Why boat engines break down & how to fix them: masterclass next Wednesday

[James Bragg]

We'll be running a free online question and answer session with a marine engine mechanic from Sea Start next Wednesday 2nd March at midday.

With over twenty years of experience attending break downs at sea, you'll be able to ask any questions about how to fix failing engines and how to stop problems before they happen.

You can take part with your questions, or simply just watch what others are asking.

Click here to register your email address for a reminder and be taken to the page where the Q&A will take place.

If you won't be able to watch the Q&A live, you can leave your questions on this thread, we'll put them to the mechanic and you'll be able to see the full discussion afterwards.

 

[andy59]

Well i presume that seastart have a top five of engine failures so i am going to have a crack at guessing them ,---
1. drive belt, ( pump , alternator , steering etc )
2 . Overheat , plastic bag , impellor failure , hose failure .
3. Fuel starvation , the bug , pump failure , leaking fuel line .
4. Electrical fault , loose / fractured cable , short circuit / component fault .
5. Mechanical failure ( engine block component ) i would imagine quite rare .
One sympton may cross over to another but those are the main things i would look for . Not including any drive issues BTW . Anyone else got any favourites ?.

 

[PaulGooch]

Well i presume that seastart have a top five of engine failures so i am going to have a crack at guessing them ,---
1. drive belt, ( pump , alternator , steering etc )
2 . Overheat , plastic bag , impellor failure , hose failure .
3. Fuel starvation , the bug , pump failure , leaking fuel line .
4. Electrical fault , loose / fractured cable , short circuit / component fault .
5. Mechanical failure ( engine block component ) i would imagine quite rare .
One sympton may cross over to another but those are the main things i would look for . Not including any drive issues BTW . Anyone else got any favourites ?.

LOL

With those 5 faults, i don't think there is anything else to go wrong.

 

[Ubergeekian]

Well i presume that seastart have a top five of engine failures so i am going to have a crack at guessing them ,---
1. drive belt, ( pump , alternator , steering etc )
2 . Overheat , plastic bag , impellor failure , hose failure .
3. Fuel starvation , the bug , pump failure , leaking fuel line .
4. Electrical fault , loose / fractured cable , short circuit / component fault .
5. Mechanical failure ( engine block component ) i would imagine quite rare .
One sympton may cross over to another but those are the main things i would look for . Not including any drive issues BTW . Anyone else got any favourites ?.

Demonic possession.

 

[andy59]

Demonic possession.

Ok , so i`m a pessimist ,
But i`ve never broken down
( yet )

 

[Steve Clayton]

So it's only for Mobo's?

 

[Trundlebug]

A good list Andy!

I generally agree. The only other thing I can think of is "Flat battery" although that may come under Electrical of course.

 

[gjgm]

So it's only for Mobo's?

This is promoted on other forums.

 

[Divemaster1]

...... Anyone else got any favourites ?.

1) Stop Solenoid / fuel shutoff valve in off/closed position
2) Run out of fuel (but that is fuel starvation)
3) Keys dropped overboard ..

 

[Powersalt]

I bet one popular breakdown reason is ""out of fuel""

 

[powerskipper]

Can I

Say, so far they have helped me with

dirty fuel, [ Dover]
impeller cooked, [x 7] and 4 of those I managed to be opposite there office so excellent response time.
boat refusing to start , [electrical problems]

others I know of,
Rope around props,
Electrical start problems.
FUEL feed problems.




Any way you could ask them ,

Things to check if such and such happens.
That would be very helpful to many. I am sure.