How-To: Stripping Your Boat’s Bottom
This article was originally published in the April 2022 issue of 48° North. It’s April and in the boatyard, the tide is beginning to shift. Just weeks ago, a whole day may have gone by before we spotted anyone else laboring…
The Springtime Shift: Making the Most of the Pre-Season
This article was originally published in the March 2022 issue of 48° North. Every year, somewhere between a strong southerly wind blowing a hoolie through Puget Sound and daffodils pushing up through the ground outside the…
Recommissioning: From the Blues to Blue Skies
This article was originally published in the March 2022 issue of 48° North Ah, spring at the marina. Full of promise. Renewal. Great times lay ahead. Blah, blah, blah. I trudge down to the boat in early March, dock cart…
Tech Talk with SeaBits: Spring Tech Checkup
This article was originally published in the March 2022 issue of 48° North A great thing to do at least once a year, and especially prior to the start of a more active boating season, is to give your boat a tech checkup.…
Diesel Deep Dive: Functional Oil Filtration
(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…
Diesel Deep Dive: The Effect of Time on an Engine
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…
Diesel Deep Dive: Quirks of the Engine Cooling System
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: Is Your Engine Sending Smoke Signals?
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…
Diesel Engine Troubleshooting and Maintenance Workshop in Port Hadlock
Knowing how to troubleshoot and maintain your boat's diesel engine is a crucial part of seamanship and boat ownership. As such, Washington Sea Grant, WSU Jefferson County Extension and the Northwest School of Wooden…
Diesel Deep Dive: Shifting The Marine Repair Paradigm
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…