Know your limits when working on your boat’s engine says our lead mechanic, John Stanis. He tells a story about a customer who came in and needed his old Volvo diesel engine rebuilt. The customer didn’t want to pay for it so he tried to do it himself. Six months later, he came to the yard and gave his engine to John – in paper bags. “The engine was beyond his ability,” John says. “It took me longer and it cost more to rebuild the engine after he worked on it than it would have if he never touched it.”
Another situation you don’t want to touch without a professional is an undiagnosed problem.
“If something smells like harmless exhaust, it could be much more serious, like a fuel spill in your bilge,” John warns. “If you’re not absolutely sure what the problem is, the safest measure is to call a professional.”
When you do bring the boat into your mechanic, always make sure you have clear access to your mechanical systems. This isn’t just so John can get to the problem, it is so you can access the engine space in an emergency. John saw a customer ruin his transmission by starting the engine with a fender line wrapped around the shaft. If you don’t keep your storage separate from your engine compartment, you could also be in trouble if a fire starts or the stuffing box springs a leak. Worse yet, a piece of gear could block your steering completely.
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