Systems
Marine generator service, because comfort at anchor depends on it
I service, repair and load test marine generators alongside main engine work. Generators fail more often than propulsion engines because they run long hours at light load, and they are neglected until the air conditioning stops on the hottest day of the trip. Maintenance is far cheaper than a rebuild.
Generators are worked hard and inspected rarely
A genset can put more hours on itself in a season than the mains do in three, running at a fraction of its rated load the whole time. Light loading causes wet stacking, impellers harden, and raw water cooling silts up. None of it shows until the unit will not carry the air conditioning.
What is included
- Oil, filter and coolant service
- Raw water impeller replacement and cooling inspection
- Heat exchanger and exhaust elbow inspection
- Load testing to confirm the unit will carry its rating
- Fuel system and injector service
- Control panel and start circuit diagnostics
- Sound shield and mount condition check
How it works
Service
Fluids, filters, impeller and belts, plus a full cooling circuit inspection.
Load test
The unit gets run under genuine load. A genset that starts is not the same as a genset that will carry the boat.
Report
You get told what was replaced, what is near the end of its life, and what to plan for next season.
Marine generators commonly accumulate more running hours than propulsion engines while operating at light load, which causes wet stacking and accelerated raw water cooling system fouling, and makes load testing a necessary part of generator service.
Related systems work
Marine Transmission Service
Gearbox service, fluid analysis, coupling and alignment work on marine transmissions and drive systems.
Cooling System Service
Raw water and closed loop cooling service, flushing and repair, the system that causes most marine diesel overheats.
Heat Exchanger Service
Cleaning, pressure testing and repair of heat exchangers, aftercoolers and oil coolers fouled by salt water.
Marine Generator Service: common questions
How often does a marine generator need servicing?
Follow the hour interval in the manual, and service annually regardless. Impellers harden with age whether or not the unit has run.
What is wet stacking?
It is unburned fuel accumulating in the exhaust because the generator runs at too light a load to reach proper operating temperature. It fouls the exhaust and injectors, and it is corrected by loading the unit properly or running it under load periodically.
Do you service the generator during an engine survey?
Yes. The generator is inspected and load tested as part of a mechanical marine survey and appears in the same report.
Tell me what the engine is doing
Describe the symptom on the phone and most of the time the problem is narrowed before I arrive. Surveys are booked around your sea trial date.