Book excerpt: Reeds Marine Surveying is aimed at students of marine surveying, professional marine surveyors, boatyard operators and technically-minded boat owners, and covers the latest marine surveying technology, including analysis of the mechanical behaviour of materials, failure analysis, stress concentration, fatigue and fracture, corrosion, wood-damaging organisms, polymer chemistry, and the composition and characteristics of common plastics, metal, alloys and composite materials. This new edition expands its scope to include coverage of surveying topics relevant to ships and class surveying and includes more examples of common problems and the practical elements of surveying, as well as be updated throughout in line with technological developments, guidelines and best practice. Reeds Marine Surveying has been in print for over twenty years and excellently serves the community of marine surveyors by providing technically robust presentations of this discipline. It extends the inquiry of inspection and safety beyond anecdote and into foundation principles and technologies.