July 2025 Newsletter – Risers and Siphon-Breaks
Photo Essay: The Perils of an Unvented Loop
Vented loops, also known as anti-siphon valves or siphon-breaks, have served mariners for many years. Their mission...
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
After receiving the following letter from a consulting client a discussion on the subject of CO poisoning seemed in order. Steve, After recalling reading something on...
February 2026 Newsletter – Shore Power Over-Current Protection
Photo Essay: Shore Power Over-Current Protection
Over-current protection, or OCP, a subject I write about all too often (most recently here), only because it is...
August 2018 Newsletter
Photo Essay: Core Closeout
It’s a subject that comes up time and time again when I’m working with boat builders and boat yards, core close...
August 2022 Newsletter “Seacock Appendages”
Photo Essay: Seacock Appendages
It’s a scenario I encounter all too often, a “Christmas tree” of hard plumbing, T’s, nipples and other fittings, connected directly...
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...
Fire Extinguisher Query
Dear Steve: I recently looked at a new boat at a boat show. I noticed something that caught my attention and I wondered if you...
October 2019 Newsletter
Photo Essay: Emergency Tiller Use
During a recent vessel inspection, I asked the owner of the vessel if he’d ever tested the emergency manual tiller,...
November 2019 Newsletter
Text and photos © 2019 Steve D'Antonio Marine Consulting, Inc. From the Masthead
Regular readers may have noticed that the format of the Marine Systems Excellence...
A Tale of Two Messages
Text and Photos By Steve D'Antonio Copyright June 2014
From the Editor
Earlier this month I shared with subscribers my decision to resign my position as Technical Editor...









