Getting an old diesel engine to run

Is it worth buying a boat with a non-running engine? Vyv Cox has some tips on what to look for before deciding if it's a viable project

- Vyv Cox

Although the cost of new boats has reached levels that put them out of reach for the majority of us, it remains the case that there are many second-hand vessels on the market. Some of them may be only a few years old, needing little attention to put back into service, whereas at the other end of the scale there are plenty of very cheap boats, sometimes abandoned for a variety of reasons, others sadly lacking attention and now no longer required.

It’s usually the case that the hull and interior can be assessed visually but other parts, particularly the engine, are not so straightforward.

It’s common to come across a boat languishing in a yard somewhere after its engine ceases to function for some reason, and the boat is offered for sale at a low price. A potential buyer must decide whether to walk away or take a chance that the engine, whose total replacement cost could be in the region of £10,000, might be salvageable. Here we’re aiming to assist that buyer’s decision, but it’s also useful information for an owner whose boat has been laid up for a long period of time. It goes without saying that uncovering major problems at any stage of the investigation may well be sufficient cause to abandon and look elsewhere.