Boats are expensive and they are complicated - unless you are going to pay a professional to carry out a survey (at yet more expense) it is invaluable to be able to:
- Quickly assess a potential purchase for signs of trouble without paying for lengthy reports.
- Carry out a detailed check on your own boat the end of the season.
- Identify problems and get them dealt with before they get serious.
- Get to know your boat in a lot more detail, so if a problem develops at sea you will be more able to cope.
Organised into chapters covering:
- Tools of the trade (basic tools, moisture meters, fingers and feel, smell, mirrors, sources of information)
- Checking the hull (including wood construction and rot, GRP laminates, osmosis, metal construction, keels, anodes)
- RIBs and inflatables
- Engine and systems
- Stern gear
- Plumbing
- Mast and rigging
- Electrical systems
- Interiors
- Safety equipment.
At the end of the book there's a handy guide to carrying out a five minute survey - invaluable when making a quick assessment of a potential purchase.
Highly illustrated, with anecdotes and hands-on advice throughout, this practical book gives readers the tools to do much of the work on their own, and know when to call in the experts.
Author: Dag Pike
