Is your marine suveyor
ABYC® Standards Certified ?

Canadian Power and Sail Squadron
essential
boating courses

Marine Surveys &
Yacht Delivery

BoatUS, more useful stuff than

any other marine site

Society of Accredited
Marine Surveyors®
Port Credit Marine Survey - SAMS® Accredited Marine Surveyor - Captain Wallace Gouk AMS ® seal No. 757
ABYC ® - Standards Certified No. 10952, Transport Canada Licensed Master and Appointed Tonnage Surveyor, BoatUS ® Approved Marine Surveyor,

FLASH ! Marine Survey Newsletter Contact : boatpoker@gmail.com or 416-526-3845
Boat accessories Marine surveyor
What are these ?
Sample Survey marine surveyor
Sample Powerboat Marine Survey
MARINE SURVEY SAMPLES

Do not hire a marine surveyor without seeing a sample of his work.

Sample Sailboat Marine Survey

Great DIY articles

My Fee Schedule - Before You Hire Me - List Models Surveyed - Credentials - Testimonials


Buying a Boat ...... if the lobotomy didn't work. Mixed bag of safety & maintenance opinions Services, parts, stuff and insurance etc. Worthwhile links for those who love to learn Cruising - From Ontario South to Bahamas & Keys
Every Marine Surveyor in Ontario
There are now 224 marine surveyors in Ontario. All are listed here with their contact information.

Every SAMS® Surveyor in Canada
Listed by province
with a shot of each business card and link to their sites (if they have them)

Marine Survey 101
Do your own survey before hiring a surveyor and stop paying for multiple surveys when you are looking for a boat.

10 Questions For Your Surveyor
Ten questions to help you choose the best Marine Surveyor

Use a Yacht Broker or Not
Surveyors and brokers are sometimes in conflict but believe it or not I am pro -broker. Here are some reasons why.

Is your Boat Licensed or Registered ?
or Documented, whats the difference and where to get it done.


How much is she worth ?
How much should I pay ?

How do you go about pricing your boat for sale or deciding how much to offer ? This is important to buyers and sellers.

One For The Yacht Brokers
Hear it from the other side of the coin. This is a very funny animated video and a guaranteed laugh.


Lien Search
Buying a boat privately ? Check out how to do a lien search in Ontario.

Frozen Boat Surveys
A few notes on the pitfalls of surveying a frozen boat in winter.


Transport Canada Recommends
That you use an Accredited Marine Surveyor.

Master of All They Survey
Read what BoatUS Consumer Protection Bureau has to say about marine surveys
.

So, You Want to Buy a Boat !
Tips for the novice boat buyer ........ also read the article below "Whats a HIN ?"

Buying an Older Boat
Many of these deals fall apart after buyers read the survey. With more realistic expectations and a little knowledge perhaps more deals would have been completed.

Boat Chek
An interesting concept to preview boats for sale before you pop for an airline ticket.

Dusty Miller boat handling School
Boat handling lessons on your own boat from Dusty Miller. A very good boat handler but more importantly an unsurpassed teacher.

Nautical Escapes - sailing lessons

Sailing lessons on your own boat to CYA standards by the highly recommended Neil Gillespie.

Yacht Salvage.com

Check out the salvage vessels for sale here. Buy it cheap, throw on some bondo and paint and you too can make buck.

Whats a HIN ?
Understanding this code is the first step in buying a used boat. They are tampered with more often than you'd think

Buying a US Boat
If you are considering buying in the US, these might be of interest. There are some deals but be very careful.

Buying a Used Boat From the US
Sure....there are some deals.....a few good and some very very bad. Know the difference and think twice before buying a hurricane bargain. Be sure to read the article above "Whats a HIN ?"

Hiring a US Marine Surveyor
A few tips to find the right surveyor for that great deal south of the border.

Crossing the 49th
Check out this clear, step by step guide on the whole process of finding, buying and importing a US boat. You can purchase this from Kris in hard copy or e-book.

BoatUS Guide to Buying & Selling
This guide is a must for novices and experts alike. These guys really know their stuff. BoatUS is for Canadians too.

Pascoe on Buying a Hurricane Boat
M
arine Surveyor David Pascoe article - Not all storm damage boats are advertised as such. Beware !


Reviews & Specs
I have never read a boat review that was any more than sales puffery and those listed below are no different.

Canadian Yachting Magazine
Older boat reviews with specs and reviews on newer boats with wonderful descriptions of the Corian counter tops.

Common Sailboat Specs
Specifications and layout drawings from sailquest.com .

Older Sailboat Brochures
From Pat Sturgeons web site many older sailboat brochures


More Common Sailboat Specs
A long, bilingual list of general sailboat specifications.

100 Power Boat Specs -
F
rom the UK but with some boats we are familar with.

100 Power Boat Tests -
More familiar boats.

BoatCan Boat Reviews -
Power and sail reviews, a mixed bag of sales puffery.

Power Boating Canada
Boat reviews and "tests" appear to be written by boat salesmen.

Jib List
Claims to be the worlds biggest database of sailboat specs....just might be..
Safe Boat Propane installations
Actually quite simple to be completely safe however, common stupidity makes most systems dangerous. Check out these photos, I'm sure you'll agree

Boating forums
A list of forums with short descriptions. When the weather stinks I go cruising on some of these forums. Some are entertaining and on some you can learn a few things..


Free Online Boating Safety Course

BoatUS provides this free online boating course. It's based on US materials but still worth the visit for newbies.

Free Online Sailing Course
BoatUS also provides a free online introduction to sailing

Boat Maintenance for (non) idiots
The forgotten maintenance and upgrade issues that will bite you.

LED Lights For Your Boat
A really cheap way to get LED's and use a lot less battery juice.

Gas Yourself, Explode Yourself - or not
Carbon monoxide and gasoline fumes !
A vast majority of the gasoline powered boats I survey are unsafely ventilated but Its so easy and cheap to do it right.

Other Cool Stuff For Your Boat.
No Cap'n Crunch shaped nut crackers or floating Mai Tai holders just real useful stuff that works.

Hot Docks !
Darwin was obviously wrong or all of these perpetrators would be extinct by now.

Running Gear Alignment
Great article From Professional Boat Builder magazine on this often neglected issue.


New to Diesel Engines ?
Lucky you ! No, really lucky you. It's about time you saw the light. Is my prejudice showing ?

Oil Analysis
Is it worth the money ?
Absolutely Yes ! ...... ( maybe not )

Stoopid Boat Tricks by Builders
I have split "stoopid" into three parts. I don't know who is worse.

Stoopid Boat Tricks by Owners
Who is worse? you be the judge.

Stoopid Marine Surveyors.
Masters of all they survey ???

Everything I Know About Marine Surveying
This one needs no explanation?

Osmosis Testing
96% Baloney and the most overblown issue in boating.

Electrolysis
Has nothing to do with boats. Galvanic and stray current corrosion are the issues.


Moisture Meter Mythology
Moisture meters do not measure moisture. Read the section on surveying frozen boats.

Construction Standards
Understand the mandatory and voluntary standrards in boat building.

Carbon Monoxide

Symptoms of CO poisoning and seasickness are almost identical.

Gasoline + Propane = #*#
For boaters with gas engines.
Don't play with this stuff !


Poles Apart
"My buddy's an electrician and he re-wired it". Things a marine surveyor does not want to hear.

Balsa Core = Compost
Some say I am too harsh on balsa. Admittedly my own experience may have coloured my attitude.

Boater Training ???

I just delivered a 50' power boat to a guy who did'nt know how to start it.

Must Have Accessories
Forget the lighthouse pattern place mats and neon floating drink holders. Get some real stuff !'

Before the first cruise of the year!
Sharpen your skills before you cast off this year.

Opinions of Others

Boat Inspection Trip Tips
This fella on the sailnet forum put together a pretty comprhensive tip list for doing your own pre-marine survey inspection. Take the moisture meter bit with a grain of salt but overall its very good.

Biodiesel

Wave of the future ? Not as simple as it sounds

Sailboat Rigging Corrosion
Great photos of rigging failure from DixieLand Marine Surveyors in Texas. Thjese guys are much better photographers than me.

USCG Rig Failure Warning
After a number of serious failures, some with fatalities, the USCG has issued this warning along with a sample rigging survey report.

Navtec Rigging Inspection
A very good guide to rigging inspection in light of the fatalities noted above.

Servicing Winches
A terrific step-by step pictorial from Lewmar on how to service your winches

Electric Shock Drowning
Serious info on electricity and marinas. You will never let your kids swim in a marina again after reading this

Yanmar Service Advisory
A warning fromYanmar about sail drive corrosion.


Mike Quill Yacht Rigging Ltd.
St.Catharines company with some good sailboat rigging info paricularly about Nonsuch's.
Stainless Outfitters
Whatever you need in stainless steel from anchor rollers to radar arches, John can build it as a piece of art.

Peter Hager - Boat Builder
DIY boatbuilding workspace, storage and just about any kind of boat repair you may require in the Oakville - Mississauga area.
647-381-3454

Pacific Fasteners
All the stainless nuts, bolts, rivets and fasteners you will ever need at a fraction of the cost at any marine store
.

ShoreWest
Electronics and electrical; by the electrician I use.


Trans Atlantic Diesel
Perkins, Cummins, Velvet Drive, Volvo, ZF transmissions. Just becuase they are in Virginia doesn't mean you can't have your parts in 48hrs. Very knowledgable and amazing service.

Ray's Marine Systems
Ray sells and installs all the bigger ticket items like windlasses, thrusters, a/c, diesel heaters, nav systems and more.


Puddle Duck Trading
Strange name ... but Robert & David are the mechanics I use. 416-406-4348, Toronto Outer Harbour Marina

Dockside Marine Services
Kim Anderson does master level fiberglass repair and specialty metal flake paint work.

LCF Fiberglass Renewal
No website. Superior fiberglass work by Luis Ferreira.. 905-464-0172, Mississauga

Skara Metal Foundry
No website. If you can make it out of plaster, plywood or putty, Steve can cast it in stainless steel, bronze or aluminum. Cheaper than you think. 905-625-9083, 930 Kamato Rd. Mississauga

Ontario Battery Services
Great prices and advice on batteries, chargers, inverters etc. Paul at 416-675-7671

Fair Deal Machining Inc.
No website. Custom machine work is sometimes less costly than buying off the shelf. 416-234-8446, 25 Coronet Rd. Etobicoke.

Aztec Hydraulics
Hydraulic steering problems ? These are the guys to see.

The Store Masons Chandlery
Well stocked and staff that goes the extra mile

Marine manufacturers whose products or outstanding customer service have impressed me.

Pyramid D-icer
5yrs of brutal abuse and they replaced it free although it was out of warranty. They felt is should not have failed so soon.

Aqualarm
Every boat engine should be protected with one of these raw water flow detectors.

Hydrive Hydraulic Steering
I just installed their hydraulic steering system on my boat. A lot less $$$$ than the others and an excellent product.

J.J.Downs
Custom poly water, waste or fuel tanks and all those odd plastic fittings the plumbing store dosn't carry.

Bomon Inc.
I've installed a lot of their custom windows as on the trawler pictured above. Quailty, service and price are excellent. Yes they do have a web site.

Anchorlift Windlasses
I am modifying an Anchorlift windlass to suit my own purposes. They sent the parts I need from Norway in three days ....no charge !

Flagship Marine

Air conditioning and heat for your boat ? This system is a little different and makes more sense than the others for northern climes. My personal experience .... No one, absolutely no one has better customer service.

Other Services
I have not used these services but feel they may be worth checking out.

Marine Towing & Salvage
New owners of this company provide a towing insurance package servicing Southern Ontario and the west end of Lake Ontario

Ontario Compass Service Station
No website. I know of no other compass repair in Ontario .
Mirek Serdynski 416-903-6153.

Perfect Fuel
These guys will come to your boat and polish (clean) your diesel fuel.

Marine Insurance

Ontario Marine Insurance Providers

List of marine insurance companies operating in Ontario and links to their sites.

Boat Insurance 101
A US insurance article explaining the terminology and variables of marine insurance in clear, concise terms. US insurance law may be different but the terminology is pretty much the same. An excellent primer.

Buy & Sell

Barnacle Bill

Used boat gear consignment shop. Save a few bucks on gear. Mostly sailboat stuff.

Canada Boat Shopper
List your boat on line yourself if you wish to avoid brokerage fees

Ontario Boat Brokers
An incomplete list of boat brokers in Ontario

Boat For Sale Magazine
All the boats and gear for sale in Ontario and beyond but I would not deal with these people if my life depended on it. They are the most incompentent unreliable people I have ever done business with.


RepoDepo
In the current economic climate the quality of boats being repossesed has gone way up. Maybe there's a deal here for you.
Grog's Animated Knots
A great way to learn knots for those with more than two thumbs.

Ed's Tips
Ed Sherman teaches several courses for ABYC and has dozens of tips with a slightly techie nature, His site is well worth a visit but his type size is too damn small.

The Docking Game
Think you are a hot shot boat handler. Frustrate yourself with this little video game.
Close the pop up to get to the game.

Transportation Safety Board
Read all the fascinating reports of marine incidents in Canada investigated by TSB.


Professional Boat Builder Magazine
For the marine surveyor or anyone else, there is simply no better magazine on the market for those who love to learn about boats

Smart Boater
from the Canadian Safe Boating Council. if you can't find your copy of the Safe Boating Guide you can get all the info here.


Boats and lightning Protection
Learn about this complex issue from the premier expert, Ewan Thomson

AIS Marine Traffic
This site is too cool for words ! LIve AIS ship traffic mapping of every commercial harbour in the world.

So You Can Handle A Boat
Try your hand at handling a ship with this cute little game.

Re-Power with Electric Drive
Is this the coming thing or a boondoggle ?

Canadian Boaters Alliance

Why is the Trent system overpriced? Where have all the nav aids gone? Why do we pay road tax on boat fuel ? Does anybody care ? Why would anyone visit this site which has no useful information ?

Canadian Power & Sail Squadron
Their Boating, Piloting and Weather courses should be mandatory minimums for all boaters.

Humber College Diesel Course
An excellent course by an excellent mechanic for newbies to diesel engines.

The Surveyors Lexicon
Semantics for the marine surveyor and anyone else interested in marine terminology.

Metal Boat Society
For those with an interest in steel or aluminum boats.

Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors®
Looking for a marine surveyor in your area ? Check the Society's geographical roster.

European Standards
CE Recreational Craft Directive, Almost as good as ABYC Standards but they did the right thing, took it a step further and actually made it law. Too bad they don't enforce it.

United States Coast Guard -

More on Carbon Monoxide and other serious stuff. Check out the USCG Safety Circulars here.

United States Coast Guard
Database of recalls on boats and their systems. I check this database for every survey I do.

American Boat & Yacht Council®
Pleasure craft construction standards. Some of these are now mandatory in Canada and more are becoming so each year.


Boat US® -

Enough info to keep you reading for a month and a list of Approved Marine Surveyors. Their towing insurance is a must for those heading South.

Canadian Coast Guard
Marine services. Some pretty good information.


Sail Calculator

Cool site, compare comfort and stability indices of most common sailboats.

David Pascoe
The best marine surveyor site on the web. I spend hours here (every January when I have nothing else to do) and learn something every time.

Boat & Yacht Theft Prevention -
Loss prevention from the specialists.

The Mother of All Maritime Links
I
f you can't find it here, it probably doesn't exis.

Boating Links
200,000 boating links, something for everyone.

The Law

Canada Shipping Act (CSA 2001)
The new Act affects everyone in boating. Check it out.


Dept. of Marine Safety
Keep up with the latest boating legislation and safety regulations.


Collision Regulations
The "rules of the road" should be aboard every vessel.

Transport Canada TP1332 -
C
urrent legal requirements for construction of pleasure craft in Canada.


Transport Canada TP 127
Ships Electrical Systems

TC Safe Boating Guide
Current issue.

Chart No.1
This is one of several documents you are required by law to have on board.

Boat Magazines
Genuine information rather than a collection of glossy ad's.

Professional Boat Builder
The place to really learn about boats and how they are built. Free subscription to those in the industry.

Good Old Boat
Free sample issue for those who like to do it themselves.

DIY Boat Owner
Another good one for the self sufficient.

Practical Sailor
A bit like Consumer Reports. These guys test all the stuff you can't test yourself and do a very good job of it.

Liveaboard Magazine
For those who live or want to live on board..
Photo Album of Our Cruises
Mostly east coast USA and the Bahamas and some winter shots of life under the shrink wrap

Primer For First Timers Heading South on the ICW
38 pages of tips. It is a big file with lots of photos and sketches for first timers cruising south on the ICW.
Go simple, Go slow, Go now


Bahamas Explorer Chartbooks
These are simply the best Bahamas charts and guides available.


Salty Southeast Cruisers Net
The best ICW site with links to 21 ICW web cams and so much more. Please support this site by buying all your guides here.

ICW Waterway Guides
Cruising and Marina Directories, ICW fuel prices or how about an inexpensive app for your iPhone

ADC Chesapeake Chartbook
Best chartbook ever published. They should all do it like this.


The Active Captain
This site is a must. Register for free, go to Preview-X and see charts, maps and satellite shots of everything from Toronto to Florida

Tramp Steamer To Exotic Locales
Ever had this dream ? These photos may change your mind
. Go to "video" and use "rough sea" as your keywords.

A First Mates Rules of The Road
I don't read blogs as I am not one for introspection and find most too self indulgent but this one is funny and informative stuff from the first mates point of view.

Cruising the Erie Canal
At about five times the length and 1/16 the cost of the Rideau-Trent-Severn systems I'll be spending my boat bucks on the New York State Canal system.

New York Harbour
Essential information for those transiting the harbour for the first time. Pay special attention to the Security Zones.

Toronto - Bahamas Cruise Log

Log of our trip from Port Credit to Bahamas and return aboard "Isle of Skye" (trawler pictured above, left)
.

Toronto-Dry Tortugas Cruise Log
Log of our trip from Port Credit to the Dry Tortugas and return aboard "Isle of Skye".

Boat images / Photographs
Just shots of various strange, pretty and sinking boats that have caught my interest.

Eileen Quinn - Music For Cruisers
Funny , witty and great entertainment. You are not a cruiser unless you have Eileen's CD's. She's been there done that and it comes across as she hits every nerve a cruiser has ever felt.

Cruising.ca
I
nformation of interest to cruisers and liveaboards.

Atlantic Intracoastal Association
Good info for those heading South on the Intracoastal

Pat's Boating in Canada
Don't let the name fool you, some great info on ICW cruising.

Great Lakes Cruising Club
For those cruising closer to home check out this great site.

Skipper Bob
Indispensable and inexpensive cruising guides to the ICW but certainly not infallible. You MUST check his waterway update page before you cast off.

Cruising the ICW
A long list of ICW cruisers blogs, lots of different opinions on ICW cruising.

Tom Neales East Coast Alerts
Well known author provides updates on conditions and issues affecting east coast cruising, check it before you head south.

Searoom
A Canadian site for cruising sailors .

Seven Seas Cruising Association
You don't have to be planning a trans - Atlantic to get some useful cruising info from this site.

Americas Great Loop Cruisers
Lots of cruisers logs and blogs for the inside info on the loop.


Marine Trawler Owners Association
"MTO" , Marine Trawler Owners Association for trawler lovers and real cruisers

Sweetwater Cruising
An interesting mix of cruising info, boating politics and general interest stuff to do with boating in the Great Lakes.

In order to maintain my independence I have no interest, financial or otherwise in any sites linked or businesses referred to and receive no compensation for such except for a free bottle of mold killer from Dusty Miller.

Captain Wallace Gouk AMS®, Survey reports accepted world wide by all financial and insurance institutions for sail and power boats servicing Ontario east, west, south and beyond including Whitby, Frenchmas Bay, Niagara-on-the-Lake, St. Catharines, Grimsby, 50 Point, Stoney Creek, Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville, Bronte, Port Credit, Mississauga, Toronto, Whitby, Pickering, Port Hope, Coburg, Newcastle, Kingston, Brockville, Penetanguishene, Midland, Barrie and Keswick. I have also worked in New York State, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Maryland, Virginia, Florida and the Bahamas.

Port Credit Marine Surveys
Wallace Gouk AMS®
SAMS® Accredited Marine Surveyor
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