You May Want To Sit Down Mr. Jones, I've Got Bad New's,

[seapower]

Yes your engine is ruined, but it was your fault! Folk's money has been and is gonna be tight for the forseeable future. I know what I am about to write is "common snese", but I can't tell you how many time's I have been through this dream shattering drill.
(1) I can count on one hand how many engine's I have seen that have failed on their own, truth. I can't say "all" but the very vast majority had some help by the owner/operator.
(2) Find a "marine mechanic" in the same way you look for a Doctor! I'm not putting ourselve's in the importance of MD's, but when you're 50 miles off the beach, you'd better trust the guy that does your work! Truth
(3) If you don't understand your mechanical system's, why are you headed to sea? You can't repair what you don't understand! Yes it will break down.Truth
(4) Don't go "cheap". That $100.00 you saved by using less expensive oil and filter's will have very little value while you're waiting for the Coast Guard or SeaTow. Truth
(5) If there is a problem (leak's, engine miss, vibration, over heating,etc.....) don't ignore it. I promise it will not fix it-self and there are NO engine fairy's, so they won't be coming either!!! Most problem's start small and progress because of neglect (YES, not making the repair when you find it is neglect). Barney Fife had it right, "nip it!". Truth
(6) Do not be afraid to use your engine's and running gear. When a customer come's to me and say's "I just found a boat that is 12 year's old and the engine's only have 250 hour's on them", I generally tell them to keep looking. Machine's are not made to sit still, seal's, gasket's dry out and leak. Valve spring's can loose their elasticity, same thing with piston ring's. Not to mention the lack of oil coating all of those interior surfaces that rust. Truth
(7) Pushing those throttle's up to "WOT" every now and again is not a bad thing. Diesel's are governed to only turn so many rpm's. Those engine's need to be able to turn up to "rated" rpm at all load's. The only way you'll know if they can is to run them. An engine that has alway's been able to turn up to "rated" but now can't, has a problem. It may not be the engine at all, you could possibly have fouled prop's (and it doesn't take much growth), clogged fuel or air filter's, etc...... More than likely it will be something simple, now is the time to take care of it. An engine that will not turn up because of "load" will have an early demise! Truth
(8) When you have found that "marine mechanic" that you trust, tell him the truth!!! Look if you have a failure and the guy is worth his weight in salt, he'll find out why the failure occured just by his troubleshooting. Save yourself the time and money, he's gonna find out you did something stupid anyway (if you did). How many time's have I heard "well it ran alittle hot", folk's 250 degree's isn't alittle hot!!!! Or was a "little low on oil" 4 quart's isn't "a little" low when the engine only hold's 5 quart's!!!!! If you made a mistake, by all mean's learn by it, we all make them. Truth
(9) A maintainence log is invaluable, that way there is no "I reckon" about it. Keep your log and hold to the maitainence schedule called for on you machinery. In the end that is the cheapest and most trust worthy way to get the hour's and year's out of the "dream" you paid dearly for.
I know this may be along read, but there is much, much more. Thing is it all boil's down to common sense. Something that seem's to be in short supply these day's. Don't be that guy that has "Honest Sam" the tractor guy fixin your rig. Boat's are an entity into themselve's,Truth. SeaPower, Out

[TROPHY SPORTFISHING]

So very true good read Frank valuable info.

[Andaman Andy]

As always Frank good stuff!

[clt_capt]

Great info Frank - Thanks for sharing.

[JD5652]

Amen....

[LuckyLady]

AND THATS TRUTH! good write seapower!

[gottaflylee]

Holey cow Frank, I knew you had this in you... Great stuff!!!

[Robja]

Very impressive Frank. Ya may not be able to post a picture but you sure wrote a common sense post.