SAMS Hull and Machinery Surveyors 5

Question 1

A surveyor inspects a 30-year-old fiberglass vessel and finds the transom deflects noticeably under hand pressure. What is the most probable cause?

Accepted Answer

Core saturation and structural delamination in a cored transom

Answer

Transom deflection in an aged vessel strongly suggests the core material (typically balsa or foam) has become saturated and has lost its structural contribution, causing laminate delamination.

Question 2

Which of the following is the correct procedure when a surveyor discovers a vessel's bilge pump discharges overboard through a through-hull fitting below the vessel's load waterline?

Accepted Answer

Accept if the discharge hose has a vented loop

Answer

ABYC H-22 allows bilge pump discharge below the waterline provided a properly installed vented loop prevents siphoning; a functional vented loop makes the installation acceptable.

Question 3

When a surveyor performs a survey for insurance purposes and discovers an undisclosed prior grounding repair, what is the professional obligation?

Accepted Answer

Disclose the finding in the report to the client (insurer or owner per engagement)

Answer

SAMS ethics require complete and accurate reporting of all material findings regardless of who commissioned the survey; non-disclosure of a structural repair history constitutes a professional violation.

Question 4

On an inboard gasoline-powered vessel, ABYC standards require the engine compartment blower to run for how long before starting the engine?

Accepted Answer

4 minutes

Answer

ABYC A-24 and general boating safety practice require running the bilge blower for a minimum of 4 minutes before starting a gasoline inboard engine to purge potentially explosive vapors.

Question 5

A surveyor assessing a steel workboat notes the frames are wasted to 40% of original thickness but the shell plating is still near-original thickness. What does this pattern suggest?

Accepted Answer

Internal condensation and coating failure is driving corrosion preferentially at the frames

Answer

When frames corrode faster than shell plating, it typically indicates that internal surfaces lack adequate coating or cathodic protection, allowing condensation-driven corrosion to attack structural members from inside.

(SAMS) Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors Certified Practice Test

(SAMS) Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors Certified Practice Test

SAMS Hull and Machinery Surveyors 5