What do you expect from your engineer

[Bandit]

I have no idea of what boat you have or how old.

Some engineers just look at the engines alone some at the whole boat, you need to know which.

I have a specific list for my boat plus the following :

Full manufacturers engine and gear box service every year same engineer ( not bare minimum oil and filters and don't look for problems as some owners instruct)
Generator service
General inspection of boat out of water inside and out.
Eyeball all skin fittings and valves and operate every year plus replace every 7 years or before if required, any weeps, sweating or discolouration replace.
Check fuel quality and prefilter mine are open filters Racor if a cartridge cut open to inspect ( messy job).
Drain a litre or two from sump of each fuel tank and inspect
Check batteries for electrolyte level and with an electronic tester
empty water tanks and refill with chlorine dose
Inspect stern seals each year and if a proprietary seal replace at seven years or before if required.
Stern seal if packed replace packing as required, every seven years dismantle and inspect, if knackered replace with a Tides Marine unit.
Cutlass bearings if more than minimal movement when lifted replace.
Check rudder bearings and steering oil level , eyeball steering system
Check bonding and shaft brush wiring by eye and continuity test all skin fittings
Wipers inspect and replace as required

On Board Spares
Three sets of fuel pre filters
belts 2 sets
impellers x 2
engine mounted fuel filters
oil filters
air filters
10 litres of engine ould
some spare injectors
2 gallons of coolant
Grotamar 82 fuel bug treatment enough for a season
Distilled water
spare cutless bearings 2 sets
full set of tools

My principle is with a 12 year old boat if there is a problem , I want to know about it at the time of the service and sort it out while the boat is out of the water and not to break down , also to future proof it ie get ahead of the servicing and replacement programme.

If you carry the tools and spares and you are in a small port on a bank holiday you or any engineer can fix a lot of problems

Seastoke , if you want me to send you our prompt sheet pm me your email and I will send it.

 

[Gentlemanracer]

For what it's worth, my take is if its new to you, or you want to find out, then commission reports. A surveyor will inspect the boat and populate a standard report format with findings. But that will exclude machinery, for which you need to commission a specialist, normally whomever supports the engine's manufacturer. Here, reports have a standard and comprehensive listing of items, against which you get responses e.g. Red, amber, green, / smily face, sad face, straight face, etc. Engine cooling and lube and transmission lube sample analysis is cheap and well worth doing, extra especially if you park a stern drive boat in tidal water! You then commission maintenance support according to report content. Sounds obvious, but it's not clear when it's all new with many things to be bothered about! Good luck: props are good!

 

[rosssavage]

My invoices detailed everything I did, plus advice on anything else I spotted whilst there, with photos to show extra wear or damage to allow the owner the choice as to whether to proceed with additional work or not.

In the parts breakdown, I also included the parts numbers of all parts / consumables replaced - thus allowing owner to purchase the correct extra spares and confirming the correct parts are fitted.

Leaving bilges full of oil / antifreeze / water that wasn't there previously is a big no no, and is verrrry lazy!!

 

[Seastoke]

Ok the last three posts make complete sense ,so do others but while i feel i have made mistakes , i do feel let down by my engineer so i am considering my options ,i would be quite at home changing filters ,belts etc as i am on my seventh boat ,but i see why some spares are carried but why carry oil filters ps grateful for all replies

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Ok the last three posts make complete sense ,so do others but while i feel i have made mistakes , i do feel let down by my engineer so i am considering my options ,i would be quite at home changing filters ,belts etc as i am on my seventh boat ,but i see why some spares are carried but why carry oil filters ps grateful for all replies

I defer to Rafiki on the basis that he's an engineer, but speaking for myself, I don't carry oil filters. Belts, fuel filters, and all sorts of other random stuff - yes, but not oil filters.

 

[lynall]

Ive seen oil filters fail on trucks, that are not that old, main reason idiots tighten them with tools, these damage the skin and it soon fails, not actually hole it but stress it.
Maybe you get coolant in oil and need to do an oil change after effecting a repair hence the filter.

 

[sailorman]

Ok the last three posts make complete sense ,so do others but while i feel i have made mistakes , i do feel let down by my engineer so i am considering my options ,i would be quite at home changing filters ,belts etc as i am on my seventh boat ,but i see why some spares are carried but why carry oil filters ps grateful for all replies

If spares are o/b :-
1/ you dont have to run around ashore trying to buy them on a bank holiday
2/ you know they are the correct part No`s & will fit
3/ items will fail when you are well off shore ( if non tidal it doesnt matter as you are probably bored & need a change from chugging along a 4kts)
4/ fuel filters are the most important spare part on a mobo

 

[oldgit]

No not another whinge about O**d****s, just a skinned knuckle, bleeding finger, aching joint plea for boat builders to move the shiney Cherry* laminated MDF walls of their latest confection away from the engines a tiny tiny bit, so that somebody 10 years later can actually SEE, let alone get to ,all the bits that WILL need replacing/fixing at some point.
As for a boat where you need to cut away part of the superstructure to get at a water tank.
Seasons Greetings OG.

*Sorry if décor quote a bit dated..Spect its all Flock wallpaper now. ?

 

[Momac]

I expect to receive an invoice with all parts supplied by the engineer listed and priced seperately to the labour cost. Plus a very brief description of the work done (eg. full engine service).

I do provide some instructions. I ask for the impeller to be replaced regardless of its condition . I ask for the belts to be replaced only if needed (often as not they are declared fit for continued use). Tappet adjustment is not necessarily included in an engine service unless specifically requested.

The engineer is not a mind reader. It's only reasonable to give him some guidance.

I do not expect to receive a detailed report . But I am sure a report could be provided , at a cost , if required.

.



.

 

[omega2]

am on my seventh boat ,but i see why some spares are carried !!!!!

and unable to sort sort out an engine?? what was the cause of the former boats demise?? neglect or incompetence.

 

[Seastoke]

Omega 2, i find that harsh i have trailed all boats before mostly out boards and one petrol with leg ,a 36 ft fly with twin helms ,shafts and twin diesels ,is tottaly different especially an old one eg 23 yrs ,ps did you start an expert

 

[sailorman]

Omega 2, i find that harsh i have trailed all boats before mostly out boards and one petrol with leg ,a 36 ft fly with twin helms ,shafts and twin diesels ,is totally different especially an old one eg 23 yrs ,ps did you start an expert

That is the problem with "drip-feeding" info. every body is in the dark & assumes what is`nt there

 

[omega2]

Our 25 year old twin engined fly bridge is still running, and getting fixed by our own labours, no started off as tyro but you soon learn "how to" when an engineer presents his bill. LOL

 

[rafiki_]

I defer to Rafiki on the basis that he's an engineer, but speaking for myself, I don't carry oil filters. Belts, fuel filters, and all sorts of other random stuff - yes, but not oil filters.

Jimmy, I would not carry out an oil change at sea, but if I had a problem while away from my home base, I am not sure that I could get the cat filters everywhere, but oil should be readily found.

 

[Seastoke]

how would you get your oil out do you carry your oil pump out kit as well

 

[rafiki_]

how would you get your oil out do you carry your oil pump out kit as well

The Cats have a built in pump.

 

[omega2]

how would you get your oil out do you carry your oil pump out kit as well

With 1972 Ford Sabres the trick is keeping the oil in!! The "spare" oil in our case is to top up when the pressure gauge starts dropping and the temperature gauge starts rising, these precautions save £kkk's but we are experts as you have pointed out.

 

[Seastoke]

i have now found engine service spec for the engines so advice for outher stuff would be good eg shafts and seals and would i get the engineer to do it in or out of water thanks in advance .roy

 

[omega2]

i have now found engine service spec for the engines so advice for outher stuff would be good eg shafts and seals and would i get the engineer to do it in or out of water thanks in advance .roy

If you are shaft driven nothing could be easier.

but you need to be out of the water.

 

[capsco]

It may also be better if all you folks who have problems with your "engineers" employed a technician instead.