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Shore Power Danger The attached article sheds some light on this issue - the causes and the troubleshooting process. Steve Zimmerman

Varnish This is an issue we face in the boatyards on a regular basis. There is no best method - it depends on a combination of budget, desired appearance, and willingness/ability to keep up with the finish. The attached article explores some of the choices and pros and cons. For what it's...

Fuel Burn The attached article might be helpful.

Teak Decks Exposed screw heads and loose/dried out caulking will allow water into the deck structure, eventually causing major structural damage. The attached article might be helpful. Steve Zimmerman

HP Requirements Hi Frank, HP and fuel consumption are often misunderstood. The attached article addresses this issue and might be helpful. Steve Zimmerman

Failure to Reach WOT This article might clear up some of the issues.

thru hull corrosion The attached article provides a good discussion on this topic. If the fitting itself is pitted or pink, the cause is most likely a DC leak into the bonding system. If the fitting is good, but the bottom paint around it is distorted (halo) the problem is most likely an AC...

Engine Won't Start The attached article might be helpful. Steve Zimmerman

nordhavn 46 Nordhavns are great boats for crossing oceans and not so great for cruising along the coast (although many people do so successfully). But it is a design optimized for open water. As for stabilization, the attached article compares some of the options. Before you fall in love...

TrawlerFest Full disclosure here...I am a frequent speaker at TrawlerFest events on the East coast. The comments about the number of vendors is certainly fair - very limited number of booths and far below what any other boat show offers in that way. As for the number of boats, that too is...

caulk I agree with Pack Mule - 3M 4000UV holds up very well. Steve Zimmerman

Cored Hulls I would not buy or reject a boat solely on the basis of cored or solid hull, unless it was balsa core below the waterline - that would be a deal breaker for me. Next we have to talk about closed cell foam core above or below the waterline. I have built boats both ways. Most cored...

broken shaft There is a lot to unpack in this situation. It will all come down to the survey and you need a really good surveyor with a strong background in composite repairs. Of all the things you described, the one that warrants the least concern is the broken shaft - a fairly common...

Full Displacement Speed I find it more helpful to think of full displacement as an operating speed rather than a hull design. A fast boat can run at "full displacement speed." That speed is typically 1.2 x the square root of the waterline (1.34 is the technical number, but not the ideal one)...

I am glad to see that my article stimulated some conversation on this subject. I would like to clarify a couple of points. First, the determination about how hard an engine should be pushed must be based on the rating of your particular engine. Cummins, for example, offers Continuous Duty and...