Ask Steve

Steve, I have a 1974 Grand Banks and just moved into a new port with new slips and the shore power is GFI protected....

Text and photos copyright © 2018 Steve D’Antonio Marine Consulting, Inc. Photo Essay: Check Valves Check valves are ubiquitous; they are used in everything from fuel systems...

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...

Text and photos © 2021 Steve D'Antonio Marine Consulting, Inc. Photo Essay: Full Throttle vs. Full Load Sea trials are an opportunity to identify problems...

Steve,  I have a 26' center console, 2 jet skis, a 13' whaler and the 58.  Additionally I have two hoists that are battery powered with solar chargers.  Basically,...

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 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: Fuel Filter "Seaweed" Primary fuel filters are the first line of defense against a range of contaminants including sediment, asphaltene, and water.  Most...

Photo Essay: Shaft Coupling Fasteners The average small vessel may have anywhere from hundreds to several thousand, fasteners aboard, used in everything from joinerwork to...

Photo Essay: Chafe It’s the bane of every seagoing vessel, taking its toll on everything from dock lines and wiring to sails and hoses.  Every...