Leading Edge
Stress is a big issue on yachts. A new thermal imaging device should reveal hidden problems. Click on the cover for Yachting World article .
Thank you to all the editorial team at Yachting World .
Thermal imaging can be used for detecting and measuring variations in heat energy and transforming that data into visible signals which can be recorded photographically.International Yacht Surveys use this technology along with standard marine surveying tools to inform a client ,if there are any structural, electrical, or mechanical problems . Thermal imaging can detect underlying abnormalities which cannot be detected otherwise such as delamination in GRP and carbon fibre laminates ,moisture and dry rot in wood, moisture in GRP and carbon fibre ,hairline cracks in bulkhead fillet joins and more. When composite parts are being manufactured it will show hot and cold spots in the laminates under vacuum .It will show abnormalities in engines both cold and hot running. The thermal imaging sevice will be used on : Composites Carbon Fibre Wood Marine engines Composite Thermal Imaging 
GRP rudder section with water in the laminates confirmed with a Tramex Skipper plus moisture meter. The thermal camera can pinpoint where the water has come into the blade just right of the rudder stock and is black in colour. Although the blade was water saturated, it did not show signs of osmosis in the fabrics of the GRP blade.  Bow section of a Mumm 30 looking good  Carbon mast section on a Mumm 30   Water in the laminates of a carbon built yacht just aft of the leading edge of the keel. 
De lamination in hull laminates  De lamination picture taken with a digital camera. Can you see it ? 
Delamination and water around the rudder stock laminates.At speed this would cause vibration slowing the boat down. 
Carbon mast with moisture in the laminates just below a halyard exit  TP 52  TP52 Carbon bow section looking good. Wood Thermal Imaging  Classic 42 ft wooden yacht with water in the frames as seen in the blue vertical lines . This was also confirmed with a moisture meter. 
Before and after on the topsides showing the thermal image of damp corroded fasteners that were inspected and replaced.  
Here she is being worked on and being refastened .Yes there was moisture found in the hull timbers.This is normal for a boat of her age . There were no rotten timbers found but the fastenings on the hull were replaced . --- 
One of the guys using a blow torch on the wooden hull to get all the paint off before primer is applied to the hull.  Here is another Classic 40 ft wooden yacht that has just had a refit.  Classic 40 ft wooden yacht  A close up of the 40ft wooden hull showing the caulking lines running horizontally and looking good. If there was water in the caulking this would show up a darker colour. Engine Thermal Imaging   This shows a marine engine up to running heat with a blockage on one of the injectors.The black spot circled in the picture is the culprit. The thermal pictures taken were on a commercial vessel .The thermal imaging minimised down time and the injector pipe was flushed. International Yacht Surveys services are tailored to clients requirements and are ideally placed to provide a prompt service to all locations in the UK and Europe. Contact us for further details. |