• 20 years actual boat repair yard experience
• 20,000 ocean miles actually cruising his own boats (both sail and power) to and from multiple foreign countries
• Completed failure analysis courses at Mercury Marine and Bayliner Marine
• Completed Standards Accreditations, and Accident Investigation at the American Boat and Yacht Council.
• 15 years Factory Certified Mechanic with Mercury Marine. OMC, Volvo Diesel, Crusader
• USCG licensed Master/Captain
• HAM General radio license W/Morse code
• Licensed Multi-Engine Aircraft Pilot

During this time he met Bill Reisner of Bay Area Survey. Mr. Reisner took Mr. Cosbie under his wing and started Bill off part time surveying both engines and yachts. Mr. Reisner's firm has been in the business since the 1960's and he is knowledgeable in both fiberglass and wood built vessels, passing on his experience to Mr. Cosbie.

Mr. Cosbie is one of the few people in the marine business that would take on the most challenging jobs of changing the type of power in a yacht. Power conversion is not something you can learn in a classroom or textbook, this requires years of experience and many additional specialized skills. This type of work involves converting a boat from gas to diesel engines, or installing larger engines for more power. Additionally this could include changing the type of engine control systems from mechanical to newer electronic control and monitoring systems. Bill knows how to upgrade the drive train and engine mounting systems properly to accommodate the increased power and torque, calculate if the new power will be useful and to what degree. This process may also include changing and reinforcing fiberglass, wood encapsulated, and cored stringer systems. Complete rewiring of the vessels engine room to bridge electrical and control systems. Bill also is a Factory Certified Mechanic with OMC, Mercury Marine, Crusader Marine, and Volvo Diesel. He is familiar with Caterpillar, Cummins and all leading marine power systems.

In 1990 Bill purchased a small marine repair facility on the Delta with only 2 employees. Bill built this repair business up to 19 fulltime employees at one time performing over 5 million dollars a year in yacht repair work, while continuing his survey business. Bill had hundreds of boats in his yard that were surveyed by other surveyors and subsequent repair work ordered from these surveys. Bill reviewed these surveys from many different surveyors over the years and wrote estimates then performed the repair work requested, Additionally the yard repaired further damage found after tear apart, and discovery of the item on the report while always keeping safety and the customer's best interest in mind.

In 1999 Bill successfully sold his repair and dealership business and began surveying boats full time. He joined the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors shortly thereafter. Bill then developed and implemented a training program for insurance adjusters and taught classes about surveying, marine damage assessment and failure analysis to Allstate and State Farm employees.

Bill has performed over 2000 marine surveys and damage investigations, and has served as an expert witness throughout the Untied States in over 40 cases. Mr. Cosbie has spent over 20 years in the yacht repair business in the San Francisco Bay Area and Delta. Due to Bill's extensive marine repair yard and estimating experience he has the ability to create and accurately assess repair estimates. Bill has performed damage reports for Allstate, State Farm CNA, Boat US, and Zurich Insurance companies just to name a few.

Bill's work has taken him throughout the USA, Mexico, Bahamas and Caribbean.

Bill and his wife have sailed their personal 44' sailboat internationally. This boat was featured in the May 2005 Latitudes and Attitudes Magazine as one the finest refits performed on a 44' Kelly Peterson Sloop. Bill and his wife now have a powerboat in Florida and regularly cruise the East Coast, Bahamas, and Caribbean.

They have cruised on their own boats over 20,000 ocean miles and navigated many storm conditions and 2 hurricanes safely with no damage. This hands-on long distance cruising experience allows Bill to actually use the gear and systems on the yachts in the real world. This rare combination of experience and passion for boats is an invaluable asset in assessing vessels, marine equipment and making recommendations.