Sea Trial tomorrow

If they are D4 300s ? , seawater strainers ( possibly leaky if old type ) , pencil engine annodes ( been changed ? ) , breather filters changed ? ( bloody expensive ) . Those things apart they are great engines ( economical ) . Good luck with the sea trial :) , lovely day for it .
 
Think of the expemsive bits - the engines! Have you got a good engine man with you to have a look and listen? Make sure if poss that the engines reach their max revs, that all pressures and temps sit at normal on the gauges - no excessive smoke (not steam - its very cold so there will be steam) but smoke. Steering and trim tabs respond correctly. BT operates properly if it has one. Check the AP (if fitted) engages and responds. Do a thorough check, don't be in a hurry, this is your one chance!!

Have fun.
 
Yup, they're D4 300's, and I've got the surveyor aboard for the trial. Mind you, I think the first thing I'm going to be checking is the heating and the windscreen demisters!
 
Its an engineer you need on a sea trial more than a surveyor, in my experience most surveyors dont cover the mechanical/ engine side of a survey.

And preferably an engineer that specialises in the make of engines your intending to buy.
 
volvopaul said:
Its an engineer you need on a sea trial more than a surveyor, in my experience most surveyors dont cover the mechanical/ engine side of a survey.

And preferably an engineer that specialises in the make of engines your intending to buy.
Click to expand...

Hear, hear!

I have yet to come across a surveyor who knows squat all about engines or installations, bit like the poster comenting about smoke.

Very recently was asked about vessel subject to very recent survey where five out of eight engine mountings had delaminated. Blindingly obvious that mountings had failed and that they had been installed incorrectly. Surveyor just fell back on his 'cannot be responsible for what I cannot see' clause even though the problem was staring you in the face with a quick look around the engines.

Having a decent tec on sea trial as well as a surveyor is recipie for aggro. Far better for the surveyor to do his tap, tap stuff ashore and then rely on your tech for sea trials. The way it is done in the U.S.
 
Apart from the engines/drives, have a very close look at the steering rams and power steering system and fluid. There have been a number of threads on here on VP power steering issues, with the rams sitting in the water, and subsequent marine growth causing seal failure on the rams.

Ask for service receipts for the mechanical bits, and check against the service schedule. It is what you can't check for and don't know about that could come back to bite.
 
rafiki_ said:
Apart from the engines/drives, have a very close look at the steering rams and power steering system and fluid. There have been a number of threads on here on VP power steering issues, with the rams sitting in the water, and subsequent marine growth causing seal failure on the rams.

Ask for service receipts for the mechanical bits, and check against the service schedule. It is what you can't check for and don't know about that could come back to bite.
Click to expand...

All that should have been checked by an engineer while the boats out of the water, no good doing it today when its in the drink, if hed have told us the boats name etc maybe someone might have some history of it, me included to pass on.
 
Enjoy, listen carefully & look carefully. Leave the dream & the rose tinted specs at home if you can. Good luck.

I really enjoyed the sea trials after my new engine was fitted & then the old fuel tank sprang a leak! :rolleyes:
 
See how the engines start from cold. Ask them not to start the engines until you arrive. Feel the blocks to ensure they are cold before starting. If they start well from cold that is a good initial pointer.
 
PCUK said:
See how the engines start from cold. Ask them not to start the engines until you arrive. Feel the blocks to ensure they are cold before starting. If they start well from cold that is a good initial pointer.
Click to expand...

Sorry guys but these are modern direct injection diesel engines. They have NO choice, they have to start, engine turns over, when sensors report all present and correct ECU signal injector solenoids and engine fires straight up.

In this temperature motors will sound 'harsh' as they have a 3D timing table and ECU is advancing the heck out of the timing to cut out start up white smoke. In slightly warmer ambients combustion noise is less aggressive as ECU is not whacking in such a big slug of timing advance.
 
Latestarter1 said:
Sorry guys but these are modern direct injection diesel engines. They have NO choice, they have to start, engine turns over, when sensors report all present and correct ECU signal injector solenoids and engine fires straight up.

In this temperature motors will sound 'harsh' as they have a 3D timing table and ECU is advancing the heck out of the timing to cut out start up white smoke. In slightly warmer ambients combustion noise is less aggressive as ECU is not whacking in such a big slug of timing advance.
Click to expand...

Probably one of the loudest engines on start up is a CATC15 engine, the advance is horrendous for about 90 seconds, then its a sweet motor.

D4 is a modern motor and will start as long as there is a decent voltage supply and of course fuel.
 
PCUK said:
See how the engines start from cold. Ask them not to start the engines until you arrive. Feel the blocks to ensure they are cold before starting. If they start well from cold that is a good initial pointer.
Click to expand...

If the engines have started and run for 30 odd seconds before the trial, then you will not know this, but the engine will have had an opportunity to get the oil around, so not sure what you would gain?
 
volvopaul said:
All that should have been checked by an engineer while the boats out of the water, no good doing it today when its in the drink, if hed have told us the boats name etc maybe someone might have some history of it, me included to pass on.
Click to expand...

Good point Paul, but I did not see anything from the OP indicating that this had already been done, sorry.
 
volvopaul said:
Probably one of the loudest engines on start up is a CATC15 engine, the advance is horrendous for about 90 seconds, then its a sweet motor.

D4 is a modern motor and will start as long as there is a decent voltage supply and of course fuel.
Click to expand...

Sounds like all those little men inside with real big hammers trying to get out at once!
 
Check the feeling on the steering wheel, it shouldn't be notchy or click as this indicates low oil, which in turn could be caused by a leaking steering hose or cylinder.
When you are in the engine room have a good look at the power steering resevoir, the oil should be standard ATF dark red and clear, if its milky or pink in colour then you have seawater in the system from a leaking hose or cylinder and this needs to rectified and the system flushed out or you could get hit for a big bill.
 
Well guys - thanks for all your words of advice. The Great Escape looks like she'll be ours within the next few days, gulp! I'm not sure if I'm concerned (too late now anyway!) about the low engine hours, 34, since she was new in 2008. She's been serviced twice.

It's easy to get starry eyed as Searush hinted but the freezing Southampton air certainly focussed our attentions! I'm getting her lorried back home when I've got a berth secured, then we've got a shed load of electrics to fit and the engines to service and then, hopefully a fun season of boating.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

J
Jet ski on bathing platform
2
Replies
20
Views
794
BCsailor
B
Fire99
Blue Poo (on the GRP)
Replies
15
Views
453
Fire99
Fire99

Share this page

Top