Browse Contents : Yacht Survey Home Page

All articles, pictures and illustrations by David Pascoe, Marine Surveyor
For more articles, visit www.yachtsurvey.com.

	Article Title	Contents
Back to TOP	Battery
	Solving Chronic Battery Problems	Damages Caused by Faulty DC Systems Quality and Capacity Proper Installation Battery Chargers Cable Connectors with 0 photos
Back to TOP	Bilge Pumps
	All about Bilge Pumps Those Essential Devices for Keeping Your Boat Off the Bottom	Introduction What Makes for an Adequate System? Evaluate the Number of Compartments Determining the Number of Pumps Outboards and Stern Drives Capacity of Pumps What Brand? Pump Installation Float Switches Open Versus Covered Switches Doing It the Right Way The Discharge Outlet Emergency Pumps - Who Should Have Them and Why Battery Power Wiring Pumps with 2 photos, one illustration
Back to TOP	Blisters
	To Buy or Not to Buy . . . .A Blistered Boat, That Is.	What is a blister? Moisture Meters Are Blisters Harmful? Amount of Damage Should buy a boat with blisters? Is Repair of Blistered Bottoms Mandatory? with 2 photos & 1 illustration
	The Wonderful World of Hull Blistering	Introduction Cheap resins Tank Coating Solutions? Interesting Evidence Why Bonding Failures Occur Can blistering cause problems in resale? with 4 photos
	Failed Blister Repairs:A Case History and Solution	Case Multiple causes for blisters reappearance Failure to correct imperfections Myth about blisters Causes of blisters and factors involved Bottom line to blister repairs with 7 photos
	Illustration of Water Absorption From a Hull Interior	Does ALL blister repair jobs fail? Exterior Hull, Interior Hull Background Interior Hull Photos Summary with 3 photos
Back to TOP	Boat Handling
	Docking in Style The unfortunate thing about docking in crowded marinas is probably less a matter of the embarrassment of hitting some one else's boat, but that there are usually so many people around to see you do it!	Introduction Getting Started Hands Off the Wheel! Dancing Docking Angled Approach Winds and Tides Slip Docking with 3 illustrations
Back to TOP	Buying a Boat
	How to Avoid Purchasing a Stolen Boat	.
	How to Decide if Buying an Older Boat is Right for you.	.
	Keeping the Pleasure in Pleasure Boating	Initial Cost Cost of Ownership Get a Survey Purchase Agreements Quality -vs- Quantity Gas -vs- Diesel Diesel Engine Surveys Concluding the Deal New -vs- Used Older Vessels Yacht Surveyors Summary with no pictures
	Marine Surveyors & Yacht Surveys	Who are Marine Surveyors? The Prepurchase Survey Presurvey Inspections What should you expect from a survey?
Back to TOP	Deck Joint
	Screw It! : Reasons Why Screws Shouldn't be Used to Fasten Boat Parts	Case Decks That Don't Fit Where to look for Signs of Mismatched Hull and Deck Shells with 4 photos and 1 illustration
Back to TOP	Desgin Errors
	Top Twenty-Five Design Errors	.
	Bubble Boats : The Space Shuttle Goes to Sea	What's wrong with this boat? Rounded Deck Racy styling versus safety and practicality A Boat is not a spacecraft with 3 photos
Back to TOP	Electrical Systems
	Electrical System Use and Maintenance Part I: Introduction	Introduction Marine Electricians Materials & Equipment
	Electrical System Use and Maintenance Part II: High Voltage (AC) Systems	High Voltage(AC) Systems Grounds and Grounding Bonding Systems Your Bottom Paint Electrolysis and Galvanism Shore Power Cords Polarity Main Circuit Protection Circuit Breakers Chronic Breaker Popping GFCI's
	Electrical System Use and Maintenance Part III: DC Systems	DC Systems Principles of Wiring Circuit Protection Batteries Proper Lugs Ventilation Electrical Devices Exposed to Weather Locating Internal Equipment Engine Wiring The Effects of Time A Word About Buying Older Boats with 6 photos
	Electrical System Use and Maintenance Part IV: Adding New Equipment	Adding New Equipment Multiplex Systems
Back to TOP	Engines
	Troubleshooting Problems Involving Engine/Shaft Alignment	.
Back to TOP	Exhaust Risers
	Exhaust Risers - page One	Introduction Corrosion Failures Cast iron Thickness of Water Jacket with 4 photos
	Exhaust Risers - page Two	Aluminum Risers Leaking Gaskets Sail Boats Diesel Engines Leaks Epilogue
Back to TOP	Fuel Tank
	How to Install an Aluminum Fuel Tank	Crevice Corrosion New Deck Mounting Deck Set Tank Points to Consider with 0 photos and 2 illustration
Back to TOP	Hurricane Preparation
	Safe Harbor :Hurricane Preparation	Moorings Versus Docks Boats Ashore Trailer Boats Wind Direction Cross-Tying Docks & Pilings The Coco Plum Experience Marinas Choosing Another Location Canal Docks Knots and Lines Cleats, Chocks and Pulpits Tophamper Tuna Towers Engine Protection Electronics Windows & Hatches Securing the Interior Sail Boats Express Cruisers with 6 photos
Back to TOP	Leaks
	Deck Leaks Wet beds, mildew, rust stains in the cabinets, water stained and rotting paneling, stained headliners, rotted deck cores with soft spots . . . these are just a few of the damages caused by deck leaks.	Introduction Pre Existing Holes Railing Stanchions Repairing Leaking Stanchions Hatches Deteriorated Deck Cores Window Frame Leaks Leaking Port Holes Chain Plates with 3 illustrations
	Windows, Windows, Those, Leaky, Leaking Windows	Introduction Design Error Motor yachts and Flybridge cruisers Express Cruiser Fixed Windows Improperly designed side decks Motor Boat Sail boats 26 Formula with 9 photos and 1 Illustration
	How to Repair Window Leaks	What to look for Black aluminum Removal Bedding Glass The Result Deck Hatches Tinted Lexan against a black surface with no photos
Back to TOP	Hull Materials
	High Tech Materials in Boat Building	.
Back to TOP	Painting
	Tips for Painting Fiberglass Boats	Selecting a Painter Dark Colors Preparation Removing Hardware Plastic Parts Teak Trim Difficult Areas Non Skid Decks When to Paint Making a Work Order Proper Care with 0 photos
Back to TOP	Sinking
	How to Keep Your Boat from Sinking	Hull Design Solving the Leaky Hatch Problem Open Transoms Internal Systems Reverse Siphoning Plastic Fittings Insufficient Bilge Pump Capacity Bilge Pump Failure Battery Power Improper Wiring Outboard Boat Sail Boats A Word About Check Valves with 5 photos
Back to TOP	Stern Drive
	Maintaining Stern Drives	Understanding galvanism Aluminum Must be Protected Maintaining the Coating Preparation Drives with Existing Damage Post Painting Maintenance Zinc's 125 VAC Power Chipped Paint Checking for Electrical Faults Lubrication Check the shafts Hoses with 1 photo