 Serving Toronto, Ontario East, West, South and beyond |
The Essential Boating Course |
Accredited Marine Surveyor Captain Wallace Gouk AMS® Seal #757 Accredited by SAMS®, Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors® Transport Canada Licensed Master Transport Canada Appointed Tonnage Measurer Boat US® Approved Surveyor Boat US® Technical Exchange - member American Boat and Yacht Council® - member |
...More useful stuff thanany other marine site |
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| ...... Contact me at .....boatpoker@gmail.com ....or... 416-526-3845........I NEVER OPEN TEXT MESSAGES ! | |||||
 What are these ? |
 Diesel Powerboat Survey Sample Gasoline Powerboat Survey Sample |
SAMPLE SURVEYS Typical marine survey reports with personal information blacked out. Not all boat survey reports are equal. Do not hire a surveyor without seeing a sample of his work. |
 Diesel Sailboat Survey Sample Gasoline Sailboat Survey Sample |
 Great DIY articles |
| .Before You Hire Me to Survey Your Boat .Suggestions to make it easier on both of us.. |
.My Fee Schedule .A marine survey is often FREE ! |
.Testimonials . I have my doubts about adding this but ..... |
.Boats Surveyed & Delivered .List of models surveyed & delivered. |
| Buying a Boat ...... if the lobotomy didn't work. | Mixed bag of opinions (mine) | Services, parts, boat specs. and insurance etc. | Worthwhile links for those who love to learn | Cruising - Ontario & ICW, to Bahamas & Florida Keys |
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9 Questions To Find Your Surveyor Nine questions to help you find the right surveyor. Do you know the difference between SAMS®, NAMS, ACMS, USSA Navtech, Certified or Master Marine Surveyor ?. Not all who claim to be accredited actually are. Every SAMS® Surveyor in Canada Listed by province with a shot of each business card and link to their sites (if they have them).. Every Marine Surveyor in Ontario List of EVERY marine surveyor in Ontario including all non-SAMS® members,there were 48 surveyors in 2003 and 164 in 2009. Transport Canada Says ...... What Transport Canada says about buying a new or used boat in Canada or outside of Canada. Master of All They Survey Read what BoatUS Consumer Protection Bureau has to say about marine surveys. Buying a Used Boat From the USA 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 below "Whats a HIN ?" Hiring a Boat Surveyor in the US A few tips to find the right surveyor for that great deal south of the border 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 lessons 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. Pascoe on Buying a Hurricane Boat Not all storm damage boats are advertised as such. Beware ! Buying a Hurricane Bargain This links to a Florida yacht broker's site who has some interesting things to say about these "bargains". 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. 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. Boats For Sale Links to sites of Ontario yacht brokers and a link to the biggest boat listing site on the web. |
Boat Maintenance for (non) idiots The forgotten maintencance and upgrade issues that will bite you 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 ) Doing it Right is so Easy 70% of the gasoline powered boats I survey are unsafe but Its so easy and cheap to make them safer. 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 Boat Tricks by Surveyors. Masters of all they survey ???? 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 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. Kudos Too many contractors in this business have poor reputations. Let's give some credit to those who go above and beyond. ..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-survey inspection. Take some of it with a grain of salt but overall its pretty 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. Quality Marine Services Serious info on electricity and marinas. You will never let your kids swim in a marina again after reading this ! Servicing Winches A terrific step-by step pictorial from Lewmar on how to service your winches Forums Links to a variety of marine related forums including brand specific engine forums. |
This first section are those trades and suppliers
with whom I have had positive personal
experience.
Flagship Marine Air conditioning and heat for your boat ? This system is a little different and makes more sense than the others. My personal experience .... No one, absolutely no one has better customer service. Toronto Yacht Services New (old) guys on the block. Warren, Mark and Jon from the Defunct Angus Yachts have set up a mobile service company for power and sail. ShoreWest Electronics and electrical; by the electrician I use. Puddle Duck Trading Strange name ... but Robert & David are the mechanics I use. 416-406-4348 Dockside Marine Services No web site but Kim Anderson does master level fiberglass repair . No web site. 416-879-2612 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 ! LCF Fiberglass Renewal Superior fiberglass work by Luis Ferreira. No web site. 905-464-0172 City Wide Welding Great prices and great service on propeller repairs by Leo and Frank . No web site. 905-677-0316 Skara Metal Foundry 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. No web site. 905-625-9083 Ontario Battery Services Great prices and advice on batteries, chargers, inverters etc. No web site. Paul at 416-675-7671 Fair Deal Machining Inc. Custom machine work is sometimes less costly than buying off the shelf. No web site. 416-234-8446 Bomon Inc. I've installed a lot of their custom windows as on the trawler pictured above. Qualty, service and price are excellent. Yes they do have a web site. 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. Aztec Hydraulics Hydraulic steering problems ? These are the guys to see. The Store Masons Chandlery Well stocked and staff that goes the extra mile. Ontario Compass Service Station I have not used this service but I know of no other compass repair in Ontario so I decided to include it. Mirek Serdynski 416-903-6153 ....Marine Insurance Marine Insurance Companies 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. .Specs-Tests & Stuff For Sale 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. Sail Calculator Cool site, compare comfort and stability indices of most common sailboats. Canadian Yachting Magazine They dropped the very useful reviews of older sailboats and replaced them with new reviews that will tell you all you want to know about corian counter tops and little else. Boat For Sale Magazine All the boats and marine stuff for sale in Ontario and beyond. Common Sailboat Specs Specifications and layout drawings from sailquest.com . More 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 - From 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. |
Grog's Animated Knots A great way way to learn knots for those with more than two thumbs Boats and lightning Protection Learn aout this complex issue from the premier expert, Ewan Thomson Marine Traffic This site is too cool for words ! LIve AIS ship traffic mapping of every commercial harbour in the world. Re-Power with Electric Drive These guys sell electric drive systems for displacement hulls (sail & power). Kind of interesting stuff. 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 ? 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. Metal Boat Society For those with an interest in steel or aluminum boats. Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors® Looking for a 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. Canada Shipping Act The new Act affects everyone in boating. Check it out. Transportation Safety Board Read the official reports of marine casualties in Canada. 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. Transport Canada TP1332 - Current legal requirements for construction of pleasure craft in Canada. Chart No.1 This is one of several documents you are required by law to have on board. Collision Regulations - The "rules of the road" should be aboard every vessel Boat US® - Enough info to keep you reading for a month. Their towing insurance is a must for those heading South. Canadian Coast Guard - Marine services. Some pretty good information. Dept. of Marine Safety - Keep up with the latest boating legislation and safety regulations. David Pascoe The best "surveying" 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. Mike Quill Yacht Rigging Ltd. St.Catharines company with some good sailboat rigging info paricularly about Nonsuch's. The Mother of All Maritime Links If you can't find it here, it probably doesn't exist. |
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. 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. 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. Erie Canal Cruising 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. 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 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. Photo log of our east coast cruises Photo album of our ICW - Dry Tortugas and Bahamas cruises. Cruising.ca Information 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. Free Docking These nice people are trying to get a "free dockage" exchange going. Help out if you can. |
| I have no interest, financial or otherwise in any sites linked or businesses referred to and receive no compensation for such. | ||||
| Marine surveys in Ontario by a BoatUS approved surveyor fully accredited by the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors and accepted world wide by all financial and insurance companies.Brampton | ||||