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Photo Essay: Closed Cooling System Hose Failure While both must be reliable and robust, hoses used for conveying coolant (often incorrectly referred to as anti-freeze)...

Photo Essay: Not a Cord Grip These are small, inexpensive, and readily available parts, and they are critically important; without them the worst-case result can...

Photo Essay: Fuel Tank (no) Support Structural failures of fuel tanks are nearly always traceable to either installation or construction flaws, with the former being...

Steve, Congratulations on your latest professional move.  It leaves me a bit disappointed with PassageMaker in not supporting your independent writing. I have a Holland 38...

Text and photos by Steve D'Antonio Photo Essay: (Not) Painting Aluminum It’s a phenomenon I encounter on a near-weekly basis; virtually every vessel I’m aboard suffers,...

Text and photos by Steve D’Antonio Copyright © 2017 From the Masthead Taiwan Has Ruined Me I travel to many parts of the world for my work, domestically as well...

Photo Essay: Motor Mount Installation Motor mounts play a vital role in the propulsion system scheme; they represent the only link between the thrust created...

Photo Essay: Through Deck Fittings Properly securing deck hardware can present a variety of challenges.  Cored composite decks represent perhaps the greatest challenge; the core...

The Q&A posed below is in reference to a previous post to the Marine Systems Excellence E-zine, The Good Samaritan at Sea, published April...

Ask Steve: PVC Plumbing, Low Hour Engine Maintenance, Solar Panel Fire By Steve D'Antonio Photos by Steve D'Antonio and except where noted Steve D'Antonio This PVC "pool" valve...