  Fault
Finding
Tony Brooks is an expert on Marine
Diesel Engine & Boat Maintenance matters. Thanks to him
and TB-Training for permission to reproduce these
materials. We've got Faultfinding Checklists and over
150 answers to problems in the sections right.
If
you have a canalboat problem.
Tony may answer, time permitting, your
email problems concerning UK canalboat mechanical and
electrical issues - Tony cannot answer questions about
sea-going or overseas craft. Give him plenty of details
about the problem, its background and your equipment.
And don't be too impatient, remember this is a FREE
service! We will publish informative answers here. Check
the relevant page first (right).
Contact him via his website. |
MARINE ENGINE PROBLEMS Fuel systems, lubrication, marinising etc. |
|
SMOKEY
ENGINE PROBLEMS Smoking engines & more smoking engines! |
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ENGINE COOLING PROBLEMS Overheating engines, direct cooling, calorifiers |
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GEARBOX & PROPULSION Gearboxes, stern glands, propellers, transmission etc. |
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GENERAL MARINE PROBLEMS Skin tanks, stern glands, fresh water systems |
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MARINE ELECTRICS Wiring, earthing, alternators, battery management, etc. |
Boat
Maintenance - Breakdowns.
|
| Best
practice is to ensure your boat does not breakdown,
rather than to try to learn to fix it if it does. |
Because of
the virtually infinite combinations of equipment and
installation methods, the only way to prevent breakdowns
is to get to know your own boat - what is normal, what
is not. Investigate oddities in performance of
equipment, 90% of the time you will not find anything
wrong, and the other 10% of the time you will prevent a
breakdown. |
| The only way
to get to know it is to spend time investigating it,
finding out where the cables run, the water pipes run,
and what type of equipment is fitted. |
| Having
identified a piece of installation or equipment you are
unsure of, seek advice on what it does, seek advice on
how it works and what maintenance it needs. Boaters are,
by and large, a helpful lot and will be happy to pass on
their experience. |
In these modern times
use the Internet! Join the news group uk.rec.waterways -
just read the postings for a while and then you will be
happy to ask for help when you need to. |
One
piece of advice if you are getting a boat built.
|
| Ensure
the design of your boat allows all the fixed structures
to be put in place BEFORE the pipe-work (all of it -
gas, fuel & water), control cables, calorifier, and
wiring is put in place. This might require more design
effort and cost a lot more, but when something goes
wrong you need access to it, and to be able to remove
and replace it. |
You can not do this if it has been
built in! It is ludicrous that a dinette has to be
dismantled before panels can be removed to give access
to change a water tank breather hose. How can an
intelligent person run a main water supply hose through
bearers and under a screwed down and built over narrow
boat floor? |
