Engine Room
No cruising license, no problem
By Capt. Debora Radtke There is a misconception among many captains, crew and yacht owners that a foreign-flagged vessel cannot cruise in the United States without a valid cruising license. They…
Fuel production often source of diesel engine problems
Over the past few years, there has been a sudden, dramatic and worldwide increase in filter clogging tendencies in engines. What has changed? Oil supply and environmental concerns have resulted…
Diesel Digest: Diesel fuel algae might be sign that water has entered tank
Diesel Digest: by Capt. Jeff Werner One of the first things a tyro engineer learns when working aboard a yacht is to watch out for algae growing in the yacht’s…
Shaft coupling, keys or keyways could be root of vibration
When it comes to vibration, the devil’s in the details. While it’s pretty easy to pinpoint misalignment, propeller issues or a bent shaft, less conspicuous components like shaft couplings, keys…
Pay attention to struts when choosing propellers, engines
Struts play a very important part in the design of a vessel. They support the propellers, and also affect the way water hits the propeller, which can have a significant…
First step in good maintenance? Know how diesel engines work
Diesel engines are the mainstay for both propulsion and generating electricity aboard yachts. Understanding how they work is the first step to knowing how to maintain diesel engines. Comparing the…
Vibration, poor performance, higher fuel use signs of misalignment
No matter how diligent you are with your maintenance plan, almost all captains or crew will experience misalignment at one point or another. Misalignment presents itself in a multitude of…
Do your due diligence before diesel fuel fill-up
Chances are that when a yacht ties up at a fuel dock, the captain asks how much does the diesel cost per gallon, and is there enough fuel to fill…
Strain gauge alignment allows for shaftline measurement while afloat
Aligning shafts using optical and laser techniques is pretty common when it comes to yacht maintenance. There’s another form of alignment out there that gets a lot less attention, but…
Diesel Digest: Water is diesel fuel’s worst enemy
Diesel Digest: by Capt. Jeff Werner Diesel fuel is the lifeblood of a diesel engine. If left unmanaged, diesel fuel quality can degrade rather quickly rendering it harmful, rather than…
