How SVS Grew

We recently changed our name from Swiftsure Marine Surveyors to Swiftsure Vessel Solutions. Still working through the transition. We appreciate your patience if you run into old references.

The company itself hasn't changed. Same people. Same mission. Just a broader scope of work now.

Where We Started

When we began in 2003, we were both transitioning out of the Canadian Forces after lengthy careers.

Veterans Affairs doctors told Raymond to start thinking about a new career. We talked at length about where his passions lay. Boats came up immediately. So did his commitment to safety and standards. Values that had defined his military service. A natural teacher, he wanted to share safe practices, make sure standards were met, and educate the marine community.

Surveying was a perfect fit.

Why We Kept Growing

The scope of work grew naturally as Raymond pursued continuous professional development.

In Canada, there's no professional requirement for marine surveyors. Anyone can hang a shingle and charge for the work. But Raymond's pride in quality, rooted in his mission to ensure safety and security for the boating community, drove him to seek out every training opportunity, workshop, seminar, and mentor relationship he could find.

Today, you won't easily find a more qualified provider in the region.

Current Credentials and Involvement

Raymond now holds:

Master Marine Technician with ABYC (applicable in Canada because Transport Canada standards reference ABYC directly)
Certified Marine Surveyor with NAMS Global
Standards Compliance Specialist with NMMA
Committee membership on ABYC standards-setting bodies
Student status at Westlawn Institute of Marine Technology for yacht design
Membership in RINA and SNAME

Who We Serve

Our clients include:

Boat owners seeking insurance surveys
Buyers and brokers needing detailed inspections
Insurance companies requiring incident reports
Financial institutions seeking accurate appraisals
Boat builders needing Transport Canada compliance inspections
Participants in the Blue Sticker Program
Clients requiring design services, from electrical system redesign to multi-million dollar project management
Marinas making sure their water is safe and stray-current-free
Anyone dealing with corrosion prevention or remediation

Education and Outreach

SVS has always prioritized community education. General systems knowledge. Safety awareness. Electric Shock Drowning prevention. Our team now works internationally to educate clients on systems and safety in accordance with standards and best practices.

Still Family-Run

We outgrew our old name, but not our values.

We're still a family business. Our mission hasn't changed. We still believe in protecting our clients' safety and security, financial and physical, through quality service and honest reporting.

— Toby

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McGill mechanical engineering with aeronautics specialization. 30+ years engineering leadership. ABYC Certified Electrical Advisor. Offshore racing sailor and wooden boat restorer.

Credentials

P.Eng. Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec

Certified Electrical Advisor ABYC

Associate Member NAMS

Yachtmaster Offshore RYA (commercial endorsement pending)

Additional training in marine first aid and offshore safety at sea.

Engineering Background

Daniel's path to marine surveying runs through three decades of engineering leadership in demanding environments.

Aerospace and Defence (15 years)

Unmanned aerial vehicle development, both subsonic and transonic. External ballistics. Underwater and air shock and blast analysis. Explosive physics. Naval air defence training systems. Clients included Canadian, U.S., and Norwegian defence departments.

Industrial Consulting (20 years)

Senior consultant and Partner with a major professional services firm. Led complex design projects. Managed teams of 100+ engineering specialists. Sectors included mining, metallurgy, aerospace, chemical and petrochemical, pulp and paper.

This background means Daniel brings engineering rigour to marine surveying that few can match. Particularly for structural assessment, systems analysis, and safety-critical applications.

Sailing Experience

Daniel has sailed since childhood. Raced competitively since 1980.

He lives aboard his C&C 115 racing sailboat for most of the summer. A vessel he's extensively optimized for distance racing with considerable success. His sailing resume includes Lake Ontario, the St. Lawrence and Gulf, Atlantic Coast, and Southern California waters.

Offshore deliveries include:

IMOCA 60, Quebec City to Halifax
Tayana 47, Connecticut to the Bahamas

He handles vessel preparation, modification, rigging systems, structures, electrical, and mechanical work himself. This is hands-on knowledge earned with tools. Not just textbooks.

Specializations

Daniel's engineering background and sailing experience make him particularly strong in:

Sailing yachts and racing vessels
Hull structures and construction analysis
Rigging systems, including design, inspection, and optimization
Wooden vessels and traditional construction
FRP (fibreglass) structures and materials
Stability and performance analysis
Commissioning and outfitting for specific applications

Services

Surveying for power and sail, pleasure and commercial small vessels
Design and analysis at an engineering level
Performance optimization for racing sailboats
Commissioning support as owner's agent during new build or purchase
Passage preparation consulting for offshore cruising, racing campaigns, extended voyages

The Craftsman's Perspective

Beyond engineering and racing, Daniel works in a wooden boat shop restoring antique vessels. Understanding traditional construction methods informs how he evaluates modern boats. An appreciation for craftsmanship that spans generations.

He's currently planning construction of a Herreshoff-designed Coquina sailing dinghy with his daughter. Using traditional techniques. For Daniel, boats aren't just objects to inspect. They're connection. Adventure. Legacy.

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20+ years Canadian Armed Forces. Leadership and conflict resolution specialist. Manages operations, client relations, and strategic growth.

Toby graduated from Royal Military College of Canada with a degree in English Literature. Then spent over 20 years in the Canadian Armed Forces specializing in harassment education, alternative dispute resolution, and leadership training.

At 8 Wing Trenton, she served as Harassment Education and Case Coordination Officer. Developed and delivered conflict competence and cultural awareness training. Complex problems, competing interests, policy development. These became her expertise.

When her military career ended, she brought those skills to business ownership.

Role at SVS

Raymond leads technical and surveying operations. Toby built the administrative foundation that made growth possible.

Her responsibilities include:

Financial operations and strategic planning
Client relations and communications
Marketing and professional branding
Regulatory advocacy (pushing for surveyor accreditation standards in Canada)
Education program support and outreach coordination

She's the primary point of contact for most client inquiries. The person making sure SVS runs smoothly behind the scenes.

Beyond SVS

Scope Consulting

Toby delivers Command, Control, and Communication solutions. Workplace equity training, conflict resolution, leadership development for municipal governments, private organizations, and non-profits.

The Merchant's Mill

An eco-conscious retail operation providing a platform for local artisans and small businesses. Focused on sustainable and community-driven commerce.

BPW Hastings Prince Edward

Active member of Business and Professional Women's Network. Advocates for women in leadership and facilitates workshops on domestic violence awareness, housing issues, and diversity in leadership.

Looking Ahead

Toby's vision for SVS focuses on sustainable growth:

Hiring skilled surveyors and technicians across Ontario
Creating structured training and accreditation programs
Expanding international compliance consulting
Building media presence and industry partnerships

The goal isn't just a bigger company. It's a more professional industry overall.

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23 years Canadian Armed Forces. NAMS-CMS. ABYC-MMT. Expert witness qualified in Ontario Superior Court. Canadian Responsible Officer for 40+ international builders.

Credentials at a Glance

Certified Marine Surveyor (CMS) NAMS Global

Master Marine Technician (MMT) ABYC

Adjunct Technical Instructor ABYC

Standards Compliance Specialist NMMA (current model years)

Associate Member SNAME

Ethics Chair NAMS Global

Former Regional VP, Eastern Canada NAMS Global (2015–2019)

The Full Story

Before marine surveying, Raymond spent 23 years in the Canadian Armed Forces and Air Forces. Load and shipping specialist. Flight instructor. Flight safety investigator. Those roles built the foundation for everything that came after. Attention to detail. Systematic risk assessment. An uncompromising approach to safety.

In 2002, Veterans Affairs doctors advised him to consider a new career. The answer was obvious. Boats had always been his passion. Standards and safety had defined his military career. Marine surveying brought them together.

He and his wife Toby founded Swiftsure Vessel Solutions with a simple mission: protect boaters, physically and financially, through expert inspection and honest reporting.

Scope of Work

Raymond's client work spans personal vessels, commercial boats, and high-profile projects including independent third-party inspections for:

Port of Houston Authority
Kuwait port operations
Rio de Janeiro maritime projects
New York City Fire Department vessels

His inspections verify compliance with ABS, USCG, ABYC, NFPA, CFR, and Transport Canada standards.

As Canadian Responsible Officer for over 40 international boat builders, he guides manufacturers through Transport Canada Declarations of Conformity. That's the step that makes legal market entry in Canada possible.

Industry Leadership

Raymond doesn't just apply standards. He helps write them. He serves on ABYC standards-setting committees and has taught as an ABYC adjunct instructor for over a decade.

As former Regional Vice President for NAMS Global (Eastern Canada, 2015–2019) and current Ethics Chair, he's shaped how the profession develops and mentored the next generation of surveyors coming up.

He's still pursuing formal education through Westlawn Institute of Marine Technology's yacht design program and maintains membership in RINA (Royal Institute of Naval Architects).

On the Water

When he's not travelling for inspections, Raymond races sailboats on the Great Lakes. PHRF and One-Design classes. He and Toby cruise together too. The water isn't just where he works. It's where he lives.

Looking Ahead

Raymond's goals extend beyond SVS:

Expand the company to train and employ top-tier surveyors across Canada
Push for formalized accreditation standards for marine surveyors nationally
Advocate for consumer protection and quality assurance in marine inspections

One survey at a time.

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Raymond Michael Toth

Toby Toth

Daniel McKindsey

Our History

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