Christian & Company Marine Surveyors

Not the safest, but it works

Our hearts go out to all those affected by this tragedy. Please use this Labor Day disaster to remind yourself to check your smoke alarms and service them every year on Labor Day.

I apologize to all my customers who I have told that their refrigerators shouldn’t ice over. In a case of repeating mis-information, I was told that early in my career (1990s) and believed it until researching for this article, that modern boat refrigerators should not ice over in normal use. In reality the common boat DC refrigeration units do ice over in normal service. I spoke with two San Diego refrigeration experts, Mr. Gary Flemming and Mr. Thomas Gillette. They educate...d me, finally, that the common AC / DC refrigeration units such as Norcold and Nova Kool will ice over in normal service. The interval between defrosting cycles is usually 1 2 months. They suggest defrosting when the ice reaches thickness. AC refrigeration units such as Sub Zero or U-line have self-defrosting features. The AC electrical supply supports the heating element required for defrosting. The most common contributing cause to icing over of refrigeration units is bad gaskets or other sources of warm air such as drain holes in built in refrigeration units. If your refrigerator is icing over faster than your neighbors, perhaps it needs a new gasket. The proper way to defrost a refrigerator is to open the door and let the heat melt the ice or quicken the process with a hair dryer. Catch the water in a container and/or use a towel. Use of a knife or an ice pick is risky as puncturing refrigeration components is costly or potentially fatal to the refrigeration unit. Dry everything before you put it back in the refrigerator, this will reduce the moisture inside the unit and extend the time period until the next de-icing. AC / DC refrigeration units are equipped with a DC compressor, and an electrical converter which converts the AC source to DC for the compressor. These units do not have AC and DC compressors. They will run on both power sources but will not self defrost. Iced over refrigeration units lose their ability to cool and become warmer as the ice thickens. So check that refer unit, if it looks like one of these photos defrost it and make sure it is ready for the summer holidays. See more

Cause of loss, operator error...

The first time you hear it, the noise will catch your attention, as any unusual noise should. You only hear these little guys when it is quiet, though research suggests they are very loud (218 decibels). Pistol Shrimp. I call it a crackling noise, others have described it as the sound of Rice Krispies right after you pour in the milk. It’s that noise you hear from the bottom of your boat.

De-humidifiers are usually much safer than space heaters. Many boat air conditioners have a de-humidifier function as well. While de-humidifiers can prevent mould and mildew, we suggest inspecting the boat after the first rain for any leaks. Your boat will eventually leak, the quicker the leak is found and fixed the better chance you have to reduce resulting damage. Leaks onto electrical components can lead to problems. A common finding is water accumulated in dome lights. It is not uncommon to find water leaking on to or near electrical distribution panels, as they are often outboard near the hull to deck joint and below deck hardware.

On January 1, 2018 a law requiring California boaters to have a valid California Vessel Operator Card (CVOC) takes effect. Initially only boaters 20 years old and younger will need the card. Each year the age limit is graduated by five years and every boater will need a card by January 1, 2025. There are eight categories of exempted boaters, including operators of rental vessels, operators from other states and other countries, boaters who hold a Coast Guard operator’s license or boaters who hold a commercial fishing license.

In the case of a maritime emergency, the best way to learn how to get out of trouble is to get out of trouble. The problem is that you have to get into trouble first. In order of importance, we need to preserve life, health and property. If you have not done one of the following items in some time perhaps you should Test, service or replace your alarms Perform a man overboard drill Test and prove your bilge pumps... Replace your flares Service or replace your fire extinguishers Replace or update your first aid kit Buy a book about treating medical emergencies at sea See more

There are numerous types of distress signals, they include pyrotechnic aerial/parachute and hand held, smoke signals, various types of lights, including man overboard strobes, lasers, radio signals, E.P.I.R.B., V.H.F. /radio signals, dye markers, U.S. and International flags, waving arms, sounding a continuous horn, firing a gun at one minute intervals, S.O.S. light and of course S.O.S. in Morse Code. Familiarize yourself, check the expiration dates and watch YouTube videos on how they work. In my opinion, keeping a few extra flares (even if expired) is a good idea, but new SOLAS flares, an EVDSD and a few minutes of education on YouTube will increase our chance of both getting rescued and rescuing others in distress.

Designers and builders of boats know that cored composite fiberglass structures have better characteristics than solid fiberglass structures. The general boating public does not. We tend to believe that solid fiberglass is stronger and less likely to suffer damage from water saturation, and the latter is true. Virtually every high performance racing sail or powerboat is cored. To determine if you have water in your boat’s core use a moisture meter, pull a through hull, drill a few holes or weigh it. Want to learn more on this topic? Check out our blog.

Know before you go: It is vitally important for the engine(s) to be cold prior to the sea trial. During the sea trial we will test operate the engines from all control stations, the steering from all control stations and we will observe the engine gauges at all stations. A pre-start inspection of the external surfaces of the engine and transmission and a visual inspection of the peripheral components is performed while the engines are cold. The fluid levels are checked and any stains below the engines are noted. Same goes for the generator. The transmission(s) should be shifted and observed while shifting. The vessel should be operated in reverse. All the electronics that require the vessel to be moving should be tested. This is also a great time to familiarize yourself with the boat. You can read more about this on our blog.

Christian and Company Marine Surveyors will be at the San Diego Sunroad Marina Boat Show January 25 - 28. Don't miss it!