Olieslagers (asker) Oct 31, 2011:

Exactly... As for second hand cars...

kashew Oct 31, 2011:

As for cars? One careful owner - just used to go shopping!
Never put to any severe tests, never pushed to limits.

Olieslagers (asker) Oct 31, 2011:

There is very little context I am translating the specs of a catamaran for a yacht broker. These specs are established according to the owner's saying.
Following are the preceding sentences:
"Points forts :
Intérieur confortable et chaleureux.
Structures jamais malmenées (arrivée en cargo, pas de grandes traversées océaniques)."
Thank you all for your help!

Nikki Scott-Despaigne Oct 31, 2011:

2/2 If this a survey report, then the format generally makes clear at what point this remark is being made. In any event, caution has to be exercised in making sure that no assumption about cause is being made where none has been asked for. A conclusion to a report is usually full of the conditional tense. The remarks/observations are made in the present tense (in French, although often past tenses would be used in English) when referring to what was observed and noted at a particular moment in time. In short, the French describes how the boat has been handled or treated. It does not describe her condition. That may be implied, the two are linked, it may even be what is meant. Based on the info provided thus far, it is not safe to infer the latter.

Agree we need more context.

Nikki Scott-Despaigne Oct 31, 2011:

1/2 Years ago, when underwriters for French yacht insurers were UK-based, I learnt to be very careful on this sort of term. I would recommend a more watertight rendering than 'no structural damage'. Saying that there is no structural damage is a fairy step ahead of saying the boat's structures have not been subject to mistreatment. That is not quite the word either and I am still trying to recall for the life of me what I used in the past.
Thus, whilst it may be true that no structural damage was observed, that is not what the original states. Stricto senso, a boat which has no structural damage, may have undergone rough treatment/handling whatever. The reverse is also true : a boat may have been subject to poor handling and yet have suffered no damage to her structures.

Catharine Cellier-Smart Oct 31, 2011:

More context needed Could you post the preceding and following sentences if you have them?