(app)
MarineTraffic.com showed other vessels in the harbour, but not ours. The installer waved his hands and said it was due to the tall condos surrounding the marina. Once underway offshore between Palm Beach and Ft. Lauderdale, we quickly verified (lots of traffic in these waters) that the AIS, both Receive (Rx) and Transmit (Tx), was limited to 2nm or less. The installers boss meet us in Ft. Lauderdale and replaced the connector splices in the AIS antenna run with a hard solder joint and we then Rx/Tx out to the expected 18nm ranges! Checking if AIS has proper range really has to be done at sea or in a busy bay with targets at the maximum ranges. If the vessel has a complicated electronics suite, consider having an electronics specialist survey those systems.
What is wired to what: Tracing unlabelled wiring is very time consuming and not something that a surveyor can typically do. The surveyor can test the device to make sure it works and that the devic’es On/Off switch or breaker is properly labelled, but what cable runs are used and possible terminal blocks or junctions are used between the switch and the device will be left for you to have fun tracing. This is especially “entertaining” when there are multiple charging systems. One vessel we surveyed had; Large engine alternator (85A), and second High Capacity Alternator (200A), Solar Panels, a Wind generator and a standard shore power charger (40A). The systems were owner installed and understanding the charging relationships to know if they were proper was impossible in the short time of a survey.
Outlets (120v and 12v): Most surveyors do not look at the survey as a house inspection. It is a valuation and safety examination. Checking every single outlet for functionality can be very time consuming on a large vessel. One 44’ catamaran we recently surveyed had 20 AC outlets and a dozen 12V ones. We tested samples of these and verified their operation, but with all the other high value complicated systems aboard needing testing, all we could do is visually inspect the wiring and test samples of the outlets. Even then, later when voyaging the vessel, we found a 12V outlet that had showed the proper 12.8V on a Voltmeter during the survey, yet had
corrosion in a hidden connector that didn’t allow enough current draw for the fan we plugged in.
Battery deep cycle ability: Almost all boats undergoing in- the-water surveys are connected to shore power, and have been for sometime when the surveyor arrives. Even weak batteries will show a full charge. Voltage measurements can be taken to verify the charging systems are working, at least in the Float stage, but even disconnecting the shore power first thing, doesn’t simulate how the batteries will respond when discharged over days of sailing and anchoring out. Sea Trials are never long enough to really know if the deep cycles are working, though the Sea Trial should be able to show if the alternator is putting out proper voltage. A surveyor will check the batteries to make sure they are properly secured, look clean and well cared for and may check voltage levels. What we will do is check the voltages upon boarding while hooked to shore power. At some point in the day, when the other systems needing shore power have been checked, the batteries are removed from charging and let sit for a bit of time, then the voltage is checked again. This can reveal batteries that are bad, but doesn’t give a lot of insight into weak ones. As soon as you go voyaging for a few days, you’ll learn how the batteries are doing.
Sea Trials are short periods of operation:
Usually an hour at most, and usually in fairly protected water. The Brokers that join us are often surprised that we actually sail the boat, not just put up sails to inspect their condition. We load up the rig close hauled on both port and starboard tacks and check; the mast stays in column, the rig tensions, any binding in the running rigging during a tack, and other sailing aspects. However, due to the short duration, and likely relatively calm conditions, anything hidden that will come loose when the vessel is stressed in a real sea may not be evident. The Surveyor should be able to identify any structural issues, so we’re not talking about the boat coming apart. We’re talking about things like: the previous owner ducked taped the speaker wires together and then pulled them into the cable run. The speakers worked at the dock and on the gentle Sea Trial,
THE REPORT | MAR 2024 | ISSUE 107 | 71
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