Things are getting busy right now but I found time to go to one of the IIMS working group and training sessions last Friday.
It was very interesting. Some of the discussion was about some so called surveyors who are advertising to carry out surveys for ridiculously low prices. I know how long it takes to properly survey a boat and write a decent report and these guys can not be doing that and earning a realistic living. Time will tell how they get on long term!
The lecture in the afternoon was about mechanical systems. This started with a look at sea cocks. We were all shocked when the lecturer read out the RCD ( Recreational Craft Directive ) guidance regarding sea cocks.
The directive basically states that a seacock is a hole in the hull which must have a means of closing and last for five years. YES JUST FIVE YEARS!
What this means is that it has become acceptable to fit brass rather than bronze through hull fittings and valves. So of course some of the manufacturers of yachts and motor boats are doing just that. Fitting brass saves them up to 80% of the cost of a bronze fitting.
It is well known that brass will dezinkify when submerged in salt water and leave a very weak copper fitting. But it will probably last for five years so is acceptable under European rules.
Sounds pretty stupid to me.
The discussion around this by a room full of surveyors took so long that other mechanical items were only briefly covered and will wait for another time. I think all the surveyors present were amazed and went away thinking that on many fairly new boats the sea cocks will need particular cleaning of paint etc. to look for any signs of dezincification.
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