Engine Usage

[martin]

Hi,

I have a pair of TAMD75P's in my P45. Due to its location I am not getting to drive the boat as much as i would like. In fact, so far this year, we have only made it out of the marina three times!!. They were all good long runs out to sea but other than that nothing.

I have heard that engines like to be used regularly ?? Is this small amount of use a problem? Should i be starting the engines and running them for a while, even when i am not going anywhere?

I think a change of location is due next year...but for the rest of this year i am stuck.

Martin

 

[oldgit]

Other than getting a bit of oil up to top of the engine and distributing lubrication around the block,suspect that unless you get the operating temps up,you may not be doing much good at all. ?
No substitute for a quick run round the bay.?

 

[Wiggo]

Martin, where is the boat? If you pay for the diesel, I would consider using the boat for you to keep the engines in use. Obviously, if she's in the Med, I'd expect you to cover the flights but other than that and any other incidental expenses (food, drink, moorings etc), I wouldn't expect to be paid...

 

[volvopaul]

Martin, where is the boat? If you pay for the diesel, I would consider using the boat for you to keep the engines in use. Obviously, if she's in the Med, I'd expect you to cover the flights but other than that and any other incidental expenses (food, drink, moorings etc), I wouldn't expect to be paid...

Good idea, ill 2nd that and throw in a service for good measure!!.........................if only!

On a serious note, yes they do need to be used the main issueis salt water corrosion to heat exchangers, water pump seals can fail if the shafts are not turned, also cutlass bearings build up marine growth inside then tearing out the rubber bush when used.

Another issue on a 75 is the engine anodes, they do seem to errode quite quickly so id get them checked, if the boats southcoast uk then I can help with that.

 

[martin]

Funny you should say that

She is in St Katherines Dock, hence inability to move anywhere over the weekend (lock times !!!) , we often moor our UK boat there in the winter as i can pop in on way home from work, keep an eye on her and use her as a crash pad after office parties.. This year, being the first year with this boat, and having many jobs needed to be done, we have left her there for the summer..next year i think we will be off to somewhere else.

We wanted to explore St Carles but realisticaly we would only be able to get there a few times a year..so the usage would be just as bad..plus more expensive (Flights for family of 4) so will probably go somewhere in UK (not sure where) in March...So if you or anyone fancies a couple of weekend boat swaps (med/UK) let me know..it would save us shipping it out there and give someone in the uk a reminder of how bad UK based boating is