January 24, 2022
GFCI and ELCI protection
I’m often asked to take a look at a survey to complete repairs at the request of a boat owner’s insurance company. Over the years, I’ve noticed that there are some items that are considered much lower ‘risk’, than others when identified on a survey.
January 11, 2022
Ask Andrew: Connections at the battery
Rarely have I seen a boat that is bought brand new and continues to look like it rolled off the factory floor a year or two later. Upgrades and changes are inevitable. A new GPS is installed. A cooler is replaced. Lights are swapped out. The list goes on.
December 21, 2021
Ask Andrew: What is the right battery type?
Most of us are familiar with the tried-and-true 12V lead-acid batteries that have been found in marine and auto applications for decades. There have been advances over time in the current output, the amp-hours and sizes available; no one can doubt that they do the job well.
November 23, 2021
Ask Andrew: Cleaning the Bilge – ugh
Years ago it was a punishment. In the Royal Navy, and on merchant ships of the 19th century, the gun crews who were the quickest would receive an extra tot of rum. The crew who were slow or sloppy were tasked with cleaning out the ship’s bilge.
November 10, 2021
Ask Andrew: Acrylic and Ceramic Gelcoat Restorers – Miracle Cure or Stumpwater?
Fibreglass boats take a lot of maintenance. Their appeal, half a century ago was their ‘maintenance free’ nature when compared with wooden boats. Add in the ability to mass-produce, and the low coast of manufacturing made fiberglass and easy choice.
October 12, 2021
Ask Andrew: Mast up or Mast Down
So many decisions to make when planning for haul-out. When/how to winterize? What type of antifreeze to use? Shrink-wrap or cover?
September 22, 2021
Ask Andrew: Corrosion – How to be a good neighbor: catch strays
Before I knew about corrosion, or marine electrical (or boats in general), I would see ‘no swimming’ signs at marinas and assume that the area was off limits due to boat traffic. Now that I know a bit more; the greater risk has to do with corrosion, grounding, and stray current issues.
September 7, 2021
Ask Andrew: Corrosion – Part 2
It’s a scary thought – whether your boat is made of wood, fiberglass, aluminum or composite – it’s slowly deteriorating under you. Part of this is the nature of the marine environment: sun, moisture, waves, wind, movement and vibration all contribute to components breaking down.
August 24, 2021
Ask Andrew: Corrosion – Part 1
It’s a scary thought – but whether your boat is made of wood, fiberglass, aluminum or composite – it’s slowly deteriorating under you. Part of this is the nature of the marine environment: Sun, moisture, waves, wind, movement and vibration all contribute to components breaking down.
August 10, 2021
Ask Andrew: Hoses – Part 2
There are so many applications for hoses aboard, and each requires a specific type. There hoses for: fuel, exhaust, scuppers, engine water intake, potable water (hot and cold), waste, water heaters, bilge water, gear lube, and blowers.
July 20, 2021
Ask Andrew: A Hose is not just a hose – Part 1
I have more than once heard it said (from a cost-conscious boater), that products that have the word ‘marine’ printed on the label, is excuse for doubling the price for the same item purchased for non-marine use.
July 7, 2021
Ask Andrew: water connections and new solutions
As boats increase in size, complexity and arrangements, the systems requiring water onboard also increase. Modern boats have pumps, pressure systems, ballast systems, showers, air conditioners, water-cooled refrigeration, washdown pumps, faucets, heaters, and all of through-hulls, tanks, lines and connections necessary to support them.
June 8, 2021
Ask Andrew: Engine/gasoline fires and other scares
Boats aren’t inherently combustible. They aren’t firetraps, and they aren’t any more or less dangerous with respect to fire breaking out than an RV, trailer, car or airplane.
May 11, 2021
Ask Andrew: Replacing and Installing Transducers
A Transducer is a device that is installed below the waterline that provides underwater data to a display at the helm. This data is usually in the form of depth and speed – but in more advanced systems can also provide sonar, fish-finding and side or forward views.
April 29, 2021
Add A Shade – Cool comfort with convenience
For most of us, the thrill of being aboard is associated with the motion of the water, wind in our hair, the laughter of friends, the speed and fresh air.
April 21, 2021
Ask Andrew: Steering system maintenance
An important, but often overlooked maintenance item on any type of boat is it’s steering system. Most are relatively safe and secure, and are generally bulletproof – requiring very little maintenance to operate well. That said, it’s important to perform at minimum an annual inspection before launch to avoid looming failures and potentially costly repairs.
March 24, 2021
Ask Andrew: Spring 2021 Checklist
Before you launch: Inspect all around the hose clamps for rust and replace as necessary. Double clamp fuel lines and exhaust hoses with marine-rated stainless steel hose clamps. While not technically required, it’s wise to double clamp whenever possible on all hoses − especially those below the waterline.
March 9, 2021
Ask Andrew – Off-Season checks for Bilge pump system
One of the items that gets taken for granted during the spring prep work is the bilge pumping system; it’s one of those on-board features that many of us assume is in working order….until something goes wrong.
February 23, 2021
Ask Andrew: Below-the-water inspections in the off season for power and sail
When the boat is in the water, It’s easy to take for granted the parts of the boat that are under the water. It’s also simple to think ‘everything worked well last year, so I won’t worry about it this year.’
February 9, 2021
Ask Andrew: ELCI’s – protecting the boat’s Shore-power grounding connection
Two weeks ago, I was pleasantly surprised by the reaction from the article published on the importance of GFCI outlets. I received many more emails than usual in response to this topic, most of them echoing the importance of this type of protection aboard.
January 27, 2021
Ask Andrew: GFCI protection
I’m often asked to take a look at a survey to complete repairs at the request on a boat owner’s insurance company. Over the years, I’ve noticed that there are some items that are considered much less ‘risk’, than others when identified on a survey.
January 13, 2021
Ask Andrew: Propeller selection
Styles, shapes, pitch and diameter of props are widely discussed on online boating forums, YouTube videos and in boatyard scrimmages. The pros and cons aren’t always debated well – so lets take a look at some of the terms, options and choices to allow you to make some educated decisions.
December 15, 2020
Ask Andrew – December 17, 2020
‘‘Twas the night before Christmas and all ‘cross the land, boats were left to slumber, exactly as planned. Engines were winterized and tarps were tied tight, but batteries – and what to do – give many a fright.
November 17, 2020
Ask Andrew: Boat ventilation
I passed by a person doing some shrink-wrap work recently, and as he installed a vent in the shrink-wrap he was completing, he muttered satisfactorily to himself ‘Air flow isn’t just for sail boats.
November 4, 2020
Ask Andrew: Will we make it? Fuel gauge troubleshooting
There’s nothing worse than wondering how much fuel you have on board. You’re left wondering how long you can motor for. As well, you have no idea how much more fuel you can take on at the marina pump. You’re forced to resort to using a combination of dipsticks and jerry cans to compensate for not knowing the tank level.
October 21, 2020
Ask Andrew: Protecting your boat for the winter
As the cold approaches, shrink-wrapping is a hot topic, and I’ve heard more than a few debates at marinas and yacht clubs about the merits and disadvantages of winter covers, tarps and wraps.
October 13, 2020
Winterization Isn’t Like Your Dad Did It: Modern Methods For Modern Boats
“They don’t make ‘em like they used to”, is a phrase that many of us are familiar with. Most of the time it is in reference to a bygone era of better, and it’s used to lament the sorry state of what we have today. It is a phrase that can be applied to many areas of our lives: architecture, art, furniture, tools.
October 7, 2020
Ask Andrew: Boat electricity – a look inside
I’m on many different types of boats, with many configurations. Some have a single ‘automotive-type’ battery on board. Others have shore power, coupled with multiple battery banks, generators and inverters. Often the complexity of the systems, dictates the type of power needed to support them.
September 22, 2020
Ask Andrew – Yikes! Autumn means haulout
Labour Day weekend tends to be the ‘last hurrah’ on many fronts: the last long weekend of the summer, and (for many of us) the last time to enjoy the family boat for the season before other work/school/tasks/life take precedence.
September 9, 2020
Ask Andrew: Blowing Smoke
My Dad is not a mechanical guy. He is educated and well-read, and handy around the house – but not mechanical. When I was 12, I joined a trip to the local mechanic to get our family car fixed.
August 25, 2020
Ask Andrew – The Bucket
I was cleaning up my workbench the other day. My eyes then scanned across my workbench and fell on ‘the bucket’. Everyone has a one. On a boat, it’s usually in a cockpit lazarette. It’s full of old paint cans and half-used tubes of caulking. There might be some white grease, painters tape or epoxy in there, too.
August 10, 2020
Ask Andrew: High temperatures – and not just because it’s August
July and August in Canada are the months of boating. People are on the water – exploring, cruising, fishing, voyaging and racing. Maintenance and repairs aren’t the priority – the fun is.
July 21, 2020
Ask Andrew: Making proper connections
I get a lot of calls for electrical repairs. Not upgrades or installations – the requests are to repair what’s already there. Sometimes its because something has stopped working, and the mess of wiring, repairs and additions over time; the mysterious nature of electrical problems prevent the boat owner from tackling this on their own.
July 7, 2020
Ask Andrew: Tune-ups
Many boats are now on the water after a COVID-imposed hiatus – and with a shortened ‘prep’ period, usually filled with antifouling, polishing, cleaning, engine check-overs and the installation of a new Christmas/boat-show electronic doo-dad.
June 30, 2020
Canadian Yachting – Modern Teak Decks
Wooden boat production in the 1940’s and 50’s was epitomized by expert craftsmanship, beautifully faired curves, bright varnish, and high-grade materials. Teak in particular is highly rot resistant, prized for its ability to produce its own oil, and recognized by its tight, straight grain.
June 10, 2020
Ask Andrew – Pump it up
Boats contain several pumps, each serving a unique purpose and positioned in a way that allows it to do its job effectively. Understanding the why and the how can be important in troubleshooting when an issue crops up.
May 26, 2020
Ask Andrew – Interlux webinar
There’s no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed our world. Some of the changes are huge: social distancing, sanitizing and face-masks have become our new norm. Adapting to working from home, and meetings via platforms like Zoom are challenges we’ve accepted and conquered.
May 13, 2020
Ask Andrew: Late spring start-ups
These days, the internet is full of memes with the message of ‘we’re all in this together’. As a marine mechanic, I’ve been partial to the phrases that reference boating. My favourite so far has been ‘We’re not all is the same boat, but we are all in the same storm’.
April 21, 2020
Ask Andrew – Delayed Launch
2020 is a year of change – self-isolation, social distancing, quarantine, and working remotely have become the norm. For many, this has been a bitter pill to swallow. Another bitter pill for boaters is the delay of the season. Provincial laws differ – so terms like ‘essential’ aren’t translating widely across the marine world.