managing vessel maintenance & inventory for your nordic

Managing Vessel Maintenance & Inventory for your Nordic Tug & dinghy

Michael BeemerAnacortesMay 2019

Today’s Topics:• Diesel Engine & Maintenance• Fuel Systems• Electrical Systems • Outboard Engines/Dinghy

Today

• An overview of the systems / maintenace you should be doing on Nordic Tug

• Taught by:• A knowledgeable technician• Technical College Instructor (my regular job )• A boat nut, cruiser, & “Almost famous…”• ABYC Master Technician & Instructor/advisor• And…• Who holds a Masters Degree in Education

What I’ve learned

Electrical issues will prevent your engine from starting

Batteries will last a long time, but we can destroy them quickly

Fuel related issues will make your engine quit

Over heating/lack of maintenance will destroy it

Resources…..Textbook

Resources…..Textbooks

Nigel Calder: Boatowners 4th: ISBN-13: 978-0071790338

Why I enjoy boating in the PNW

My Passion for Boating

My cruising beliefs…

The best way to avoid break-downs is a well maintained boat

Don’t let little things go The best place to fix problems is at

the dock! Be “In Tune” with boat Engine room checks

“In Tune”

Vacu-flush cycle time Engine start time Water pump cycle for no reason Keep a log book Note anomalies, document everything Little things matter,

Major problems usually follow several small problems!

Must haves onboard

Spare Glasses Crew information sheet w/medical Engine maintenance log Service provider information Canadian service provider Flashlights – 1 in every cabin & Dinghy Inside passage spares checklist Expiration Checklist

Safety Equipment

PFD’s – get out look at Make sure you have enough Inflatables: Don’t count for USCG unless wearing it!

Flares: Hand held: make sure everyone knows how to light Aerial: bigger is better ~ 25mm Ensure not expired

Fire extinguishers (more than required) Galley, Engine space, cabins, dinghy Get “Clean Agent”

First aid kit Including antibiotics, & strong pain

Life-sling: Inspect & practice

The ‘early warning system’

Pre-departure checks, daily: Oil level, coolant level, vacuum gauge

Under-way At least once each trip Turn on engine room lighting Open the engine door/hatch Look/Listen/ Smell

After shutdown Making sure The shaft isn’t leaking No pumps are leaking

Sea Trial

What does normal look like? Need to monitor normal operating temp

With full load Does it reach full RPM?

Horsepower & torque directly related If not, figure out why!

But, I don’t do that everyday

Maintenance, engine oil

Oil & filter Manufacture recommendations, always Smaller/older 100-200 hrs, newer up to 375!

But still every 12 months Oil analysis – yes, next slide

Going to S.E. Alaska??? Keep ahead of your mess “If you fail to plan, your planning to fail”

~Beemer, Spring 2016

Oil analysis

Why? Cheap, good info/early

warning systems, resale 1 time analysis is a must

when purchasing boat What does it look like?

Oil analysis, how

It’s easy, you can do it!

Maintenance, changing oil

Doing your own change when out –n- about Getting a mechanic nearly impossible

Have an easy oil change system Like Reverso

Maintenance, changing oil

Tech Tip#123: Put old filter in freezer zip-lock bag

Tech Tip#564: Dollar Store aluminum pans can be bent and fit into tight spaces to prevent a mess

Sacrificial Anodes

Fuel It just needs to be clean This is what will cause your engine to quit running Lots of spare filters for primary

I recommend at least 6 Don’t tolerate leaks!

Filtration:

We’ll talk filters soon, and ”Microns”

Remember a micron is ---->

Fuel When to change filter? Vacuum gauges are wonderful!

Fuel, Filters

Primary Filtration Good system for changing

Electric priming pump best When changing the filter we need to

remove the air Before it gets to high pressure pump

Fuel, Filters

Nice, readily available unit

Racor: Color coded

Watch for:Twist, double gaskets

Cooling System – sea water cooled

Gear cooler

Sea-water side - Impeller

Impeller

Impeller service is every-other- year Doesn’t depend on hours of operation

Unless >400 or 500 hours in a season

Some manufactures are saying every year

Removing the old one Can be difficult

Pullers

Pry bars/screwdrivers

Bolts

Impellor failure

If you open the cover and find missing blades or parts of impellor….

You must go downstream and find them

Closed loop - antifreeze

Follow the manufacture schedule Specific types of antifreeze important It doesn’t last forever Many ‘extended life’ need additives & filters Relies on a heat exchanger

The mixing of hot-n-cold with corrosive fluids Expensive – next slide

Gear CoolersReplace or clean every 5 years

Exhaust elbows: Inspect annually

What a tough life…. Install new @ departure

Early warming systems Every sea-water cooled exhaust

should have a temperature alarm

Maintenance log

What I use….. ….and it’s free!

Microsoft Excel James & Jennifer Hamilton MVdirona.com

Marine Head Maintenance.. The Vacu-Flush

Duck Bills, & Duck Bills, that’s about it

I’ve seen them 8 years with no maintenance

“Crapper Tapper”

Being “In-Tune” with the system

Dinghy/Outboard

Workhorse - critical Supply boat, sight-seeing/exploring,

fishing/crabbing, ticket to shore, etc. Have engine serviced before you leave Over 10 years old – replace all fuel lines Carry spares

Patch kit (if inflatable) Spark Plugs

Anchor Buddy

Considering a new outboard? See me at breaks. Suzuki has EFI!

Lehr, propane!

Outboard Motors, New Technologies

Anchor Buddy

Anchoring

Good bridle 300’ minimum length Stern tie line Logging cable hook Bullworks hook

Alternator Circuit:

Most engine manufactures provide us with automotive style alternators.

Usually not ideal for a cruising vessel

Alternator Circuit:

Updating to 3 stage charging is a must for cruising vessels!

Many options available Worth the $$

Normal, for Marine Tech

How long will they last I’ve seen 14 years on Gel-cell, 20 years ago I’ve heard of 10 years, plenty of times Cruising Vessels 3 – 6 years But….. We can destroy them quickly

Electrical: Discharge vs Cycles

To make them last? 50% rule Also, they are only easy to

recharge (running engine) up to 70%. Wasteful

Use solar, or generator Create a “Balanced” electrical

system

Batteries, replace before you go Sealed Batteries are great! TPPL-Thin Plate Pure Lead

Odyssey Optima

Carbon Foam FireFly

Lithium Ion: Being introduced – still on the cutting edge I’m a big fan EV market/Tesla helping

Monitoring, critical All batteries must be monitored Need aH meter for house Story of our start battery We’ll talk batteries later

Older vessels, update to serpentine belt

Big DC loads Windlass, Davits, Thrusters, & more

Be on the lookout for excessive black dust

Run engines at higher speed when using

Alternator put out very little at idle > 1200 RPM’s

Other good ideas

High bilge alarm – ABYC requirement Bilge pump indicator light

At the helm station(s)

Exhaust Temperature alarm Bilge pump counter Portable back-up bilge pump

Bilge pump in a bucket – next slide

Splash Zone

Portable Bilge Pump in a Bucket

Must have

Rescue Tape Splash Zone

Portable pump

Doctor’s Bag

Hand Tools Allen Wrenches Strap Wrench End Wrenches SAE End Wrench Metric Adjustable Wrench 6" Adjustable Wrench 10" Screw Driver (square) Screw Driver Set Screw Diver Precision Screw Driver 90's Off-set Ratchet Screwdriver Hose Tool Gasket Scraper

Vice Grips - Needle Nose Vice Grips - Regular 10" Pliers Needle Nose Pliers Channel Locks Side Cutters Pipe Wrench Utility Knife Hacksaw (close quarters) Hammer Picks Wire Toothbrush Tweezers Pry Bar

Sealants Rector Seal 5 Form a gasket BoatLife Adhesives Tape - black Tape - duct Rescue Tape Teflon Tape Epoxy Super Glue Electrical Needs Digital Multi-Meter Wiring Connecters Wiring tool

Other Must-Haves WD-40 Zip Ties Emory cloth Permanent Marking Pen Stainless Hose Clamps Gasket materials Scissors Mirror Magnet w/ LED Flashlight

Doctor’s Bag

Want more? I know you do! Cruiser’s College.org No Online, yet, but sign up for email notifications…

I’m working on it

1 email per month, and announcement for online options

Questions?

Contact Information:

Michael Beemer Skagit Valley College 360.708.1456 beemersboat@gmail.com