Ask Steve

  Text and photos copyright © SDMC, Inc. 2016 Ask Steve: May 2015 Good day Steve! I have a question that your readers and I would benefit from, your...

July 2014 Steve: Good luck with your new venture. Always enjoyed your articles. I just returned from a trip on a 2 year old Viking 50 that...

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: Steering Component Inspection Text and photos by Steve D’Antonio Copyright © 2017 Steering represents one of the most important systems aboard, at least equal to propulsion, electrical and...

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...

Photo Essay     Life Cell, a Better Ditch Kit   Ditch bags are an invaluable accessory no blue water passagemaking vessel should be without.  They are also nothing...

Text and photos © 2021 Steve D'Antonio Marine Consulting, Inc. Photo Essay: Fixed Fire Extinguisher Detail Fixed fire extinguishers perform, or are ready to perform, an...

Text and photos by Steve D’Antonio © 2019 Photo Essay: Shore Power, are Fuses OK? Over-current protection is among the most important features of any vessel’s electrical...

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...

Photo Essay: The Perils of Double Grounding It is ubiquitous, various disparate onboard equipment, to which green bonding wires are attached.  While not necessarily providing...