Marine Diesel Essentials

Is Marine Diesel Essentials for you?

Marine Diesel Essentials is for sailors and boat owners who would like to understand what's happening under the engine cover — without becoming marine engineers.

No previous mechanical experience is required.

If you sail a yacht with an auxiliary diesel engine, knowing how to check it, maintain it and recognise when something isn't right is an important part of being self-reliant on the water.

The aim isn't to teach you to rebuild an engine. It's to give you enough understanding and practical experience to look after one, identify common problems and know what you can reasonably deal with yourself.

What you'll learn

During the day we'll work around the marine diesel installation aboard Siren's Song, following the systems from the engine out through the yacht.

You'll learn to:

Understand the basic principles of how a marine diesel engine works
Identify the principal parts of the engine and what they do
Carry out routine pre-start and engine checks
Understand the fuel system and trace fuel from tank to engine
Check and change fuel filters
Understand fuel contamination and common fuel problems
Bleed air from a diesel fuel system
Understand the raw-water and freshwater cooling systems
Check and replace a raw-water impeller
Recognise common causes of engine overheating
Check engine oil and understand the lubrication system
Inspect belts, hoses and connections
Understand the basic engine electrical and starting system
Carry out routine maintenance
Recognise signs that something isn't right
Work logically through common engine problems
Consider useful tools and spares to carry aboard

The Marine Diesel Essentials Experience

Marine Diesel Essentials is a one-day practical course aboard Siren's Song.

Rather than learning about an engine sitting on a workshop bench, you'll work around a diesel engine installed in a working cruising yacht.

That matters.

You'll see how the engine connects to the fuel tank, batteries, cooling-water intake, exhaust, controls and other systems aboard the yacht — and you'll discover the practical realities of inspecting and maintaining an engine in the space where marine engines actually live.

We'll work through routine checks and maintenance and look at common faults using the engine and its systems to make sense of what is happening.

The emphasis throughout the day is practical understanding rather than mechanical theory.

Duration: 1 day
Location: Hobart, Tasmania
Yacht: Siren's Song

Before you start

No previous mechanical experience is required.

The course is designed for sailors, prospective boat owners and cruising sailors who want to become more confident around a marine diesel engine.

If you've ever opened the engine compartment, looked inside and wondered where to start, you're in the right place.

Wear clothes you're happy to get a little dirty.

By the end of Marine Diesel Essentials

You should have a much clearer understanding of how the diesel engine aboard a cruising yacht works and how its principal systems fit together.

You'll be able to carry out routine checks and basic maintenance, recognise some common problems and approach fault-finding in a more systematic way.

Most importantly, when the engine doesn't start, the temperature begins to rise or something simply doesn't look or sound right, you'll have a better idea of what to check first.

You won't leave as a diesel mechanic.

Tasman Adventures Specialist Course

MARINE DIESEL ESSENTIALS

Is Marine Diesel Essentials for you?

What you'll learn

The Marine Diesel Essentials Experience

Before you start

By the end of Marine Diesel Essentials

You'll leave as a sailor who understands their engine.

Get to know what's inside your engine bay

Tasman Adventures Specialist Course

MARINE DIESEL ESSENTIALS

Is Marine Diesel Essentials for you?

What you'll learn

The Marine Diesel Essentials Experience

Before you start

By the end of Marine Diesel Essentials

You'll leave as a sailor who understands their engine.

Get to know what's inside your engine bay

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