Seamanship & Navigation,Featured
A Closer Look at Diesel Fuel
April 5, 2022
This article was originally published in the April 2022 issue of 48° North. In my last column (February 2022), we talked about oil’s function and filtration in a marine diesel engine, and noted that it is one of several…
Instructional,Boat Maintenance & Repairs,Featured
Diesel Deep Dive: Functional Oil Filtration
February 15, 2022
(Caption) Engine room of the Maritime Instructor (Seattle Maritime Academy training ship). All engines are equipped with spin-on or cartridge style filters. This article was originally published in the February 2022 issue of…
Instructional,Boat Maintenance & Repairs,Featured
Diesel Deep Dive: The Effect of Time on an Engine
December 14, 2021
This article was originally published in the November 2021 issue of 48° North. Marine diesels endure a tough life during their time on board a vessel. Often I hear, “A diesel will last forever,” or, “That engine will get a…
Instructional,Boat Maintenance & Repairs,Featured
Diesel Deep Dive: Quirks of the Engine Cooling System
October 12, 2021
Exploring the quirks of the marine diesel engine cooling system. This article was originally published in the October 2021 issue of 48° North. It’s a beautiful sunny day, and the water is calling. Once the diesel is started…
Diesel Deep Dive: Buying a Rebuilt Engine
August 10, 2021
This article was originally published in the August 2021 issue of 48° North. Summer is upon us, and so is boat buying season! For those of us dreaming about a new boat, there can never be enough scouring of boat ads. Hope…
Instructional,Boat Maintenance & Repairs,Featured
Diesel Deep Dive: Is Your Engine Sending Smoke Signals?
June 29, 2021
This article originally appeared in the June 2021 issue of 48° North. In the 1890s, Rudolf Diesel created the first compression ignition oil-burning engine, and it was was large, heavy, smoky, and slow turning. While the…
Boat Maintenance & Repairs,Featured
Diesel Deep Dive: Shifting The Marine Repair Paradigm
April 27, 2021
From the April 2021 issue of 48° North. Editor's Note: Diesel engine maintenance and repair can be a conundrum. Can and should boaters learn the basics and be able to do much of the work ourselves? Absolutely. Still, there…