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Thermal Imaging

Systems are scanned under load with a thermal camera; overheating connections, hidden moisture and cooling inefficiencies show up before they become faults.

  • Electrical connections scanned under load
  • A hot terminal is seen before the fire
  • Engine, exhaust and cooling circuit mapped
  • Air-conditioning outlets and insulation losses measured
  • Findings given as a temperature difference, as numbers
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Thermal imaging maps the temperature of the electrical, mechanical and air-conditioning systems under load. Heating that the eye cannot see — a loose terminal, a blocked circuit, a leaking gasket — appears as a temperature difference.

What the eye misses, the camera sees

When an electrical connection loosens, its resistance rises and it starts to heat. To the eye the wiring looks fine; on the thermal camera it glows tens of degrees above its surroundings. These points are where boat electrical fires begin — and almost all of them are visible on a thermal scan long before any fault shows.

Thermal image of a deck surface with a 28.2 °C reading
A water-holding core in the deck cools differently from a dry one; the difference is sharpest at dawn and dusk.

Where we use it

Electrical panel and wiring — scanned under load; overloaded circuits, loose terminals and corroded joints appear instantly as temperature differences, each verified with a current measurement. Engine and gearbox — temperature distribution mapped while running; overheating bearings, friction points and cooling inefficiencies compared against reference values, with exhaust fatigue cracks and water-lock leaks clearest under load. Hull and insulation — moisture-laden composite leaves a distinct signature; the camera narrows the area, the moisture meter confirms, extending the reach of the osmosis test. Generator and auxiliaries — abnormal heating behaviour under load is the last warning before failure.

Thermal image of an air-conditioning outlet with measured temperature values
A thermal image is not a picture but a number: it enters the report as a temperature difference (14.6 °C / 20.7 °C).
Thermal camera image of an engine room
In the engine room, exhaust runs, turbo and any leak hunt are all read under load — on a cold engine none of it shows.

Why under load?

Thermal imaging shows nothing on a system that is not running. A loose connection only heats while current passes through it; a blocked circuit only shows a temperature difference while the pump runs.

The scan is therefore carried out with the systems live and at the highest practicable load: generator running, air-conditioning on, engine warm and under load. The reading is not an image but a number — it enters the report as a temperature difference.

Thermal image of a hull topside showing a 27.5 °C reading
An area of the hull holding water heats differently from its surroundings and separates out as its own zone on thermal.

Process and report

Scanning is done in real operating conditions. Every anomaly is verified with an additional measurement and enters the report with its thermal image, location, temperature value and recommended action.

Electrical distribution panel scanned with a thermal camera under load
A heating terminal looks perfectly sound to the eye; on thermal it is a clear bright point — and that is how a fire starts.

Duration and fee

This inspection is a chapter within a survey: it is carried out within a pre-purchase survey, an engine room survey and a pre-season check and is not billed separately. We do not sell it as a standalone item, because coming to the boat once to look at this heading alone serves neither you nor us.

If you do need this heading on its own — in a dispute, or for a second opinion — the door is not closed. Call us and we will talk about the boat.

Fees vary with the length of the boat, where she lies and the season. For a firm price call us — tell us about the boat and we will give you the number on the phone.

Estimate your survey fee

From the field

What this work looks like on board

6 frames

These frames were taken during real surveys. None of them are stock: each one is a measurement or a check described on this page.

Frequently asked questions

Common questions

What does thermal imaging catch most often on boats?

Electrical faults, by a distance. A loose connection, an overloaded circuit or a high-resistance joint looks perfectly normal to the eye but glows as a hot spot on camera. A large share of boat fires are electrical - and these points are visible on a thermal scan months before they ignite.

Can the inspection be done with the boat shut down?

Meaningful results need the systems under load: circuits drawing current, engine warm and running. A cold system shows no temperature differences and hides its defects, so the thermal scan is scheduled together with the sea trial or an engine-under-load session.

Does the camera detect moisture and osmosis?

As a complement, yes. Moisture-laden laminate leaves a distinct thermal signature, letting the camera narrow down suspect areas quickly. Diagnosis is then confirmed with moisture meters (Skipper 5 and Wetsoon Pro) - the two methods work together.

Services

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Contact

Book your survey

Tell us where the vessel lies and your approximate date — we reply the same day.

Serkan Kotel — yacht surveyor, portrait

Serkan Kotel

Yacht surveyor · IIMS · ABYC · MCA — the person who answers the phone, walks the boat and signs the report is the same person.

Service areas

Bodrum · Yalıkavak · Turgutreis · Milas · Göcek · Fethiye · Marmaris · Datça · İstanbul · Ayvalık

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