Ask Steve

Hello Steve, I'm a long time reader, the first time was with PassageMaker about 14 years ago.  I have a question, can I put...

Text and photos © 2019 Steve D'Antonio Marine Consulting, Inc. Photo Essay: The Importance of AC Safety Grounds Most folks, even those with little or no...

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...

Text and photos copyright © 2018 Steve D’Antonio Marine Consulting, Inc. Photo Essay: Shore Power Plugs and Fire Prevention Statistically, more boat and marina fires occur as...

Hi Steve, You often see shore cords in the water for a few feet between the pedestal and the boat.  Sometimes it is difficult...

Text and photos by Steve D’Antonio Copyright © 2016 Photo Essay: Boiling Water with Batteries A few years ago the thought of boiling water using battery power would have...

Text and photos © 2019 Steve D'Antonio Marine Consulting, Inc. Photo Essay: Hydraulic Steering Relief Valve Hydraulic steering systems are ubiquitous, they are found on everything...

Photo Essay: Leakage Current It’s an insidious, and frequently misunderstood, phenomenon; AC power leaking into water, creating an electric field around the vessel.  Under the...

Text and photos by Steve D'Antonio Copyright © 2017 My Love/Hate Relationship with Bilge Pump Control Panels While it's often given short shrift, bilge pump design and installation is every...

Photo Essay: Lifeline Corrosion While plastic coated wire lifelines are a ubiquitous aspect of small boat safety, they aren’t without their shortcomings.  Long ago, while...