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…

Close to the Water: Ruminating on Boat Paint with Peter Marshall

I’ve long been proud of the paint job on my boat. At the same time, I’ve also been a little insecure about it. Everything I know about painting I learned from books, chat boards full of opinionated armchair sailors, or my…

Race Ready Rigging Checklist

As the presenting sponsor of the SARC, PTR Rigging and Spars is committed to serving the racing community, helping increase knowledge and understanding, and improving every sailor’s experience on the water. This article from…

Tips to Get Your Boat Out of its Winter Slumber

From the April 2021 issue of 48° North. One of the fortunate parts of being a boater in the Pacific Northwest is that the waters of the Salish Sea are open for year-round racing and cruising adventures. That said, most…

How-To Insulate Your Boat’s Windows

From the April 2021 48° North issue Spring is here, but outside it will still be predominantly cool and wet for a few months. Conversely and unsurprisingly, we would prefer the inside of our boats to be as warm and dry as…

The Nuts & Bolts of Lithium Power Systems

Tech Talk with SeaBits From the February, 2021 issue of 48° North. Lithium battery systems have become increasingly popular in the last few years, and offer a wealth of benefits for boats. However, there are some…