Marine Diesel Engine : Info & Maintenance Tips

Monsoons in India...and every boat owner has packed off his or her boat to the finest boat-yard or dry-dock worth of the boat (or the owner)...


While in the yards...thorough maintenance work that cannot be done when the boat is on water...then covering it up to the extent that it is almost water-tight!

Monsoons are also the best time to expose that engine of yours...do extensive work on it with all the winding and grinding it went through in fairweather.

Diesel engines are popular since they are powerful and torquey, and have a clear advantage over gas (petrol) engines.

MARINE DIESEL ENGINES

Power in a conventional marine diesel engine is produced by hot compressed air igniting fuel sprayed under very high pressure into the cylinder head.

Gas-powered engines use a carburetor to mix fuel and air or spark plugs to ignite the mixture. That is not the case in diesel engines and instead they employ the pistons to compress the air to 3000 kPa.

This causes the mixture to become extremely hot and the fuel is ignited as soon as it is injected into the cylinder.

Some marine diesel engines are fitted with a heater plug in the inlet manifold or a glow plug in the pre-combustion chamber of each cylinder to provide additional heat to the combustion air during starting.

WHY DIESEL ENGINES?

Diesel engines are heavier and slower revving than petrol engines but they are also more reliable because they do not rely on external carburetion or an electrical spark for ignition.


Newer engines use an electronic fuel injection system whereby fuel and air are mixed more thoroughly in the pre-combustion chamber before entering the cylinder. This system maximizes power and fuel economy and is also less polluting.

FOUR STROKE DIESEL ENGINES

The four strokes in the order they occur are:-

1) Inlet stroke - With the inlet valve open and the exhaust valve closed, the piston moves from top to bottom, creating a low-pressure area in the cylinder. Clean, filtered air rushes through the open inlet valve to relieve this low-pressure area, and the cylinder fills with air.

2) Compression stroke - With both valves closed, the piston moves from bottom to top, compressing the air. During this stroke the air becomes heated to a temperature sufficiently high to ignite the fuel.

3) Power stroke - The fuel is injected, or sprayed, into the hot, compressed air, where it ignites, burns and expands. Both valves remain closed, and the pressure acts on the piston crown, forcing it down the cylinder from top to bottom.

4) Exhaust stroke - The exhaust valve opens and the piston starts to move from bottom to top, driving the burnt gas out of the cylinder through the open exhaust valve.


TWO STROKE DIESEL ENGINES

The two-stroke engine uses two piston strokes to complete one power stroke and, therefore, fire twice as often as a four-stroke engine.

A two-stroke engine is smaller and simpler with fewer moving parts. A two-stroke engine has the potential to produce twice as much power as a four-stroke engine of the same size, however, because of the extra fitting required in a two-stroke diesel engine, for example blowers and governors, they become more expensive to produce.

There has been a shift towards four stroke diesel engines which have become more efficient and smaller.


PROTECTING YOUR DIESEL ENGINE

1) All boat owners should have an understanding of basic marine diesel engine maintenance to keep themselves and their families safe on the water.

2) Regular maintenance and checks of the engine are mandatory.

3) Use optimum quality fuels and oils; this would not only benefit your engine but also the environment.

4) Avoiding long periods (more than 10 minutes) of idling in a "no-load" situation. Many owners who don't regularly use their boats often put 'on' their engines and run them idle. This infact glazes the bores of the engine and cause premature engine failure. If the vessel is in a berth the engine can be put in gear to create load at idle.

Giira Yachts hopes to benefit every boat owner in every manner. Do email your queries with regards to boat maintenance to give you assured maintenance advice.
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Hike In Fuel Price Hits Speed Boat Industry!!

Speed Boats & Jet Ski's are cheap to purchase but considering their size they are very expensive to run & maintain. There are no charter options available for small water crafts so covering up the maintenance by charter is virtually impossible..


In many countries like Canada, USA, New Zealand, millions of gallons of fuel is consumed EVERYDAY! The USA alone consumes 400 million gallons of gasoline every day. This red hot demand for gas has pushed gas prices to record highs. For a person who owns a Rolls Royce or a Mega Yacht, money isn't an issue. Rise in the fuel price doesn't make any difference to his pocket. But the hike in the fuel price has affected millions of middle class world wide as well as the speed boat and other small water craft industries.


In $ powered countries owning a small water craft is not a big deal. Loans & finance options are easily available and this makes the whole process of purchasing a boat very easy. Small boats are mainly used on weekends to spend some quality fun time with family or friends. But for boat owners, the cost of fuel is keeping many motor boats moored to port.


Companies and local dealers claim a major fall in the sales of boats and other water crafts since the hike in the fuel price. They are forced to give a huge discount on the boats to keep the sales rotating and thats affecting their income. Resale market has also been affected. The Sailing Boat (wind powered) industry has boomed as the price of the fuel keeps climbing. Read more...

Environmentally Friendly Boat Maintenance

Boat owners who do their own maintenance and repair work must be aware of the environmental consequences, and must learn the basic steps they can take to protect the environment, remembering that they themselves are part of what they will be protecting. If they prefer to use professional maintenance, they should apply the same basic principles to the yard that is doing the work.

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Boaters enjoy the best of our waterways, the peace of being on the water, the ability to interact with nature, and the beauty of the open spaces. Whether you are in a personal watercraft, a row boat, or a large motor yacht, each of us has a vested interest in the health of these waterways and natural resources. It’s this vested interest that drives many boaters and marina operators to ask what they can do to help the environment.

The following are some specific actions boaters can take to protect the environment while having a great time on the water:-

Reuse and recycle: Recycle spent antifreeze, fuel, oil, oil filters, and batteries. Use less toxic propylene glycol antifreeze whenever possible, but check before mixing it with other antifreeze for recycling.

Put a sturdy trash container on your boat: If it’s in an open area, make sure it has a locking lid to prevent light items from blowing away.


Tune up your engine: A tuned engine improves fuel economy and burns fuel more efficiently, causing fewer emissions from entering the air and water.

Clean your bottom: Keeping your hull clean and free of barnacles, grass and other marine growth will help reduce fuel consumption, and help increase your boats' performance. Use a hard (not ablative) anti-fouling paint if you plan on scrubbing the boat bottom while in the water.

Recycle at your marina: If you do not currently have recycling at your marina, let the manager know that you and other boaters would support the separate collection of recyclables, particularly aluminum cans.


Fix your prop: Damaged props greatly reduce the efficiency of your engine. Having a prop that is clean and in good condition will increase your performance, and help reduce fuel consumption.

Clean your bilge: Having a clean bilge will help you spot fuel/oil leaks, and help you avoid discharging petroleum into the water. A clean bilge is also much easier on your nose!


Wash your boat often: Try to wash your deck off regularly with fresh water and a scrub brush to reduce the amount of strong chemical cleaners needed throughout the boating season. If your boat is hauled for the winter, use that time to do any significant cleaning or repairs, to reduce the potential for pollutants to enter the water.

Refuel carefully: Do not top off fuel tanks, because it usually leads to spillage.

Clean naturally: By using natural cleaners such as vinegar and baking soda, or biodegradable cleaners and detergents, you will help reduce the amount of solvents and chemicals going into the water. Read more...