Fleet Management | Surveys | Consulting
TESTING, SAMPLING & INSPECTION
The pre-survey discussion or the survey inspection may point to the need for investigation beyond the scope of the survey. In such cases one or more of the following tests may be recommended.
MOISTURE READINGS
$150 per hour
Obtained through the use of a specialized meter, moisture readings can detect excessive moisture in fiberglass hulls and decks. Combined with information about the vessel’s build and observations made during the survey, the moisture readings can complete a picture that may clarify whether or not a serious condition exists.
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Moisture readings are ideally done a few weeks after a vessel has been hauled out and pressure washed with freshwater, and when temperatures are above freezing.
FASTENER SAMPLING (WOOD HULLS)
Please contact for pricing
Corrosion can very significantly weaken fasteners. In wooden hulls this can mean the structure of the vessel is undermined. In particular, where ferrous fasteners have been used it is a good practice to pull and examine a selection of fasteners in the most vulnerable and suspect locations to make an estimate of the condition of the fasteners overall. Like a moisture reading in FRP hulls, details about the vessel’s construction and observations completed during the survey should form part of the assessment of the vessels’s fasteners before a decision is made about whether to sample them and where such samples should be concentrated.
SEA TRIALS
$125 per hour (2-hour minimum)
A sea trial can be invaluable in assessing the function of a vessel's systems in a manner that cannot be replicated at the dock. The sea trial will typically take place with the owner (or prospective owner) aboard and will involve testing the vessel's performance in a number of operations including a speed trial, crash stop, maneuvering and seakeeping. If the trial is of a sailing vessel, the sails will be set and running rigging tested. In advance of a sea trial a specific trial checklist will be agreed upon before embarking.
DYE PENETRANT TESTING (STEEL HULL)
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For steel hulls this test will detect tiny defects in welds between plates, through hull penetrations, or any potentially compromised areas. This is an appropriate test if an area is suspect or a recent repair is evident. To conduct the test a brightly coloured dye is applied to the surface and allowed to penetrate. The dye will penetrate flaws through capillary action. Excess dye is removed from the surface of and a developing agent is applied, this draws the dye out through a process of reverse capillary action revealing any flaws for visual inspection.
ULTRASOUND INSPECTION
$150 per hour
Also known as UT, Ultrasonic, or Audioguage, this type of testing is very useful in detecting areas of plate wastage (corrosion) in steel and aluminum hulls that might not otherwise be apparent due to the presence of coatings. FRP and carbon fibre can also be examined for damage caused by moisture intrusion.
ENGINE INSPECTIONS & TESTS
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Borescope Inspection - This will allow for close up inspection of cylinder liners, heads, valve and valve seats, piston etc. without opening the engine. In the absence of accurate engine hours this is a good way to get an indication of actual engine wear.
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Leak Down Test - This will test the ability of a cylinder to hold pressure or, put another way, pressure loss inside a cylinder. Poor performance will indicate a leaky valve, valve seat, head gasket, or rings.
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Compression Test - This will test the maximum compression attained by your engine in each cylinder tested. Comparing the results to the manufacturer's specs will give an indication of each cylinder's performance. Like the leak down test, poor performance indicates internal issues like worn valve seats, rings, cracked head or head gasket, etc.
