March 2017 Newsletter
Photo Essay: Core Exposure Virtually every fiberglass vessel afloat today, even those that boast of solid fiberglass hulls rely on core material to add stiffness...
August 2023 Newsletter: Livewell Pump Installation
Photo Essay: Livewell Pump Installation
Raw water plumbing fittings, particularly those below the waterline, must be rugged and reliable. ABYC Standards dictate that, “A seacock...
July 2021 Newsletter “Vented Loop Remote Drains”
Text and photos © 2021 Steve D'Antonio Marine Consulting, Inc.
Photo Essay: Vented Loop Remote Drains
Vented loops, sometimes called anti-siphon valves or siphon breaks, are...
When to Adjust Valves
Steve: I have a question about adjusting the valves on my engine. If the engine is running smoothly and there is no smoke or slick...
June 2026 Newsletter – Avoiding Heat Shrink Butt Splice Woes
Photo Essay: Avoiding Heat Shrink Butt Splice Woes
Butt splices are ubiquitous, the average 50-foot vessel contains scores, perhaps even a hundred or more of...
July 2022 Newsletter “Closed Cooling System Hose Failure”
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)...
April 2016 Newsletter
Text and photos copyright © SDMC, Inc. 2016
Photo Essay While it may be cliché, the first words that come to mind when I see this image...
December 2019 Newsletter
Text and photos © 2019 Steve D'Antonio Marine Consulting, Inc.
Photo Essay: Refrigeration Maintenance
While it’s all too easy to take it for granted, I never cease...
June 2021 Newsletter “AC Ground Wire Sizing”
From the Masthead
Let me begin by apologizing to Marine Systems Excellence readers for our hiatus. As most boat owners, and virtually anyone who is...
September 2022 Newsletter “Generator AC Wiring”
Photo Essay: Generator AC Wiring
Of all the defects I encounter on generator installations, poor wire routing and support are among the most common. Generators...







