Discussion: Whether you have hydraulic or electric thrusters, they both are susceptible to failure due to lack of service as they are typically difficult to access and often forgotten about until the wind is blowing you into a piling and they either don’t perform or under perform. Hydraulic thrusters are usually installed on larger yachts [...]

Discussion The Windlass is an essential piece of safety equipment on a workboat or yacht.  When needed due to a loss of propulsion or steering control it must deploy quickly and safely to secure the vessel.  In addition to its safety purpose, cruising yachts rely on their windlass to anchor  in remote anchorages.  Failure to deploy or retrieve an [...]

Discussion Oil change recommendations vary greatly between engine manufacturers, models, applications, and can even vary depending upon the brand and rating of the oil used.  For example a John Deere 6068TFM75 used in a recreational marine application should have its oil changed every 250 hours or annually, whichever occurs first.  If you use John Deer [...]

Discussion Regular inspection of your engine control linkage ensures that your engines throttle and shift controls will operate properly.  Your engine control system may be different than the Hynautic controls in our example, so please consult your WheelHouse or manufacturer’s manual for specifics. While the system mentioned in this PM is hydraulic, there are also [...]

Welcome to our new “Preventative Maintenance (PM) Series” where we will discuss a typical preventive maintenance task each month.  Our goal is to communicate a PM found on most vessels by highlighting the requirements for a specific piece of equipment and then expand on equipment variations and techniques.  While you may not have the specific [...]

Most vessel owners religiously complete regularly scheduled maintenance and daily inspections such as checking oil and coolant levels. However, many overlook the quarterly, semi-annual, and annual inspections that are recommended by equipment manufacturers to ensure safe and reliable operation. Commonly over-looked inspections include: electrical distribution system and shore power cables for loose connections, corrosion, and [...]

Correct design, installation, and maintenance are critical to the reliability of your fire suppression system. While the design and installation are largely decided for you, maintenance is the owner’s responsibility. Our walk-down teams have noticed several cases where the commissioning yards have failed to remove the installation safety pin or have left the manual discharge [...]

As a Certified Professional Yacht Broker (CPYB), I understand how difficult it can be to sell a yacht in these tough economic times. Buyers and their agents are constantly prodding for information on how well a yacht was maintained and what documentation is available. While the survey provides an “as found” condition of the vessel, [...]

Proper break-in of your engines is critical to a long life. Break-in requirements vary by model and manufacturer so be sure to read and understand the specifics for your engine. As a general rule, the first 100 hours are most important. During this period you should operate your engine at heavy loads with minimal idling. [...]

While many owner/operators are diligent at preventative maintenance, one item that is often overlooked is the electrical distribution system. This includes items such as shore power cables and connectors; selector switches; miles of wiring; thousands of crimps and terminals; circuit breakers; and fuses. Salt water, humid air, and constant vibrations accelerate damage to these components. [...]