Expert Litigation Support Since 1987

Knox Marine specializes in boat & yacht appraisal, marine accident investigations, marine warranty claims, and marine product liability.

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35+ Years of Experience

About Knox Marine

Steve Knox

Steve Knox, Knox Marine’s founder, has a unique combination of skills that make him an excellent witness. His engineering education is well-rounded; he is versed in several disciplines. Knox has performed thousands of damage surveys, so he has seen what works in boats and what causes problems. His strongest attribute as a witness, though, is his ability to explain technical subjects to a non-technical audience. His technical writing demonstrates his wide range of expertise and his ability to teach. Not only does Knox look good on paper, he brings unique skills to investigations and appearances.

Highlights of Qualifications & Experience

  • BS in Nuclear Engineering, Registered Professional Engineer (Emeritus) in Virginia.
  • Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors (SAMS), Charter Member, 1987 (AMS).
  • American Society of Appraisers (ASA). Accredited Senior Appraiser since 1999. One of five accredited yacht appraisers in the United States.
  • International Association of Marine Investigators. Member since 1991. Certified Marine Investigator.
  • American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) – Member since 1987. Technical Board 1992 – 1999. Past Chair of the Technical Board. Member of several Project Technical Committees. Past Chair, Product Interface Committee. Wrote several new standards. Reviewed and revised many.
  • Teaches regularly on claims investigation, adjusting, and yacht appraisal. 
View Resume
Court Appearances

Expert Testimony

Steve has offered expert testimony in the following courts:

  • United States District Court – Norfolk, Virginia; Newport News, Virginia; Baltimore, Maryland; Washington DC; North Carolina; Tampa, Florida
  • State Courts – Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Ohio
Boat on Fire
Boat on the Beach
Boat on the Beach
Boat on the Beach

Types of Cases

  • Vessel appraisal
  • Design, construction, and repair of yachts and small commercial craft
  • Warranty issues
  • Boat operations, standard of care, rules of the road
  • Boatyard operations, standard of care
  • Accident reconstruction

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have a question that’s not answered below please send us an email.

Yes, that is one of Steve Knox’s specialties. He published a technical article on the subject in the
American Society of Appraisers’ MTS Journal.

We are not adjusters but can certainly determine the cause and origin of a failure. That is, why did your boat experience a certain loss? It is this information that determines whether your policy covers a given loss. Steve Knox has personally investigated thousands of claims, and his company has investigated almost 10,000.

Yes. Steve Knox has investigated almost a hundred warranty claims and testified in several dozen warranty cases.

Certainly. About 1/3 to 1/4 of our expert work is for boat owners. The answer is what the answer is, no matter who our client is.

No, our practice is generally limited to pleasure boats, however, we have investigated collisions between small commercial vessels.

Yes. We would be happy to discuss an appraisal assignment on any size boat, from 20’ to 200’. 

No, but we would be happy to refer you to another expert.

Yes. Steve Knox has qualified as an expert in boat accident reconstruction in state and federal courts.

Yes, this is an integral part of our collision investigation work.

Our office is in Richmond, Virginia, centrally located in the Mid-Atlantic. We travel wherever our clients need us. While most of our assignments are in the Eastern United States, Steve Knox has traveled as far as Athens, Greece; Halifax, Nova Scotia; Bonaire; San Diego; and the Pacific Northwest. If your case doesn’t warrant extensive travel, we will recommend a closer expert.

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