Mid Size Power Boats

Copyright 2003 David H. Pascoe

Introduction v
Contents ix

The Benefits
Are You a Candidate for a Being Happy Boat Owner?
How Much Time is Involved?
Resale Value
Boat Size vs Cost
The Importance of Proximity
Cost/Time Benefits
Getting Upside Down
Winter Lay Up
Why Boat Repairs Are So Costly
The Risks
Portrait of a Happy Boat Owner
Insurance
The Cost of Boating
Partnerships
Charter Arrangements
The Nature of the Industry
Dealerships
Quality Issues
Warranties
New -vs- Used Boats
What to Expect From a New Boat Purchase

2. Boat Types: Which is Right for You?  31

Mrs. Boat Buyer

Boating Life Styles & Layouts

Dual Controls
Head Room
Sleeping Accommodations
Social Spaces
The Galley
Eating
Heads
Cockpit Areas
Flybridge Sedan
Express Cruiser
Trawler Style
Sport Fisherman
Sport Fishing From Other Types
Multi Purpose Styles
Motor Yacht
Bloat Boats & Clumsy Design
High Sided Expresses
Double Cabin
Down Easter

Other Basic Design Considerations

The Death of Practicality
Interior Ventilation
Deck Areas
Area Sizes
Flying Bridges
Tops and Enclosures
State Rooms

Dizzy Design and Loony Luxury

Unconventional Boat Design
Anatomy of Frivolous Design

3. Old Boats, New Boats and Quality  73

Service Life of Pleasure Craft
The Economics of Older Boats Estimating Costs
Approximate Service Life of Boat Components
Selecting the Right Boat for Projects

New -vs- Used Boats

Depreciation of New and Used Boats
Quality and the Mid Size Market
Old or New, Which Is Better? What Does Quality in Boats Mean?
Foreign -vs- Domestic Builders

4. Basic Hull Construction   95

Overview of Current Hull Issues
Basic Materials

Lamination, the Essence of Modern Boat Building

Understanding Laminate Strength

High Technology and Boat Building

Plastics
Plywood
Composites and Cores
Ultra High Density Foams
Delamination
Putty Cores
Foam Cores
Surveying Cored Hulls
Plywood as a Core

The Essentials of Hull Structure

Keel
Bulkheads
Stringers
Frames
Structural Grids and Grid Liners
Tabbing and Taping, a Weak Point
Broken Tabbing

Decks & Superstructure

Deck Join Methods
Deck Issues
Proper Fillets
Rub Rail Materials
Windows and Deck Joints
Stress Points

5. Evaluating Boat Hulls   135

How to Determine the Presence of Cores
Examining the Bottom
Examining the Hull Sides
Deck Join Defects
Through Hull Fittings

Interior Hull

Stringers
Limber Holes
Bulkheads
Checking For Cabin Leaks

Fuel Tanks

Aluminum Fuel Tanks
Black Iron Tanks
Stainless Steel Tanks
Aluminum Water Tanks

Mr. Blister

The Real Cause of Blisters
Barrier Coating
Pre 1996 Boats
Repaired Blisters
Blisters on Used Boats
Repairing Blisters

Summary

6. Performance and Sea Keeping   169

The Meaning of Sea Keeping Juggling a Host of Factors
About Speed
Hull Types and Efficiency
Pitching
Vertical Center of Gravity
Passenger Height Above the Water
The Effects of Trim
Shaft Angle, Propeller Pockets and Vee Drives
The Effects of Beam
The Effects of Weight
Stability
Dynamic Instability - Chine Riding
Extreme Cases
Summary

7. Decks & Superstructure   195

Deck Cores
Deck Designs
Gimmicks and Weird Stuff
Making Inspections
Hardware Attachments
Windlasses
Where Does the Water Go? Rope or Chain Locker
Guttering
Deck Hatches
Deck Problems With Express Cruisers
Bow Pulpits
Windows & Frames
Port Holes
Sagging Decks
Interior Headliners
Flying Bridges
Helm Stations Generally

8. Stress Cracks, Finishes and Surface Defects   223

Boat Finishes
Claims to UV Resistance
Stress Cracks
Repaired Areas
Stress Cracks on Hull Bottoms Gel Coat Voids
A Common Question
Should Stress Cracks be Repaired?
Damage Repair
Gel Coat Crazing
Dark Colored Boats
Blotchy, Discolored Finishes Longevity of Finish
Repairing Chips and Dings
Cleaning
Should Old Boats be Painted?
Maintaining the Finish

9. Power Options   243

Diesel Myths
Gas Versus Diesel
The Safety Issue
Gas Engine Longevity
Diesel Maintenance Issues
Diesel Operating Issues
Who Really Needs Diesels?
Boat Size and Weight
Minimum Planing Speed Test

Diesel Engines

Diesel Power Ratings
Brake -vs- Shaft Horsepower Continuous -vs- Intermittent Power
Continuous -vs- Intermittent Duty
Revolutions Per Minute

Diesel Engine Reliability Experience by Manufacturer

Detroit Diesel
Caterpillar Engines
Cummins Diesels
Volvo Diesels
Yanmar Diesels
German Diesels

Gas Engines

GM Block Engines
An Important Rule for Internal Combustion Engines

Marinizing Companies

Mercruiser
Volvo Gas Engines

Transmissions

Reverse-Reduction Gears
Z-F Transmissions
Vee Drives
Stern Drives - The Bete Noir of Power Boating
Alternative Drive Systems

Engine Surveys

Diesel Engines
Gas Engines

10. The Engine Room   279

Engine Room Access & Serviceability
All About Engine Hour Meters
Gas Engine Longevity
Diesel Engines
Propellering
Ventilation
Things needed frequent servicing
Sizing Up Condition of Used Boat Engines
Water and Oil Trails
Engine Rust
Sources of excessive engine room corrosion

The Drive System

Engine Mounts
Vibration Problems
Exhaust Systems
Diesel Engine Risers
Mufflers
Gas Engine Risers
Other Quick Checks
The Cooling System
Look Under the Engines
Shaft Seals

Installation of Other Components

Fuel Filters
Fuel Lines
Fuel Tank Vents
Batteries
Water Heaters
Battery Chargers

Insulation

11. Electrical & Plumbing Systems   315

Flexibility is in the Switching
AC Power - How Much is Enough?
Shore Power Cables
Shore Power Connectors
Electric Service Panels
Circuit Breakers
Service Outlets
Older Boats

Generators

Gas or Diesel?
Water Where It Shouldn’t
Inverters: AC Power From Batteries
DC Systems
Battery Chargers
Older Boats

Plumbing Systems

Sea Cocks
Plastic Valves
Sea Strainers
Plastic Components
Plastic Nipples
Vacuum Head Systems
Boating in a Sewer
Standard Electric Pump Systems
Waste Plumbing Systems
Bilge Pumps
Where Does the Water Go? Fresh Water Systems
Dockside Water Systems
Air Conditioning Systems
Assessing the Overall Systems Convenience for Servicing

12. Design Details   353

Hey Man, It’s Cool
Important Changes in Boat Building
Computers, CCR & CAD-CAM Eliminating Wood: Enter New Materials
High Maintenance, Low Maintenance and too Much Clutter
Ergonomics
Integral Platforms
Exhaust Ports
Side Exhausts
Platform as Patio
Boarding Problems
Cockpit & Under Deck Storage
Fish Boxes
Exterior Upholstery
Fold-Down Cockpit Seats
Hardtops
Transom Doors
Cockpit Scuppers
Windshields and Wipers

13. Steering, Controls, Systems & Equipment   371

Ergonomics at the Helm
Engine Control Systems
Steering Systems
Helm Panel Layouts
Tops & Covers
Cockpit Appliances
Hardware

Navigation Instruments

Radars
GPS/Plotters
Depth Meters
Autopilots

Other Systems

Air Conditioning
Water Makers
Water Fixtures
Navigation Lights
Ground Tackle
Anchor Windlasses
Bow Thrusters
Hydraulic Transom Platforms
Safety Gear

14. The Art of the Deal   393

Hull Identification Numbers (HIN)
Federal Documentation
Getting Into the Right Frame of Mind
Boat Shows

New Boats

How About Demos?
Seasonal Leftovers
Buying a Trade-In
Dealerships
Optional Equipment
Dealer Markup
Selecting a Dealer

Used Boats

Beginning the Search
Locating Boats
Brokerage Boats
Transacting the Sale - Used Boats
For Sale, OBO
Seller’s Expense, Buyer’s Expense
OBO Contracts
Co-ownership
Boat Fraud

15. Boat Shopping   407

New Boats
Test Runs
Used Boats
The Florida Market
Fresh Water Boats
Other Regional Considerations Making Your Own Appraisal Appraisal Books
Regional Variations
Fickleness of Pricing
Repossessions & Salvage

16. The Survey & Post Survey   417

Used Boat Surveys
What Surveyors Do
Survey Logistics
Engine Surveys
Oil Analysis
Borescoping
Electronic Diesels
Gas Engines

After the Survey

Dealing With Issues
Negotiating Deficiencies
Who Makes Repairs?
Estimating Repair Costs
A Few Other Tips

Companies

Companies by Quality Category

Entry Level Builders
Mid Level Builders
High Quality Production Builders

List of Taiwan Boats

Glossary   455
Index   465