A long with Bertram and Hinckley, Hatteras has the distinction of being one of the first three production fiberglass boat builders to start up in around 1960.
Oddly enough all three survive today, although Bertram may yet go by the wayside. The company was started in 1959 by North Carolina knitting mill owner Willis Slane who, as word has it, just wanted to build a good strong boat for himself for fishing the outer banks. What followed is one of the unparalleled success stories of the fiberglass boat building industry. Read more.
Tiara has produced a line of open boats that has been enormously successful over the years. Starting out it was a high end boat, and over the years has only gotten more so.
The initiation fee to this level of quality for a new boat is stiff, to say the least. But the good news for used boat buyers is that one can easily gain entry for half-price or better, depending on how old you care to go. Read more.
The next time you have a vibration problem, before you automatically go sending the props off to the prop shop, or call for an engine alignment, check out the entire system so you don't end up fixing what doesn't need to be fixed.
Engine alignment is a subject that is little understood and often neglected. Most boat owners aren't even aware that engine alignment is one of those things that requires occasional maintenance, and is one of the last things to be considered when some kind of drive system problem develops. Read more.
Of all the questions we are asked, one of the most frequent is which gas engine is best.
I have some very definite opinions about that because I perform a lot of gas engine surveys, as well as engine failure analysis for insurance companies, meaning that my perspective is not based on the "virtual reality" of dockside chat, but what happens to this vital machinery in the real world based on thousands of surveys. So let's get to it. Read more.
Not necessarily, and the reason why is due to a general lack of understanding of what happens in a marina full of boats. After all, this is not an easy thing to understand, and it took a lot of research to find out what was going on here. Yes, the marinas wiring is involved with all such corrosion problems, but it may or may not be the cause. Read more.
Anyone who has owned a stern drive boat or two knows how troublesome and costly stern drives can be.
A typical drive replacement runs $2,500 or more, and with a twin engine boat you've got more than $5,000 worth of machinery hanging off the back of the boat. Read more.
"By far, the most frequently asked question we get in our emails is the one by first time boat buyers asking about what brand they should buy.
When we were young, we just loved the idea of buying a new car. But by the time we've owned three or four of them - often without paying off the balance of last one before buying the next - eventually we discover what a tremendous waste of our financial resources this is. When it comes to boats the situation's not much different, except now we're talking about serious money. Read more.
Let's face it, an awful lot of boats have blisters, so that finding one that doesn't (or won't get them) can be a difficult proposition.
The short answer is that if at all possible, you should try to avoid that, if for no other reason than the potential expense you may face in the future. That expense may not result from the absolute necessity to repair the blisters, but the position you may find yourself in when it comes time to sell the boat. Particularly with newer model boats, say 1 - 3 years old, it is not unusual for buyers demand a reduction in price, or that the blisters be repaired. Read more.
Builders are coring everything because their cost analysis suggests that using a lot of foam is cheaper than very high cost plastic resin, particularly the vinylesters and orthos that are needed on bottoms to avoid blistering. After all, cores make structures stronger, right? Read more.
Warning: The reader is cautioned not to make comparisons of the consequences of composite failures in aircraft with that of boats.
The purpose of this discussion is to reveal that even in the world of really big money, the experts are still having trouble with composites in what amounts to life and death situations. Read more.
People with boats undergoing blister repairs often write us to say, "My boat has been drying out for six months now, and it still will not dry.
The moisture meter readings are still as high as ever." The usual procedure is to just let the boat sit and "dry out" naturally by a process of evaporation. Still others are erecting tents and what not and installing heaters or dehumidifiers to try to accelerate the process. And still they report that it's not "drying." Read more.
Fiberglass boats built with internal liners have been around for a long time. Typically, a liner is a premolded internal component, the purpose of which is to provide the basis for the interior layout.
Over time, this function has evolved and has slowly taken over the function of providing internal hull structural support as well. Read more.
Boat, Yacht Purchase
What You Should Know about Buying a Boat, to Keep the Pleasure in Pleasure Boating
Boat Buying 101: Used Boats - The Issues You Face and How to Deal With Them
Boat Leaks Boat Sinking Boat Safety at Sea Boat Handling Cored Hull Corrosion Design & Construction FaultsThe Space Shuttle Goes to Sea
Gas or Diesel Insurance Issues30 to 55 feet Cruiser Class
How to Avoid Buying into Unexpected Problems
"Mid Size Power Boats" focuses exclusively on cruiser class power boats: Expresses, trawlers, motor yachts, multi purpose types, sport fishermen and sedan cruisers.
Choosing Outboard Boats for Offshore Boating
"Buyers' Guide to Outboard Boats" is totally dedicated to blue water type outboard boats; boats that are sea worthy for heading out into open water, offshore.
2nd Edition
The Marine Survey Business
"Surveying Fiberglass Power Boats"(2E) provides a foundation of essentials for anyone who wants to begin a marine surveying career, or just hone up on one's skills and knowledge.
Investigations to Court Testimony
Road to a Marine Investigator
"Marine Investigations" is the first and only book of its kind on the subject of investigating pleasure craft casualties and other issues. Surveyors: Expand your marine business! Conducting marine investigations can help free you from the limitations of a seasonal business and expand your business opportunities and income.