About
Wessex Marine Surveyors have three key members of staff all bringing different skills to the company and in turn ensuring that our marine surveys are amongst the most comprehensive and yet also the most cost effective marine surveys available. Offering pre purchase and condition surveys, insurance surveys, structural surveys and damage surveys our marine survey reports are written in plain English and designed to be easy to interpret.
Mark Tilley
Learning to sail at the age of seven Mark has a lifetimes experience around boats. On leaving school Mark joined the Royal Navy eventually serving for 15 years as an engineer. It was whilst in the Navy that Marks love of yachting and offshore racing developed. On leaving the Navy Mark purchased a yacht brokerage in Kent and ran this for some years. Following the sale of the brokerage Mark studied Marine Surveying at The Southampton Institute, the course superbly bringing Marks RN engineering experience and his love and knowledge of boats together with him ultimately gaining a Diploma in Marine Surveying and qualifying as a Marine Surveyor
Aside from over 25 years marine surveying experience Mark has held senior jobs within the marine Industry including General Manager at Mermaid Marine, one of the leading marine engine building companies in the world. Whilst running Mermaid Mark gained significant marine engine technical experience and more importantly met Steve King who at the time was the senior test engineer at Mermaid and is now part of the Wessex Marine Surveys team.
Other career roles include Sales Manager at Dickies Yacht Sales with responsibility for new Beneteau sales as well as running the busy brokerage team. On leaving Dickies Mark became the European Sales Manager at Luhrs Marine, an American company who at the time were the third biggest boat builder in the world.
Previously a crew member on the Bembridge lifeboat Mark now enjoys more relaxing times on the water sailing his Marieholm Folkboat on the Solent with his partner Kay.
Steve King
Originally qualifying as a motor mechanic Steve has a lifetimes experience around engines of all shapes and sizes. Not least Steve has many years experience in building / rebuilding high end, high performance classic car engines. In more recent years Steve has been employed as the Senior Test Engineer at Mermaid Marine. Steves role at Mermaid saw him testing newly built engines on the factories dyno machine and also regularly saw him on customers boats completing engine tests. As a senior engineer Steve was directly involved in trouble shooting, fault diagnosis and problem solving. Now a freelance engineer contracted to work with us at Wessex Marine Surveys Steves understanding of the engine, marine gearbox, drive chain, propeller theory and how it all comes together make him an invaluable asset to the team. Whenever a client specifies a marine engine test alongside the survey itself it is Steve (with Mark carrying his tool bag) who will complete the test(s). If you are considering buying a motorboat its worth bearing in mind that the engine(s) often make up a considerable part of the vessels value and thus an independent marine engine test makes a lot of sense.
Kay Phillips
Learning to sail at the age of 11 Kay spent many happy years sailing on the Avon with her father onboard the family’s Westerly 25. In more recent times Kay has enjoyed sailing on both friends and chartered boats often in warmer climes. RYA qualified Kay also enjoys sailing our Marieholm Folkboat in the Solent when time permits. Having previously had a successful production career with the BBC and other media companies Kay has an incredible eye for detail and is a great second pair of eyes when on marine survey “duty”. Its true to say that with Kay on the team nothing is overlooked and no stone left unturned.