SAMS Yacht and Small Craft Surveyors 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a haulout survey, a surveyor observes that the rudder has significant play when moved laterally. What is the most likely cause?
- Delamination of the rudder skin
- Worn or corroded rudder bearings/gudgeons (Correct answer)
- Bent rudder stock
- Improperly balanced rudder design
Correct answer: Worn or corroded rudder bearings/gudgeons
Lateral play in a rudder most commonly indicates worn or corroded bearings, gudgeons, or pintles that can no longer maintain proper alignment.
Question 2: A surveyor finds a fuel tank made of black iron aboard a gasoline-powered vessel. What is the correct finding?
- Acceptable if the tank is coated internally
- Acceptable only for outboard fuel systems
- Black iron is not approved for gasoline storage aboard vessels (Correct answer)
- Acceptable if a fuel/water separator is installed
Correct answer: Black iron is not approved for gasoline storage aboard vessels
ABYC H-24 prohibits black iron tanks for gasoline storage; approved materials include aluminum, stainless steel, and fiberglass.
Question 3: When assessing a wooden vessel's frames for structural integrity, what condition is described as 'checking'?
- Delamination between frame layers
- Surface cracks running along the grain of the wood (Correct answer)
- Compression failures perpendicular to the grain
- Rot at the frame heads
Correct answer: Surface cracks running along the grain of the wood
Checking refers to longitudinal surface cracks in wood that develop as the wood dries and shrinks, which can allow moisture intrusion and accelerate decay.
Question 4: What does the term 'freeboard' refer to in marine surveying?
- The distance between the waterline and the deck edge (Correct answer)
- The unobstructed area on deck for crew movement
- The space between frames in the bilge area
- The clearance between the keel and the seabed
Correct answer: The distance between the waterline and the deck edge
Freeboard is the vertical distance measured from the waterline to the top of the hull at the lowest point of the deck edge.
Question 5: A surveyor notes that a vessel's propeller shaft shows significant 'run-out' when rotated. What does this indicate?
- The shaft is undersized for the engine's horsepower
- The shaft is bent or the coupling is misaligned (Correct answer)
- The shaft material is incompatible with the strut
- The shaft seal is worn and needs replacement
Correct answer: The shaft is bent or the coupling is misaligned
Run-out (wobble) in a rotating shaft indicates that it is bent or that the coupling between shaft and engine is misaligned, both of which cause vibration and bearing wear.
Question 6: Which U.S. Coast Guard regulation requires recreational vessels 16 feet and over to carry one Type IV throwable PFD in addition to wearable PFDs?
- 33 CFR Part 175 (Correct answer)
- 46 CFR Subchapter T
- 33 CFR Part 183
- 46 CFR Part 25
Correct answer: 33 CFR Part 175
33 CFR Part 175 governs equipment requirements for recreational vessels and mandates one Type IV throwable device for vessels 16 feet and over.
Question 7: When surveying a vessel's bilge pump system, what minimum capacity does ABYC recommend for an automatic electric bilge pump on a vessel under 26 feet?
- 500 gallons per hour (GPH)
- 1,000 GPH
- 750 GPH
- No minimum is specified; adequacy is a judgment call (Correct answer)
Correct answer: No minimum is specified; adequacy is a judgment call
ABYC does not specify a minimum GPH for recreational vessel bilge pumps; the surveyor must assess adequacy based on vessel size, intended use, and number of through-hulls.
SAMS Yacht and Small Craft Surveyors 3
During a haulout survey, a surveyor observes that the rudder has significant play when moved laterally.
What is the most likely cause?