Maple Marine

Your Surveyor

Your surveyor, Martin Pittilo, is a Chartered Engineer, a Fellow of RINA (Royal Institution of Naval Architects), a Fellow Surveyor Member of the YDSA (Yacht Designers and Surveyors Association), and a Fellow of the IIMS (International Institute of Marine Surveyors). He is a past President of the YBDSA as well as a past Chairman of the Certifying Authority committee of the YDSA. He is currently a member of the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Certifying Authority committee. He worked for 13 years at Lloyd’s Register, before setting up Maple Marine Ltd. He has sailed throughout his life, racing cross Channel in the 80s before turning to dinghys and cruising yachts.

“I have been boating for over 20 years and been involved in many purchases. I have never met such a thorough, fastidious and professional surveyor. I will not be using anyone else in the future.”

Danny Long, Surrey

Martin started sailing in his teens when he cajoled his parents into letting him do sailing lessons whilst on holiday in the West of Scotland. It was something he had wanted to try after hearing about his father’s cross-channel sailing on his 22ft Debutante sailing boat. His father was sailing in the days when people were still allowed to be out on a trapeze whilst offshore!

On returning home from holiday Martin got himself a Mirror Dinghy which he proceeded to sail on a small lake in Belgium (Genval Lake) and on the Veerse Meer in the Netherlands.

During his time at school he sailed in Fireflies in Poole Harbour for the school team, before sailing a with a friend in a 420 from Poole to Lymington with no backup. Trapezing up the Hurst Narrows against the tide under a spinnaker was an interesting experience.

“Martin was recommended to me by the Marine engineers at Racecourse marina Windsor.

I can wholeheartedly say that he conducted a thorough survey and allowed me to watch and ask questions as he carried out the survey. As a first time boat owner all of my questions were answered completely and politely.

I can recommend Martin without hesitation as he is professional and accommodating and just a very nice chap.”

At university, Martin followed his father’s example and sailed keelboats with the Junior Offshore Group (JOG). He became part of a regular crew on a Sigma 33, crossing the channel many times. Martin and the crew were 9th in the Sigma 33 European regatta held in St Peter Port one year.

After a brief spell sailing J24s on Queen Mary’s Reservoir, Martin bought himself a Laser dinghy and sailed it mainly at Papercourt Sailing Club in Surrey.

A brief interlude from sailing ensued when Martin spent 3 months at the International Catamarans Shipyard in Tasmania, when he was involved with the design of the 86m vessel.

When he moved to Lloyd’s Register he continued to sail the Laser, and sailed with the Lloyd’s Register Yacht Club in Sunsail racing series and also cruises. Since then he has sailed in the sea of Cortez in Mexico and Australia and New Zealand and undertaken coded boat surveys in the UK, Europe and the USA.

Martin has worked as a technical manager in a Charter company in the Solent arranging and performing maintenance on the boats, and has done consultancy work for other sailing schools such as Commodore Yachting.

His sailing is now mostly on a 21ft long-keeled mahogany-on-oak sailing boat which is owned by a yacht surveyor friend. His is a member of the Channel Sailing Club.

“Martin’s inspection was very thorough and he was very willing to explain and answer any questions at all stages. His report was prepared promptly after the survey and was clearly and concisely written, with an advance phone call to go through the relevant points.”

JC, Hythe, Hants.

Martin studied Naval Architecture at University, prior to starting work with a Leading Edge Offshore consultancy, WS Atkins. From there he moved to Lloyd’s Register, working initially in Emergency Response providing real time assistance for ship in peril, before turning his attention to the software used for marine technical calculations worldwide.

He decided to come back to his small craft roots and left Lloyd’s Register to form Maple Marine and to do what he enjoys : Spending time on boats.

Since 2007 he has been surveying craft from 15ft to 50m, in GRP, steel and aluminium.