Lately, there’s been a lot of publicity, some would say hype, about diesel fuel’s lubricity—its slipperiness component. Worry about the decrease in sulfur mandated for on-road diesel, which began in… Read more »
Myth vs. Fact As I strolled around a major boat show recently, I tallied the number of fuel additives I encountered. I stopped at 22, a number that makes a… Read more »
While dry exhaust systems are utilized in many commercial maritime applications, they are found on only a small number of recreational vessels. Nevertheless, the debate over the advantages and disadvantages… Read more »
Let me begin by debunking a common myth. It’s not necessary to solder a solderless crimp terminal. For more than 70 years, solderless terminals have been used on everything— from… Read more »
As a small boy, I clearly recall the first time I witnessed a siphon in action. A neighbor needed to pump out a boat that was stored on land. He… Read more »
In Professional BoatBuilder I wrote about a site visit to marine engine manufacturer Volvo Penta’s on-water test facility in Krossholmen, Sweden (see “Euro Vision” in issue No. 167). Though a… Read more »
Check valves are designed to prevent water flowing in one direction while moving somewhat freely in the other direction. These valves are found in many onboard systems, including sanitation systems,… Read more »
As a former marine mechanic and electrician, and now a consultant who carries out dozens of vessel inspections and sea trials every year, I can’t imagine life without an infrared… Read more »
Internal-combustion engines require air (oxygen) to operate (breathe), and at sea, wherever air goes, so goes water, or at the least, moisture. And for engines, that’s not good. The challenge… Read more »
I vividly recall my first encounter with overcurrent protection, or more accurately the lack thereof. As a teenage would-be marine electrician, with more ambition than knowledge, I’d wired a light… Read more »
