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The appraiser’s electronic instrumentation: ultrasound and thermal imaging cameras

The appraiser of a ship usually comes up with quite futuristic instrumentation.

We are talking about ultrasound scanners or state-of-the-art thermal imaging cameras, first of all.
Beware: all those tools should not make you more confident in the purchase!

The above-mentioned instrumentation is certainly very useful when well used but is equally useless without proper training.

If, for example, the boat to be appraised has relatively coarse lamination because it is dated, an ultrasonic inspection will give only negative results. Yet, the boat born that way will still live a long life without any as porosity or lamination defect affecting its structure. “Ultrasound” is often more alarming than it should be in yachting, where lamination standards are often poor even in the most fashionable yards.

In my daily work as an appraiser in Italy, I use ultrasonic thickness gauges only for direct feedback on boats that may have suffered blows or stress.
Without having construction samples the use of the ultrasonic thickness gauge will not be able to compare the possible deterioration of the laminate. In the absence of construction samples it is my custom to make a measurement of the perimeter area of the bulb to check if there are any abnormalities.

About the thermal imaging camera: I have realized it’s only important under specific circumstances.
In short: you should not be dazzled by the appraiser’s accessories, but one should rely on experience and the ability to make use of electronic instruments or not.