Over 180 Online Articles On
Buying, Owning and Maintaining a Boat or Yacht
by David Pascoe,
Marine Surveyor (1947- 2018)

"Buying A Boat or Yacht"
with articles excerpts
-
Buying a Boat Articles
At a Glance - Affordable Boats
- The Perfect Boat
- Perspective
- Boat Repossessions Auctions
- Beyond Glitz and Glitter
- Top Twenty Design and Construction Faults
- Bubble Decks
- Recent Design, Construction and Materials Improvements
- Why Internal Hull Areas Should Be Accessible?
- Windows, Windows, Those Leaky, Leaking Windows
- Screw it!
- All About Buying Used and Older Boats
- To Buy or Not to Buy...A Blistered Boat, That Is
- How to Avoid Buying a Stolen Boat
- Long Distance Boat Shopping
- It's Got Recent Overhauls!
- What Does an Overhaul Entail?
- All about Pre-Puchase Surveys
- After the Survey
- From Other Categories
- "More
on Cores"
from Core and Structural Issues - "Moisture
Meters on Boat Hulls"
from Marine Surveying


"Boat Reviews" page
-
Boat Reviews Articles
At-A-Glance - Introduction to Boat Reviews
- A
- Albemarle 305
- Aquasport 215
- B
- Baha 260 Targa (not "Baja")
- Bertram Yachts
- Bertram Yachts: Introduction
- Bertram 26.6 II
- Bertram 28 II
- Bertram 30 Express
- Bertram 30 Moppie
- Bertram 31 SF
- Bertram 33 SF
- Bertram 36 Moppie
- Bertram 42 Convertible
- Bertram 46 Convertible
- Blackfin Yachts
- Blackfin 29 SF
- Blackfin 29 Combi
- Blackfin 32 Flybridge
- Blackfin 33
- Boston Whaler Outrage 26
- C
- Cabo 31 Sport Express
- Carver 370
- Century 3000
- Chris-Craft 302 Crown
- Contender 25
- Cranchi Mediterranee 40
- Cruisers 4270 Esprit
- Cruisers 4280
- G
- Glacier Bay 2640 Renegade
- Grady-White Offshore 24
- Grady-White 24 Voyager
- Grady White 272 Sailfish
- Grand Banks 42
- Gulfstar 43 Trawler-style Yacht
- H
- Hatteras Yachts
- Hatteras Yachts: Introduction
- Hatteras 36 Convertible
- Hatteras 38 Convertible
- Hatteras 38 Convertible - Updated Review
- Hatteras 39 Sport Express
- Hatteras 45 Convertible
- Hatteras 52 Convertible
- Hatteras 53 Motor Yacht & Convertible
- Hatteras 61 Motor Yacht
- Hunter 28
- Hyatt 45 CMY
- I
- Intrepid 289
- Island Gypsy 40
- L
- Lafitte 44
- Legacy 34 Express
- Luhrs 320 Open
- Luhrs 34 - 340 F.B. Sedan
- Luhrs Tournament 350
- Luhrs Tournament 360
- M
- Mainship 31
- Mainship 350 Trawler
- Mako 221- Updated 11/05/99
- Mako 26
- Maxum 4600 1998
- Mochi 50
- Morgan 462 Ketch
- O
- Offshore 48
- P
- Post 46 Convertible
- Pursuit 2855
- Pursuit 3000 Offshore
- Pursuit 3070 CC
- S
- Sea Ray
- Sea Ray and Balsa Core Bottoms (from "Structural Issues")
- Sea Ray 250 Sundancer
- Sea Ray 27
- Sea Ray Sundancer 290
- Sea Say Sundancer 290 Update
- Sea Ray 370 AC
- Sea Ray 39 Express
- Sea Ray 500
- Sea Ray 55
- Shamrock 26
- T
- Thompson Santa Cruz 2700
- Tiara 2700
- Tiara 3100 Open
- Tiara 3600 Convertible
- Tiara 3600 Open
- Topaz 28_1981
- Trojan 10-8 Meter
- Trojan 14 Meter Convertible
- Trojan 440 Express
- V
- Viking 43 Open
- from other cat.
- Marlin Monroe
42 Bertram Convertible
Make an Old Boat New - Tiara Today
The New Quality Leader?
Articles at
docksidereports.com


"Cores
and Structural Issues"
with articles excerpts
-
Structural Issues Articles
At A Glance - Bad News For Bertram
- Are They Fiberglass Boats Anymore?
- Cored Hull Bottoms: The Final Word
- Core Materials
- More on Cores
- Sea Ray and Balsa Core Bottoms
- ATC Core-Cell: A Foaming Solution?
- Composite Troubles in Aircraft
- From Other Categories
- "Hi Tech Materials in Boat Building" from Marine Sureying
- "New
Materials Again" from Marine Surveying"Latent
Defects"
from Insurance Issues


"Marine Engines"
with article excerpts
-
Marine Engines Articles
At A Glance - More on Performance Diesels
- Comparing Diesel Types
- Diesel Engines
- Power Options
- Gas -vs- Diesel - Part II
- Gas Engines
- Drive System Alignment
- Problems with Engine and Shaft Alignment
- Exhaust Risers
- From Other categories
- "It's Got Recent Overhauls!" from Buying a Boat
- "What Does an Overhaul Entail?" from Buying a Boat


"Maintenance,
Repairs & Troubleshooting"
with articles excerpts
-
Maintenance, Repair Articles
At A Glance - All about Bilge Pumps
- Attaching Hardware to Your Boat
- Battery Basics
- Corrosion
- Corrosion in Marinas
- Dealing With Leaks
- Deck Leaks
- Diesel Maintenance, Or Lack of It
- Electronics Outside
- Haul Out Basics
- How to Install an Aluminum Fuel Tank
- How to Prevent Your Boat from Sinking
- Tips on Electrical System Use and Maintenance
- How to Repair Window Leaks
- Is Your Boat a Leaky Tiki?
- Maintaining Stern Drives
- Maintenance Fundamentals Part I : Engines
- Myth of Condensation in Fuel Tanks, The
- Preventing Rot in Encapsulated Wood Structures
- Propellers
- Repairing Diaphragm Pumps
- Repairing Rotary Vane Pumps
- Solving Chronic Battery Problems
- Tips on Painting Fiberglass Boats
- Winter Lay Up
- From Other Category
- Exhaust Risers (from Buying a Boat Cat.)


"Hull Blisters"
with article excerpts
-
Hull Blisters Articles
At A Glance - Failed Blister Repairs
- Blister Repairs Part II
- Blisters and Warranties
- Blisters Again?
- Illustration of Water Absorption from a Hull Interior
- My Wet Hull Won't Dry
- From Oher Categories
- To Buy or Not to Buy... A Blistered Boat, That is.(from Buying a Boat Cat.)
- Avoiding the Blister Blues (from Marine Surveying Cat.)


"Marine Surveying"
with articles excerpts
-
Marine Survey Articles
At A Glance - Moisture Meters on Boat Hulls
- Hi Tech Materials in Boat Building
- New Materials Again
- Avoiding the Blister Blues
- Hull Design Defects Part I
- Hull Design Defects Part II
- Surveying Storm Damaged Boats
- Surveying Boats with Grid Liners
- Surveyor's Guide to Insurance Surveys
- How to Survey A Wood Hull
- EL TORO Tragedy, The
- EL TORO Addendum
- EL TORO II: The NTSB Report


"Insurance Issues"
with articles excerpts
-
Insurance Issues Articles
At A Glance - Latent Defects
- What to do if Your Boat Is Hurricane Damaged
- From Other Categories
- "Your Legal Obligations during a Storm" from Hurricane Preparations
- "Surveying Storm Damaged Boats" from Marine Surveying


"Economy and Fuel Issues"
with articles excerpts
-
Fuel Issues Articles
At A Glance - Genmar Pushing Daisies
- The Art of Going Slow
- The Future of Fuel Prices


"Boat Handing & Boat Safety"
with articles excerpts
-
Boat Handling & Boat Safety Articles
At A Glance - Carbon Monoxide Alert
- Docking in Style
- Navigation Lights
- At Docksidereport.com
- Rough Water Seamanship - Part I
- Rough Water Seamanship - Part II
- Rough Water Seamanship - Part III
- Boat Safety at Sea - Part I
- Boat Safety at Sea - Part II
- Dangerous Ship Wakes


"Hurricane Preparations"
with articles excerpts
-
Hurrican Preparations Articles
At A Glance - Safe Harbor
- Hurricane Season 1999
- Finding Refuge from Hurricanes and Tropical Storms
- Your Legal Obligation During a StormFrom Other Categories
- "What to do if Your Boat Is Hurricane Damaged" from Insurance Issues
- "Surveying Storm Damaged Boats" from Marine Surveyings
- At Docksidereport.com
- "Hurricanes and Tropical Storms" section



David Pascoe - Biography
Last Modified : November 24, 2018.
Jump To:
More Articles at
- Boat Buying 101
- Boat Specifications
- Dealer Service Qualifications
- Sizing Up Serviceability
- Your First Boat - Part I
- Your First Boat - Part II
- Your First Boat - Part III
- The Hull - to - Deck Joint
- This Old Boat
- Fundamentals Of Restoration Projects: Part I
- Fundamentals of Restoration Projects: Part II
- Maintenance and Repairs
- Bilge Water Blues
- Leaking Stuffing Boxes
- Preventative Maintenance
- Wash Down : Back to Basics
David Pascoe's
Power Boat Books
A Guide for Discriminating Buyers
Focuses exclusively cruiser class generally 30-55 feet
With discussions on the pros and cons of each type: Expresses, trawlers, motor yachts, multi purpose types, sportfishermen and sedan cruisers.
Buyers' Guide to Outboard Boats
Selecting and Evaluating New and Used Boats
Dedicated for offshore outboard boats
A hard and realistic look at the marine market place and delves into issues of boat quality and durability that most other marine writers are unwilling to touch.
Selecting and Evaluating New and Used Boats
Dedicated for offshore outboard boats
A hard and realistic look at the marine market place and delves into issues of boat quality and durability that most other marine writers are unwilling to touch.
Surveying Fiberglass Power Boats
2nd Edition
The Art of Pre-Purchase Survey The very first of its kind, this book provides the essentials that every novice needs to know, as well as a wealth of esoteric details.
2nd Edition
The Art of Pre-Purchase Survey The very first of its kind, this book provides the essentials that every novice needs to know, as well as a wealth of esoteric details.
Marine Investigations
Pleasure crafts investigations to court testimony The first and only book of its kind on the subject of investigating pleasure craft casualties and other issues.
Pleasure crafts investigations to court testimony The first and only book of its kind on the subject of investigating pleasure craft casualties and other issues.
Browse Chapters with Excerpt at DavidPascoe.com
- Chapter 1
- Basic Considerations
- Chapter 2
- Boat Types: Which is Right for You?
- Chapter 3
- Old Boats, New Boats and Quality
- Chapter 4
- Basic Hull Construction
- Chapter 5
- Evaluating Boat Hulls
- Chapter 6
- Performance and Sea Keeping
- Chapter 7
- Decks & Superstructure
- Chapter 8
- Stress Cracks,Finishes and Surface Defects
- Chapter 9
- Power Options
- Chapter 10
- The Engine Room
- Chapter 11
- Electrical & Plumbing Systems
- Chapter 12
- Design Details
- Chapter 13
- Steering, Controls, Systems & Equipment
- Chapter 14
- The Art of the Deal
- Chapter 15
- Boat Shopping
- Chapter 16
- The Survey & Post Survey
- Chapter 17
- Boat Builders by Company
- 512 pages
Surveying Fiberglass Power Boats
2nd Edition
2nd Edition
- Chapter 1
- What is
Pre-Purchase Survey? - Chapter 2
- Business Practices and Client Relations
- Chapter 3
- Sound vs. Seaworthiness
- Chapter 4
- Procedures
- Chapter 5
- Hull and Its Structure
- Chapter 6
- Surveying the Hull
- Chapter 7
- Using Moisture Meters
- Chapter 8
- Stress Cracks & Surface Irregularities
- Chapter 9
- Deck & Superstructure
- Chapter 10
- Cockpits
- Chapter 11
- Drive Train
- Chapter 12
- Gas Engines
- Chapter 13
- Fuel Systems
- Chapter 14
- Exhaust Systems
- Chapter 15
- Electrical Systems
- Chapter 16
- Plumbing Systems
- Chapter 17
- Sea Trials
- Chapter 18
- Appraisal
- Chapter 19
- Reporting
- 480 pages
- Chapter 1
- The Marine Investigator
- Chapter 2
- The Nature of Investigations
- Chapter 3
- The Nature of Evidence
- Chapter 4
- Marine Insurance and Issues of Law
- Chapter 5
- Bilge Pumps & Batteries
- Chapter 6
- Finding the Leak
- Chapter 7
- Sinking Due To Rain
- Chapter 8
- Fire Investigations
- Chapter 9
- Machinery Failure Analysis
- Chapter 10
- Fraud Investigations
- Chapter 11
- Interrogation Techniques
- Chapter 12
- Reports
- Chapter 13
- Deposition & Court Testimony
- 544 pages
David Pascoe is a second generation marine surveyor in his family who began his surveying career at age 16 as an apprentice in 1965 as the era of wooden boats was drawing to a close.
Certified by the National Association of Marine Surveyors in 1972, he has conducted over 5,000 pre purchase surveys in addition to having conducted hundreds of boating accident investigations, including fires, sinkings, hull failures and machinery failure analysis.
Over forty years of knowledge and experience are brought to bear in following books. David Pascoe is the author of:
In addition to readers in the United States, boaters and boat industry professionals worldwide from nearly 80 countries have purchased David Pascoe's books, since introduction of his first book in 2001.
In 2012, David Pascoe has retired from marine surveying business at age 65.
On November 23rd, 2018, David Pascoe has passed away at age 71.
Biography - Long version