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Th e secret to a trouble-free engine isn’t knowing how to repair it, but
knowing how to maintain it so you don’t have to repair it.
—Peter Compton, Troubleshooting Marine DieselsWhat fi ve systems must you inspect before starting your engine? If your engine
refuses to shut down, what two things do you look for? Are you prepared to
cope with a runaway engine in restricted waters? What fi ve steps must you
take before entering an inlet anywhere in the world?
In Th is Chapter, You’ll Learn How To:
D Inspect a diesel engine of any size quickly and thoroughly
D Attack a deadly engineroom fi re with four powerful weapons
D Use the secrets of emergency wake breaking in a pinch
D Deal with the loss of one or both engines inside a breaking inlet
D Make a super-accurate fuel consumption graph for cruising
A Simple User’s Guide to Inboard
Diesel Engine MaintenanceTh is section examines the many things powerboaters and sailors can do to keep their
engines in peak condition. Sailboat engines get abused much more than powerboat
engines, simply because they are used less and run at lower throttle speeds. For
example, my liveaboard Cape Dory 27 sloop was equipped with a tiny, 8-horsepower
Yanmar 1GM diesel. At fi rst I knew little about engines, but I did know enough to
follow the owner’s manual religiously when it came to preventive maintenance. So
with my trusty manual, I stumbled around and found all the major components on
the mini-diesel. I learned to change the oil, fi lters, impeller pump, and belts.
When it came time to check the fuel pump or injectors, I made an invaluable
investment—I hired a mechanic to come out to the boat. Th e elderly gent had run a
mobile business out of his van for years, and he always brought his pleasant wife. She
kept him company, fi lled his coff ee mug, and handed him the tools he needed.
DIESEL ENGINE
MAINTENANCE
AND POWERBOAT
SEAMANSHIP
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