called him literally at the last minute (2 days before sea trail) he was very knowledgeable and eager to help. Even though Capt John couldnt make my sea trail to a previous engagement he emailed me an extensive check list of what to look for during sea trail and certain areas that would be most concerning. And well the check-list was spot on! The boat search continues.

I hired John to survey a 21 Contender for me and I can honestly say it was an awesome experience. He arrived early and answered each and every question I asked. I recommend that if you hire John make sure to take a notebook and write down everything he says. He literally walked me through every test/inspection he performed on the boat and explained the results to me. I would not hesitate to recommend him to anybody.

I just bought my first boat and knew nothing about surveyors. John walked me through the process and was super professional and easy to work with.I highly recommend him!Jim St. Sthomas

Outstanding service and very professional. Last year we were preparing to purchase a 37 Hunter Legend sailboat in Stuart Florida and we needed a survey done as soon as possible so we could bring the boat back to GA. After several calls to different surveyors, we were referred to John Banister, at Suenos Azules Marine Surveying. We explained to him what we needed and the time frame we were under and he was very gracious and agreed to survey the boat ASAP the next day. The next morning at 6:30 am John arrived and met us at the boat . He did a thorough job on the boat going through the boat inside and out. John even went the extra mile helping us fix a boat problem. He has even assisted us over the course of the year when we changed insurance carriers by sending whatever was needed. I must say without a doubt you will not be disappointed. We highly recommend Suenos Azules Marine Surveying to anyone who needs a boat survey.Don Hodges Skidaway Island Savannah, GA

From a fellow surveyor. John is at the top. If you can get John for your survey You have the best you can get. Keep up the great work you inspire all the new young surveyors.

Capt John is a very knowledgeable and good about communications. He saved me a lot of heartache and pain by taking the time and doing a thorough review of the boat and motor. I would not hesitate to use him again and recommending him to friends.

John was friendly, prompt, and communicated with us regularly. He provided a thorough survey of our boat at a fair price. We highly recommend Suenos Azules.

I worked with Capt. John Banister on a survey of a boat I was thinking of buying. He is extremely knowledgeable, professional, and responsive. I would definitely use him again.

I have owned and operated a media sales firm for over 26 years. I have always set the highest standards for honesty and integrity, insisting on the highest level of service and support for our customers. Sometimes it is suggested to me that I set the bar too high. So be it. Furthermore, I seldom take the time to write reviews due to time constraints.However, this morning I feel strongly compelled to comment on how extremely impressed I was with the thorough level of proficiency and service offered by John Bannister of Suenos Azules Marine Surveying and Consulting. I did a lot of research to find a competent surveyor for a pre-purchase inspection. John communicated effectively and efficiently throughout the entire process. He spent more that 12 hours conducting my inspection survey for me, staying late into the evening with a 3 hour drive ahead of him upon completion. He has his facts down cold and demonstrates a thorough and comprehensive understanding of the use of thermal imaging equipment. His history with the US Coast Guard provides him with a sound knowledge of marine rule and regulation requirements.I would highly recommend Azules Marine Surveying and Consulting and John Bannister to anyone requiring a marine inspection. I feel confident that your experience would be every bit as good as mine was.D. Magner Jupiter, FL

Capt. John did an excellent survey on our 54’ steel motor sailor, doing a very complete hull plate survey with thermal images, critical safety items, systems inspections, oil samples of the engines, and overall inspection of the vessel with a very detailed report that was 55 pages. I would recommend him for your survey needs.

We recently had John survey a PDQ 36 catamaran for us. As this is our 9th cruising catamaran we are well versed in the process. I would say most surveyors that we have encountered previously were more interested in filling in the blanks on their form than giving a good account of the actual condition of the boat. John went completely through the boat. John sounded the entire boat as well as using a moisture meter and thermal imaging to verify what he found with the hammer. He also powered up and checked all systems to verify whether they were operational or not. At the end of the survey we sat down and discussed the findings as well as ways to repair the deficiencies. A few days later he produced a 58 page report that absolutely blew away any other survey report that we have encountered. I would absolutely recommend John for a survey, and with our catamaran purchasing problem, Im sure our paths will cross again!

John is a great guy, always looking to improve his educational and technical understanding of marine vessels! Always a pleasure working with him.

If youre looking for a surveyor, give John a call. You wont be disappointed.We recently used Johns services for the pre-purchase survey of our new sailboat. I cant begin to describe how thorough he was in examining every inch of the vessel. Not only did John evaluate everything he could get to, search for, see in a nook or cranny, etc... He also uses some very cool toys to perform thermal imaging analysis of the entire vessel. This allows him to see inside bulkheads, masts, electrical systems, the hull, and basically every system. Really impressive and very informative for the prospective buyer. Im now confident that I wont come across any surprises, which is exactly what you want a survey to accomplish for you.In addition, I was greatly impressed with the fact that he took time to answer all of my questions (and I had a lot). He is extremely knowledgeable about boats in general as well as regulations and guidelines since he is a US Coast Guard veteran. He also lived aboard his own sailboat touring the Caribbean, so he has a wealth of knowledge regarding practical systems applications, dos and donts, maintenance requirements, and everything in between.Add to all that the fact that hes just a really nice guy, is good company, and has been helpful with additional questions that I had after the survey was complete.... basically hes everything I could have wanted in a surveyor and then some. Seriously, call him. You wont be disappointed.Thanks John!

I had the pleasure of meeting and employing a real professional, Capt. John Banister, when he surveyed my 42 Grand Banks trawler. I had another surveyor prior to John but for insurance requirements, I called in the big guns He spent an exceptional amount of time documenting all of the flaws, concerns and components on this vessel. He provided a complete book of documentation that I used to get the correct amount of insurance coverage on this vessel. He really knows what he is talking about. As a Level II Certified Infrared Thermographer he taught me about thermographic imaging which is an advanced method of diagnosing delamination problems or water leakage in a vessel or building.As a retired airline captain and Ships Master, I was used to working with professionals but found that they were hard to spot in the yachting industry. I am happy to write this stellar review about a deserving individual. I have given John my permission to be contacted if you have specific questions regarding my experience with him.Update: After knowing John four years now I can say he is not only a professional in his chosen trade, but has become a friend due to his character and honesty. I am sure that more than I feel this way about him by just looking at the plethora of high marks he has received in his online reviews.

John Banister did an awesome job in surveying our potential purchase - a PDQ 36 catamaran. He arrived promptly at 9:30 am and worked until 6:00 pm, including a sea trial and haulout to inspect the hulls and motors. Every square inch of the boat was evaluated and he offered us many great tidbits of information as he went about his work. As new potential cat owners, we were unfamiliar with many of the the mechanics, electronics and engine aspects, and John was completely upfront and helpful in explaining things to us. In less than a week, we received a 52-page document with photographs and many specifics, detailing the results of his evaluation. He also spoke with us on the phone several times as we determined how to proceed in the negotiations, giving us additional time outside of the actual work we had hired him to do.As a former live-aboarder himself, John also offered personal insights into things he learned while staying months on his own boat, including a link to his blog where we can pick up lots of helpful information. I would not hesitate to recommend John Banister highly to anyone who needs an excellent surveyor and consultant.Thanks John!Kass Fincher

I met Captain John at a survey in Fort Lauderdale I was very impressed with his boat knowleage and found him easy to talk and was willing to answer any and all of my questions. The report was very easy to read and follow.

Worth every penny

While in Panama I was searching the Internet for a Jet Boat and I found something interesting in Florida. I am not a great connoisseur of the subject, so I decided to advise myself to check the conditions of the boat in question. I found the Blue Dreams page and from that point on ... bread eaten ... John gives you what you need from abroad ... seriousness ... professionalism and fulfillment. In the first search it turned out that the inspection showed that what they offered online was not what they were really going to buy. The inspection was worth every penny to avoid a headache. In the second search I found something good and the inspection confirmed it resulting in a very good purchase.In addition to his work, which he described as very professional. There is the person with whom you can talk, advise on the subject and who also with their experience offers you the guide you need to make your purchase with complete peace of mind ...Seriousness ... Excellent Report Quality ... Above ExpectationsJT ... Panama City, Republic of Panama