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Diesel Engines

Lowering the Beta 20, the Kubota 722 block marinized by the British, to replace a Volvo MD7A two-cylinder. (Photo/ Bert Vermeer)

Engine Replacement on Islander Bahama 30

There may come a time when repowering your cherished sailboat needs to be addressed. I suspected that not all 13 horses of the venerable...

Sailing Triteia: Budget Bluewater Cruising

If I were to sum up, in one word, how James Frederick has managed to create his sailing life, I’d say “resourcefully.” The 49-year-old...
This is the faulty diesel lift pump, the arrow is pointing to the sluggish primer lever. That is an issue because the fuel lift pump needs to provide the right amount of fuel and fuel pressure to the injector pump. (Photo/ Marc Robic)

Fuel Lift Pump: Easy DIY Diesel Fuel System Diagnostic and Repair

As with all things in life, everything goes well until it doesn’t. It is an inevitable truth that something will go wrong eventually and...
The engine mounts on my Perkins M20 diesel needed to be changed. Luckily, they are accessible so I was able to change them myself with a few basic tools and new parts. If your engine is less accessible, you'll need to ask a professional to change the mounts. (Photo/ Marc Robic)

How to Change Your Engine Mounts

It is always discomforting when you know, and actually feel, that something is not quite right. For a little while now, while navigating under...
Compression tester set up for testing. The hose is screwed into a glow plug hole after removing a glow plug. Note: This is a mock up to illustrate the tester placement, but this is a tester for a gasoline engine, not a diesel because it only goes up to 300 psi. A diesel tester would go up to 1000 psi. Also, ALL of the glow plugs should be removed, not just one. In addition, the hose is not actually screwed in because the fitting is the wrong size. (Photo/ Phil Decker)

How to Do an Engine Compression Test

An engine compression test is an important diagnostic test that any boat owner can do with equipment that costs about $50. You can also...

Diesel Performance Additives

We think of ourselves as sailors, but we all depend on reliable power to propel us in and out of harbor, through calms and...

What Oil Analysis Reveals About Your Engine

We've all heard that if you give a diesel good clean fuel, keep it cool, and stay on top of the oil changes, its...

Worship Your Universal M-Series Diesel With the Marinized Kubota Block

The Universal name resonates with many of us as one of the best sailboat engines available. Despite Universal Motor Corp. no longer being in...

What Your Boat and the Baltimore Super Container Ship May Have in Common

When the mega container ship Dali struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge at 1:28 am on Tuesday, March 26, the world saw a remote...

Reducing Engine Room Noise

Of all the health reporting that has been featured in the news recently, the theme of ambient noise is one that resonated strongly with...

The ULTIMATE Family Charter Catamaran – Bali 5.8 Full Tour

The Bali 5.8 Catamaran Sailboat is going to be the flagship of the charter sailboat industry. With up to six private cabins, each with...

Latest Sailboat Review

Island Packet 440

For nearly 30 years under the direction of designer and CEO Bob Johnson, Island Packet accomplished what few modern boatbuilders have been able to...