Striking the Balance: Comfort, Complexity, and Accessibility

I recently inspected a new vessel built by a well-known manufacturer. There were a handful of issues, but what stood out most to me was the lack of access to ­critical systems.  

For example, the ­electrical panel was not hinged. Accessing it required the removal of 12 screws—not to mention needing at least four hands—making inspection of wiring, terminals and circuit breakers inconvenient at best. Even worse, once the fascia was removed, access to the back of the components still wasn’t possible without more disassembly.  

Similarly, the undersides of deck fuel fills were inconvenient to access. American Boat & Yacht Council standards mandate that “all fittings and connections of the fuel fill system shall be readily accessible, or accessible through an access panel, port or hatch.” The definition of “readily accessible” is “capable of being reached quickly, and safely, for effective use under emergency conditions, without the use of tools.” 

None of those conditions were present. Bulkhead ­paneling had to be removed—both screws and bungees—to access the fills and check for hose or clamp deterioration and tension.

This problem is about more than daily maintenance checks. After cost of operation, the things that most affect a boater’s enjoyment of the sport are the boat’s reliability and one’s anxiety about gear failure. That anxiety is exacerbated if the boater has limited troubleshooting or repair skills. 

It’s in the best interest of builders and yards to ensure that a boat’s propulsion, fuel system, seacocks, steering, and electrical components are accessible for service and repair. Less-stressful cruising equals less-stressed owners.

Beyond access, a vessel’s systems should be no more complex than necessary. I often hear boatbuilders say that they want to “keep it simple,” but that’s no longer possible for most vessels because owners also want most of the comforts of home. I have nothing against a comfortable vessel, but comfort can be achieved with more or less complexity, and with less or more reliability, respectively.

The better builders and yards know how to select and install the gear, and ensure the highest possible reliability. The opposite is a lesser builder installing a water heater, and then a water lift muffler in front of it, thereby limiting access and making anode or element replacement impossible (a real-life example). Creative designers, engineers, and boatbuilders find ways of having the systems and the accessibility.

Vessels that are chockablock with the latest gear can become slip queens while awaiting repairs. It’s best to go with the tried-and-true.

A similar and common scenario involves fuel tanks. Too many builders give too little consideration to the need for cleaning them. These tanks need inspection ports. There should be access ports too—ideally, one in every baffled chamber. These features are easy and inexpensive to include while the tank is being built, but typically difficult and costly to add after the tank and vessel are complete.  

If you are boat shopping, your search should include reliability along with a reasonable balance of comfort and complexity. Vessels that are chockablock with the latest gear can easily become slip queens while awaiting repairs.

It’s best to go with the tried-and-true for most systems, particularly those that are critical, such as propulsion, steering and electrical.  

While the reputation of the builder is important, the experiences of existing owners are also valuable. Seek out those owners, and be sure to ask about service friendliness as well as systems reliability. —Steve D’Antonio

Steve D’Antonio offers services for boat owners and buyers through Steve D’Antonio Marine Consulting.

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