Propulsion engines
Yanmar marine engine service and survey
Yanmar powers a great many sailboat auxiliaries and smaller propulsion installations along this coast. They are durable engines that suffer most from sitting unused, and the cooling and fuel systems are usually where the trouble starts.
Yanmar on this coast
Yanmar auxiliaries are extremely common in the local sailing fleet, where engines often run few hours per year and accumulate the specific problems that come from sitting rather than from working.
What I see most on these engines
Low hour, high age engines
Sailboat auxiliaries often have very low hours and very old rubber. Impellers, hoses and fuel condition matter more here than the hour meter suggests.
Raw water cooling
Small raw water circuits block easily, and a Yanmar auxiliary overheats quickly once flow is restricted.
Fuel contamination
Fuel that has sat for a season grows contamination and holds water, which is the usual cause of rough running after a lay up.
Sailboat auxiliary diesels such as Yanmar frequently accumulate age related faults rather than wear related ones, because hardened impellers, degraded hoses and contaminated fuel develop while the engine sits unused between seasons.
Factory certification is held with Volvo Penta. Work on other makes draws on 20 years of independent marine diesel experience rather than a manufacturer programme, and I will say so plainly if a job belongs with a dealer.
Services for Yanmar owners
Mechanical Marine Surveys
A documented condition report on your propulsion engines and generator, from visual inspection through sea trial.
Diesel Repair
Engine, transmission and generator service on marine diesels, from routine maintenance through a complete repower.
Engine Diagnostics
Find the actual cause before parts get bought, using engine management data, live readings and a borescope.
Other propulsion makes
Volvo Penta
I spent six years at a Volvo Penta dealer and hold Volvo certification, and I began performing marine diesel e...
Caterpillar
Caterpillar marine diesels power a large share of the sportfish and motor yacht fleet on this coast, and they ...
Cummins
Cummins marine diesels are widespread in this region across sportfish, trawler and cruiser installations. I se...
Yanmar: common questions
Do you service Yanmar marine engines?
Yes. Over 20 years in marine diesel I have worked across effectively every make of marine engine found on this coast, including Yanmar. Call with the model and hours and I will tell you honestly whether it is a job I should take or one better sent to a dealer.
Can you survey a boat with Yanmar engines before I buy it?
Yes. A mechanical marine survey covers compression on every cylinder, engine management data, a sea trial under load and laboratory fluid analysis, regardless of engine make.
Do you carry parts for this brand?
Common service parts for the engines I see most often, yes. Model specific components are ordered once the fault is confirmed, which avoids paying for parts that turn out not to be the problem.
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.