Help on diesel training course

I would recommend hiring a captain to show you around your particular engine room.

i think as ken has suggested that would be a good start also it depends on the engine /mfg

travler

Or... go to your local hobby shop, purchase a .50 to .60 size glow engine, break it down, then reassemble. At that point, you have the basic working knowledge of a diesel engine.

OK, I'm outa here before K1W1 sees this and hands me my head on a platter...

Hi,

I think my hands are a normal length for my size and I did a course that covers these things it took me 9000 Working Hours, 3 yrs of night school and 4 big exams to discover that there was still a heck of a lot to learn so I went to sea and am still learning over 30yrs later

Check out Mack Boring Co.
They are a Yanmar dealer but they do diesel courses for owners.

Or hire a local car mechanic to show you around the wheelhouse and then you can be the captain.

But if you really want to learn there might be a good alternative fairly close to you. Bob Smith at American Diesel Corp in Kilmarnock does seminars on his Lehman diesels at the TrawlerFest shows around the country. Look up American Diesel to get the contact number and ask him if he will provide the type of introduction to marine diesel service that you are seeking. His engines power many of the smaller trawler style boats and he caters to the owner/operator who wants to know the what and why of keeping the things running.

Hi,

That would be useful if the guy was buying a Hatteras with Yanmars.

In the dim light of a small boat engine room they all look, feel, and smell the same.

Really, for what he wants to do they are all the same. A Jabsco impeller doesn't know what the nameplate says and a fuel or oil filter makes the same mess and is prone to leak the same way in the same places.

How about getting a job at a company like Western Branch diesel as a mechanics helper. They're a Detroit Diesel dealer and are located outside of Norfol, VA. You can then watch the mechanic work and give him a hand and make a little money in the process.

I would also recommend getting a mechanics book (shop manual) on the engines you plan on working with and looking at that as well.

WOW, This is a tough crowd.

I agree that its most important to learn your way around your own engineroom. Pick out the boat, then go from there. In my Kent Island, Maryland neighborhood there is a well known diesel engine surveyor that has taught boat owner diesel courses. He would be a good guy to hire for a one-on-one lesson. PM for his contact info.

Touche
I thought pretty seriously about suggesting that he hire a mechanic/engineer but then decided that this may invite too much training, thus confusing the student. Also, engineers are scarce while captains are a dime-a-dozen
Most training captains could show him the basics.

I really didn't mean to be nasty in that, I do understand what you meant and agree with what you were saying in practice if not principle.

The captain of a smaller boat who has years of experience maintaining the engine(s) will have a great deal of hands-on knowledge to pass on.

I just couldn't pass on such a great opening ...