Pre-Purchase Inspections
April 2009 - Raw Water Plumbing

The level of attention to detail and security required for below the waterline, raw water (raw water is simply any water your boat happens to be floating in at the time, salt, fresh etc) plumbing is among the highest for any system aboard your boat. A failure of one of these components, a hose, plumbing fitting, valve or pipe nearly always spells disaster.

If a hose or plumbing fitting fails, particularly if you are not aboard or if you do not immediately notice it, the results could be catastrophic. The rule of thumb I've developed during my two decades in the marine industry working as a mechanic and boat yard manager calls for any raw water plumbing component, pipe, hose, stuffing box, strainer etc. to be able to withstand being stepped on by an adult without a failure occurring. If you have to exercise extreme caution while moving around the engineering spaces or bilges of your boat for fear of creating a flooding scenario, then these components are simply too delicate.

The image shown here was taken aboard a new boat undergoing an SDMC Pre-Purchase Inspection. The pump supplies raw water to the air conditioning condensers, the manifold is constructed of common PVC pipe. The assembly is located in the vessel's cockpit locker where fenders, lines and other gear are stored. PVC lacks the tensile strength or modulus of elasticity for conveyance of raw water, it's simply too brittle for raw water use. Other more suitable materials exist for this application. It's unlikely that this installation would withstand a misplaced foot or even the slight pressure imparted by a crew member leaning against it.

After being alerted to this and the other problems, defects and issues, the Steve D'Antonio Marine Consulting client was able to negotiate the cost of correcting them into the purchase price of the vessel.

If you're interested in finding out more about pre-purchase inspections, vessel selection assist, the Captains' Club (simply click on these words to be taken to the relevant sections of this website) or other services offered by Steve D'Antonio Marine Consulting, send an email or call 804-776-0219.