Understanding Shaft and Seals Maintenace

Buying your First Boat What are the steps

Thu, 15 May 2025 06:28:11 GMT

Steps to: buying your first boat.

Buying your first boat involves several key steps: setting a budget, researching boat types, obtaining pre-approval for financing, finding a boat, arranging a marine survey, negotiating the price, completing the sale, and securing insurance and registration.

How it works

Free Surface Moment ( FSM )

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 01:40:15 GMT

Free surface Moment (FSM)

The Free surface effect is a mechanism that can cause a watercraft to become unstable and capsize. The free surface reduces the stability it applies to water on deck fuel or ballast in tanks bilge water and melted ice.

When people hear the term free surface moment, they often confuse it with tank sloshing. Free surface moment and tank sloshing are two separate concerns. With sloshing we are worried about the momentum of the liquid as it slams from side to side. When tanks are constructed, they require baffles to slow the momentum into manageable size chunks to minimise free surface moment.

Maintenace for shaft seals

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 02:08:02 GMT

Shaft seal Maintenance

The three most common types of shaft seals are the stuffing box/gland packing shaft seal, the packingless shaft seal (PSS), and the lip-style shaft seal.

Lip Style Shaft Seals

Tides also have the beneﬁt of being able to ﬁt a spare seal to the shaft in case of a leaking or damaged original seal. The replacement seal can be ﬁtted in the water, with no need to split the coupling from the shaft and save money on hauling the boat.

(see above)

Packingless Shaft Seals (PSS)

Packingless Shaft Seals (PSS) are the successor to the stuffing box. These shaft seals are dripless and rely on the principles of a mechanical face seal.

When fitting or adjusting these glands, the correct compression of the bellow is crucial, and only soapy water should be used. After slipping your boat for annual maintenance or repairs, on return to water remember to ‘burp’ your PSS before engine startup to vent any trapped air from the stern tube and bellow. This helps with initial sealing and prevents running the seal dry and burning the carbon ﬂange. When burping, be gentle around the water supply fittings as they can break easily.

Stuffing Box/Gland Packing Shaft Seal

Stuffing box seals are designed to drip approximately every 30 seconds, and maintaining the correct tension is crucial. If they are too loose, they will allow a stream of water in. Conversely, if they are too tight, they will not drip at all, causing the internal packing to overheat and burn out while in use. This will lead to the packing losing its sealing capability and dripping or leaking more often than intended.

Footnote for all of the above seals.

A swift assessment of the above style of shaft seals is possible. Simply touch the gland's body while in motion; if it feels warm, it's fine, but if it's too hot to handle, then they're overly tight, or in the case of PPS and Tides seals the water gland is blocked. in which could lead to burnout. A more precise method would be to use an infrared temperature gun to measure their temperature, aiming for below 40°C as the ideal.

Yacht Fire Protection

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 23:46:51 GMT

YACHT FIRE PROTECTION

1. Introduction

Many situations can cause loss of life and property on vessels. One of these reasons is the occurrence of a fire on the vessel. Fire extinguishing systems are created to reduce the loss of life and property with certain criteria and rules determined by the authorities which state.

Fire extinguishing systems have different rules and applications in private, commercial, and military Vessels. Vessels used for personal and small commercial purposes are especially subject to rules by class authorities and flag states,

2. Marine Fire Extinguishing Systems

Marine Fire Extinguishing Systems can be classified as into three categories [1].

Portable fire extinguisher.
Semi-portable fire extinguisher
Fixed-type firefighting equipment onboard the vessel

These systems provide water, gas, foam and powder base protection.

2.1 Water Based Fire Fighting Systems

Water-based fire-fighting protection systems protect machinery category A and special cargo spaces, local protection of

machinery, accommodation spaces, vehicle areas and cargo hold. Multiple spaces can be protected by one water-based system

The water-based fire-fighting system is designed according to related codes in the FSS Code, such as MSC Circ. 265(84) should be followed when protecting accommodation and service spaces. Water-based systems are usually manually operated and fresh water should be used in the first-place exempt car deck protection.

2.2 Gas-Based Fire-Fighting Systems

Gas based fire-fighting system protects machinery spaces category A and closed deck vehicle areas. The system is designed according to the related code in the FSS Code. Gases like CO2, Novec1230, FM200

2.3 Foam Based Fire-Fighting Protection

Foam-based fire-fighting system protects helideck areas and bilge areas in machinery spaces when these spaces are protected by water mist and deck foam systems.

2.4 Powder Base Fire Fighting Protection

Powder base systems are usually used in Bunker station production. They are used for fires with solid, liquid or gaseous substances and for metal fires, thus, they are used for fire classification A, B, C and D. These systems are used as fixed and portable on ships. Although the most common use of dry powder is portable fire extinguishers, it can also be used for tank protection in private boats.

Electrical Fires on board are Preventable

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 22:09:01 GMT

ELECTRICAL FIRES ON BOARD ARE PREVENTABLE

Statements of the crew merely permit the conclusion that the fire broke out inside the engine compartment. Possible causes include battery problems (excessive release of explosive oxyhydrogen gas into the atmosphere of the warm and poorly ventilated engine compartment), contact of lubricant or fuel with hot surfaces, defective insulation of heat-conducting engine components or even a short circuit in the Electrical cabling.

In particular, the fact that cabling, conventionally encased in plastic, ran inside the bilge of the fishing vessel with no special additional protection was a risk factor. The insulation of the cables in the bilge was naturally exposed to the chemical influences of the oil and water mixture found there. In this respect, it cannot be ruled out that there has been an undetected degradation of the insulation layers over the years, subsequently leading to a short circuit that caused the fire.

Electrical Professional

always consult an Electrical Professional to ensure your electrical system is safe and complies with the relevant standards AS/NZ 3000

Find Boat Surveyor on the Sunshine Coast at Boat Surveys & Consultants

Wed, 07 Aug 2019 07:49:43 GMT

Boat Surveys & Consultants for reliable boat surveyors Sunshine Coast

If you’re looking for boat surveyors on the Sunshine Coast, you have likely noticed that many people call themselves marine surveyors. However, not everyone has the training, qualifications, and experience they need to provide service you can trust. Make the right decision – choose Boat Surveys & Consultants and be confident that you can rely on us.

Tips Regarding Boat Surveyors on the Sunshine Coast

It’s important to find qualified boat surveyors to ensure safety and compliance so that you can enjoy your boat hassle-free. Keep these following tips in mind when considering a particular surveyor:

Ask about their experience
Ask about their practical training
Ask whether they are accredited with AMSA

A good surveyor will be able to answer these questions easily along with any others you have.

Common Mistakes People Make re Boat Surveyors on the Sunshine Coast

There are some potential pitfalls when it comes to hiring a boat surveyor. You can avoid unnecessary stress and expense by avoiding these common mistakes.

Not looking for AMSA accreditation
Choosing a new or inexperienced boat surveyor
Not asking whether the surveyor has experience with the particular type of boat being surveyed

By asking a few simple questions, you can be sure that you are hiring a marine surveyor you can trust.

Why Boat Surveys & Consultants Is Cost-Effective

Whether you need a pre-purchase inspection or must obtain a survey to satisfy insurance requirements, Boat Surveys & Consultants can help. We are a qualified surveyor accredited with AMSA with over ten years’ experience in marine surveying. Contact us today to book your service.

Enlist Accredited Boat Surveyors on the Gold Coast

Wed, 07 Aug 2019 07:47:35 GMT

Let us handle your boat surveys on the Gold Coast for any vessel.

It’s important to get a precise and dependable survey on your marine vessel, and there are various factors to consider when choosing the right qualified marine surveyor. For reliable boat surveys on the Gold Coast, Boat Surveys & Consultants will deliver a thorough marine appraisal for your vessel, leaving you in safe and professional hands.

What You Can Expect From Boat Surveys & Consultants When it Comes to Boat Surveys in Gold Coast

Our qualified Marine Surveyors will do accredited marine surveys on your vessel at the most reasonable prices. We have been in operation since 2006, first casually and online and then went full steam ahead in 2016.

We have experienced, qualified and accredited Marine Surveyors to assist you with professional advice.
We are associated with Club Marine, MSA Marine Surveyors Association, BIA Boating industry Australia, MSQ and AMSA.
Whether you have a timber-, steel- or fibreglass boat, we can handle any vessel survey in Gold Coast and surrounds.
We can assist with the following surveys:

Pre-purchase
Insurance surveys and damage or renewal assessments
AMSA periodic inspections such as shaft and new build surveys as well as safety compliance
Australian Builders Plate surveys
Importation surveys before you import your vessel
Customs valuation when your boat enters the country

You can find full details on all these inspections on our services page.

Tips To Get More Value From Boat Surveys in Gold Coast

We have over 12 years of experience in vessel survey on the Gold Coast and surrounds and deliver the highest quality service to our customers.

To make life easier for you, find a company that will come to your location.
Insist on professional marine survey experience at a reasonable price.
It’s wise to use Boat Surveys & Consultants because we are AMSA accredited and have several reputable memberships.
Any vessel owner wants to ensure their investment is safe and therefore a pre-purchase inspection is an absolute necessity.
Ensure that you use a surveyor who provides photographic evidence and a detailed report.

What You Stand to Lose if You Don't Use Boat Surveys & Consultants

We do surveys all over Brisbane, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, and we pride ourselves on being independent offering you an entirely unbiased report. Our services are prompt and friendly delivered by experienced and qualified Surveyors. Along with our high reputation in the industry, we deliver services at the best prices and our surveys are accurate and precise. These surveys typically are conducted out of water for a minimum of one hour and then in water to verify structural integrity.

Contact us for any queries or requests. We will come to you for surveys and inspections on the vessel from Sunshine Coast to the Gold Coast. Our fees are reasonable, and we carry indemnity insurance so that you can trust us with your valuable investment. Remember that if we cannot for some reason conduct the survey, we will recommend another provider to you. Protect your investment now.

Buy a Boat with Confidence with the Help of a independent Boat Surveyor in Brisbane

Wed, 07 Aug 2019 07:44:04 GMT

Avoid that Sinking Feeling feel confident with Boat Survey's.

A boat is a sizable investment. Before you put a considerable amount of money down to purchase a marine vessel, it’s important to make sure the boat is in good condition and has been described and marketed accurately by the seller. At Boat Surveys & Consultants, Its our profession not a part time job as we are qualified and experienced team of marine surveyors in Brisbane.

Tips Regarding Your Vessel Survey

To get the most out of your boat survey, you need to make sure you are hiring the right marine surveyor for the job. Here are a few tips to help you choose a qualified and dependable boat surveyor:

Look for a surveyor that insurance companies would accept: Beyond pre-purchase inspection, the MAIN reason to do a boat survey is if you are making a marine insurance claim (Hopefully that sceanrio is not the horrzion. Insurance companies have specific boat surveyors they trust to do thorough, accurate work, and you can trust those at Boat Surveys,. At Boat Surveys & Consultants, we are proud to be one of the go-to firms for marine insurance survey in Brisbane.
Make sure you hire a surveyor with the right capabilities: Not all boat surveying techniques are the same. Inspections can be carried out on older boats with timber hulls with tapping techniques, but the same strategies don’t work with many newer boats. Find a Marine surveyor that knows how to survey multiple types of vessels. Our team at Boat Surveys & Consultants can survey boats with various hull constructions, including timber, fiberglass, aluminum, steel and composite.
Ask about the inspection routine: A 15-minute survey isn’t going to be worth much in the long run. Surveys should be thorough and include both out-of-water and in-water inspections.

Common Mistakes People Make Regarding Boat Surveyors in Brisbane

When you go to hire a Marine surveyor—whether for a pre-purchase inspection or a boat survey for insurance Brisbane, make sure to avoid these common pitfalls:

Not surveying new or ‘like new’ boats: Just because a boat is ‘new’ or looks fantastic doesn’t mean there aren’t any issues with it. When buying a boat, it’s always better to be safe than sorry, which means taking the time to hire a surveyor.
Not getting the detailed report you deserve: When you hire a surveyor, you’re paying for time and attention to detail. Make sure you are getting your money’s worth in the form of a detailed report complete with photographic evidence.
Not getting an unbiased opinion: If you’re purchasing a boat, the seller is obviously going to tell you what you want to hear and that everything is in good shape. Use the ‘trust but verify’ tactic in this case. enguage your own independante surveyor to get a second opinion from an unbiased source.

Looking out for these mistakes will help you avoid bigger headaches with your boat a week, a month, or a year down the road.

About Boat Surveys & Consultants

At Boat Surveys & Consultants, we have been operating since 2006. Our reports are trusted by buyers, preferred by insurance companies and accepted by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. Whether you are buying a boat, selling a boat or making an insurance claim, we can help you do so with confidence. Contact us today to schedule a vessel survey in Brisbane.