How many of us follow the full engine winterising schedule, especially if you keep your boat in the water? I'm probably one of many who have limited this to simply changing oil and filters and ignored flushing through the engine cooling system, especially when the engine intake skin fitting is difficult to get at. Well, we ignore these things at our peril!
More often than not we check that the water is flowing out through the exhaust, and eyeball the system for any tell-tale signs of obvious leaks, then let sleeping dogs lie, not realising that an unseen build-up of salts can seriously restrict the amount of water running through the heat exchange manifold.
I learned a hard lesson last spring after leaving my boat-and its inboard marine diesel-unused for two seasons because of Covid-19 restrictions. The saline water in the cooling system crystallized and gummed up the tube stack within the manifold, and because of the mix of an alloy manifold casing and bronze fittings, it also suffered electrolytic corrosion.
There were no outward signs of trouble, the problems were all hidden inside the manifold or at the back end of the engine - which in Sea Jay's installation is hard to see in the restricted engine space under the deck.
A cheaper option
The shock was all the more when I learned the cost of replacement parts-£279 for a part-exchange tube stack, and £439 for a new manifold casing. With fitting, it was going to cost around £1,000, simply for not following the full winterising programme-Gulp!
この記事は Practical Boat Owner の September 2023 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、8,500 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は Practical Boat Owner の September 2023 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、8,500 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
A sailor's guide to UK sharks and fish
Genevieve Leaper looks at some of the shark species around the British and Irish coasts and how to spot these fish from your boat
Multihull anchoring
Brush up on your multihull sailing skills before heading off on a holiday charter with Gavin Le Sueur's guide to anchoring
A revolution in fabrics
Marine fabrics are using natural fibres, less harmful chemicals and longer-lasting colours. Jake Kavanagh looks at the cut of the cloth
Shoestring voyage of adventure
Richard King and Serafin Colmenares Jr. look back at the remarkable Pacific voyage of Florentino Das in his 24ft home-built boat
A fine day out with a visitor
Six hours afloat and a guided tour to vindicate a fictional sailing heroine's navigational skills
Boats for Baltic cruising
Duncan Kent picks the best sub-40ft sail and power boats for crossing the North Sea and exploring a Baltic summer
Boatyard life
The tide of the year Is rising. Time for work
Weather or not to go sailing
Ignore the apps: it's much safer to swear by the weather wisdom of a local oracle
The angelic East Coast pocket cruiser
It is 100 years since the first Deben Cherub was launched. Julia Jones looks back at the history of this 21ft river racing class
Best anchor types for varied cruising
Rupert Holmes on choosing the best anchor for your boat, your style of cruising, how you’ll use it and your budget