Yacht and Small Craft Surveyors Flashcards
7 cards from real SAMS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Yacht and Small Craft Surveyors flashcards as text
A surveyor is evaluating a vessel's anchoring equipment. What does the term 'scope' refer to?
Answer: The ratio of rode length to water depth
Scope is the ratio of the length of anchor rode deployed to the depth of water, typically 5:1 to 7:1 for adequate holding in normal conditions.
When examining a boat's electrical system, what is the purpose of a main distribution panel's overcurrent protection?
Answer: To protect the wiring from excess current that could cause fire
Overcurrent protection (fuses or circuit breakers) in the distribution panel protects the wiring from carrying more current than it is rated for, preventing insulation failure and fire.
A surveyor observes 'hard spots' in a fiberglass hull. What structural problem do hard spots typically indicate?
Answer: Points where internal frames or bulkheads telegraph through the hull skin
Hard spots occur where rigid internal structural members (frames, bulkheads, stringers) are bonded directly to the hull skin, causing stress concentrations and potential cracking.
What is the primary purpose of a cathodic protection system using zinc anodes on a vessel?
Answer: To suppress electrolytic corrosion by acting as sacrificial anodes
Zinc anodes are sacrificial; being less noble than common hull metals, they corrode preferentially and protect bronze, stainless, and aluminum fittings from galvanic and stray current corrosion.
When conducting an engine survey, a surveyor performs a compression test on a gasoline inboard engine. What would an uneven reading between cylinders most likely indicate?
Answer: Worn piston rings, a leaking valve, or a blown head gasket
Low or uneven cylinder compression typically points to worn piston rings, a leaking intake or exhaust valve, or a failed head gasket allowing combustion gases to escape.
A surveyor notes that a vessel's steering system uses a cable-and-pulley arrangement. What defect would most urgently require an immediate replacement recommendation?
Answer: Bird-caging (unwinding) of the cable strands
Bird-caging (strands unwinding and separating) in a steering cable indicates imminent failure under load and poses an immediate safety hazard requiring urgent replacement.
Under SAMS standards, who bears ultimate responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of a marine survey report?
Answer: The accredited marine surveyor who prepared and signed it
The accredited marine surveyor who signs the report bears professional and ethical responsibility for its accuracy, completeness, and compliance with SAMS standards.