Marine Engines

Oh boy! What a great big, exciting world you’ve stepped into with your first boat purchase. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a boat straight off the showroom floor or a carefully chosen used craft, the thrill of hitting the water is your new drug of choice.

Vigilance though, is the key to keeping your boat and in particular its marine engine, at full functionality. Your readiness to understand what’s working and what isn’t is the best step to avoiding a disastrous stranding. As your experts in diesel motors in Perth, the knowledge we impart here is our way of helping you to avoid costly towing and repairs.

On your everyday checklist should be inspecting the oil and coolant levels within your engine as well as the gearbox oil levels. This goes hand-in-hand with a visual once-over. Go from top to bottom, taking in any leaks of coolant, sea water ingress and exhaust gas or oil.

It’s what we call being ‘THT ready’. So read on and let’s get you safely on the water.

Know What You’re Looking For

Unlike your road vehicle, your boat is something you need to understand more intimately, right down to its marine engine. You will have other people around you (on board or on other craft) whose safety you’re responsible for so you must know your boat from bow to stern and port to starboard. Parts like seacock, hull, gunwale (pronounced gunnel), cleat and strainer must become well known to you.

Does your marine engine’s cooling system run on freshwater? Did you know that there’s more than one battery on board? Get to know what hoses run where and what battery operates what, right down to the switchboard console. You’ll look like the perfect boat’s captain plus you’ll know what’s what if an emergency arises.

‘Must Haves’ On Board

Let’s get the joke out of the way first. Yes, or course the esky is a priority BUT it’s not going to keep you and all of your mates safe in an emergency. The following tools will go a long way to fixing a problem.

Practical tools

• A socket set
• A wrench set
• A screwdriver set
• Cable ties (various lengths)
• A multimeter (to test electrical connections)
• Side cutters
• Wire strippers
• Spare terminals and connectors
• Jumper leads

Safety equipment

• EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon)
• Inshore and offshore flares
• Life jackets for every person on board
• Fire extinguisher

Spares

• Engine Oil
• Impeller
• Belt set
• Zinc Anodes
• Primary and Secondary fuel filters

Diesel Motors Perth

Still excited? You should be. Boating has delivered lifetimes of happiness to countless men and women, most whose better sailing experiences come from knowing their boat. If you get the feeling that your boat’s servicing and maintenance is beyond you, kudos for recognising it. Bring it to us – THT – the undisputed marine engine experts for diesel motors in Perth.

Contact THT today and we’ll get you THT ready and safely onto the water.