Engine Room Checklist
- Inspect engine and look for drips, leaks, belt dust, or fuel (or oil) streaks on engine block
- Check raw water strainer and seacock
- Sea water pump (is it leaking through the weep hole?)
- Inspect bilge pump
- Check oil filter (write service date on all replaceable filter elements)
- Check fuel filters (write dates on all replaceable filter elements)
- Sacrificial anode in heat exchanger (change when 50 percent)
- Examine muffler for cracks, leaks, corrosion
- Inspect shaft seal
- Check oil level
- Hose clamps (double below waterline)
- Transmission: check gear cooler, oil level, transmission pump, output flange
- Exhaust hose (check for leaks)
- Coolant cap (check for leaks)
- Inspect exhaust elbow (check for leaks)
- Make sure control cables are not kinked, and end fittings are securely fastened
- Genset:
- Write change date on all replaceable filters
- Inspect all connections and circuit breakers
- Check belts for proper tension
- Look at hoses, wires, clamps for cracks, wear
- Check oil and coolant levels
- Check battery levels and terminals
- Inspect alternator for proper belt tension, alignment and excessive dust build up
- Inspect battery cable connections to and from alternator
- Check stuffing box
- If everything looks okay, start engine, log hours and note service dates
It’s been a long time coming but we now see tangible progress emerging to reduce our dependence on fossil fuel. If the U.S. Navy can prove that it works, isn’t it about time the concept of the modern cruising boat includes hybrid forms of propulsion?