Diesel Engine Shorebased Course

How often do you look at your car’s engine?

The modern car is designed with the aim that the average driver does not service the car themselves.

However a yacht engine is designed with the idea that the owner should service and carry out routine maintenance.

The 'AA' on the water ('Sea Start' in the Solent), is not as available as the 'AA' on the road, thus there is more demand for the basic knowledge of how a marine engine works and how to carry out a few checks to ensure a reliable working engine.

The RYA Marine Diesel Engine course looks at the four stroke cycle, cooling system, fuel system, air system and some basic electronics along with the importance of carrying spares and winterising your engine.

Emphasis on routine maintenance and how to spot problems as they begin to develop catching them before the engine fails can keep the average sailor out of many tricky situations.

This course requires no prior knowledge of how engines work, it is designed to help the complete novice in unravelling the mysteries that lie within the engine cover as well as encouraging them to look and examine their own engine.

Those with some previous knowledge have the opportunity to ask the more searching questions and can experience dismantling parts of a working engine in preparation to carry out more serious maintenance.

The importance of maintenance cannot be overemphasised even to the quickest of looks on a regular basis.

There is a certificate awarded on successful completion of the course as well as a prepared book of notes to keep as a reminder.