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...

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,...

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: Leakage Current It’s an insidious, and frequently misunderstood, phenomenon; AC power leaking into water, creating an electric field around the vessel.  Under the...

Hello Steve, Long-time fan, first time asking. I need to replace the clear fuel level indication hoses (sight gauges) on my 350 gallon diesel fuel...

Photo Essay: Means of Reboarding “If you fall overboard, there’s no way to re-board the vessel without assistance”.  I uttered those words just last week,...

Text and photos © 2021 Steve D'Antonio Marine Consulting, Inc. Photo Essay: Steering Steering, it’s one of the primary systems you simply can’t do without, along...

Photo Essay: Steering Components Steering falls into what I call one of the three critical systems, along with propulsion and raw water plumbing/watertight integrity.  On...

Photo Essay: Through Deck Fittings Properly securing deck hardware can present a variety of challenges.  Cored composite decks represent perhaps the greatest challenge; the core...

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...