Ask Steve

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,...

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...

Photo Essay: There’s Bronze and there’s Bronze Bronze, an alloy made from copper and tin, has long been used for raw water components aboard recreational,...

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: Through Hull Durability I vividly recall working at a yacht club on Long Island, when a vicious nor’easter slammed into the region.  Several...

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...

Photo Essay: Hull to Deck Joint Few boat building interfaces are as important as the one that occurs between the hull and deck.  The loads...

Hi Steve, I will try to be as concise as possible. I have a 1997 32' Nordic Tug, Invictus. I moor my boat year round in...

Photo Essay: Steering Gear Wear Steering gear falls into the category of a ‘key system’.  Without it you are not only dead in the water,...

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...