Ask Steve

Text and photos by Steve D'Antonio Copyright © 2017 Photo Essay: Direct-Bearing Terminals Shipboard electrical connections face a host of challenges, vibration, stress, extremes of temperature, and humidity or...

Text and photos copyright © SDMC, Inc. 2016 Ask Steve: June 2016 Steve, Thanks for the fire extinguisher comments.  Safety is a passion of mine and 18 months...

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,...

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,...

Steve: I have a question about adjusting the valves on my engine.  If the engine is running smoothly and there is no smoke or slick...

Copyright © 2016 Ask Steve: July 2016 Steve, I just bought an Ocean Alexander 42 Sedan with CAT 3208s in it.  They do not have air cleaner filters, just...

Steve, Congratulations on your latest professional move.  It leaves me a bit disappointed with PassageMaker in not supporting your independent writing. I have a Holland 38...

Photo Essay: Fixed Fire Extinguisher Manual Discharge Fixed engine room firefighting systems are an invaluable safety option for virtually every inboard powered vessel.  These familiar...

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...

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...