Ask Steve

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...

Ask Steve: PVC Plumbing, Low Hour Engine Maintenance, Solar Panel Fire By Steve D'Antonio Photos by Steve D'Antonio and except where noted Steve D'Antonio This PVC "pool" valve...

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...

Text and photos © 2020 Steve D'Antonio Marine Consulting, Inc. From the Masthead Ever the optimist, I believe if Covid 19 isn’t yet in our wake,...

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: 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...

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...

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...

Photo Essay: Stainless Steel Raw Water Plumbing Stainless steel is undoubtedly the most commonly used boat building hardware alloy, and with good reason... it’s durable,...

Photo Essay: Exhaust Injection Angle Water-cooled, often referred to as “wet” exhaust systems, enable otherwise extremely hot gasses to be safely conveyed through a vessel,...