WHAT TO CHECK ON YOUR BOAT - CHECKING YOUR ENGINE, ELECTRICS AND GAS
These batteries were under oily bilge water as can be
seen
by the residue on the cables and the marks on
the bulkheads and the connections
are now
extremely corroded.
|
As a marine Surveyor I inspect all sorts of vessels to make
sure they are safe to go to sea.
Everything we do is about keeping ships, their crews and passengers safe
and our knowledge can be used by pleasure boaters to keep you safe as well.
When it comes to your engine, there are things you can check
yourself, such as the oil and water levels.
Check to see if you have oil leaking from the seals and if you do you
will need to get them replaced. Don’t
forget to check the batteries to make sure the acid levels are correct and
there’s no corrosion on the terminals or the connectors.
It’s a good idea to get your engine serviced before you
first set out. It may have been sitting there all winter so get it checked by a
professional before it breaks down and you need to be towed in.
With your electrics, make sure that everything is working as
it should be. Check that your navigation
lights are working and if you think there’s a problem anywhere with your
electrics, get a specialist.
If you cook on your boat or use gas to make a much needed
cup of tea you should have a look at the rubber hose and connections from the
gas bottle. Look for any signs of wear on
the hose or corrosion on the connectors.
If you think any needs replacing, you’ll need to call a certified gas
engineer to fix it.
Next week one of my colleagues will be talking to you about
your life saving equipment and what you can do to make sure it will help keep
you safe in an emergency.
Devendra Das – Chief Engineer and Surveyor Glasgow Marine
Office.