The team at River Canal Rescue helps to get you ready for the first cruise of the season with some useful tips and advice…
WITH an early Easter this year, you may have already cranked up your engine and undertaken the first cruise of the season. If that’s the case – how prepared were you for that initial journey? And if you’ve yet to head off, how often have you checked on your boat during the downtime? Are you confident you’re ready for the off? Liveaboards excluded, it’s surprising how many people return to their boats to find flat batteries, fuel leaks, water leaks and electrical problems. While RCR is always on hand to support the waterway community, many callouts can be prevented by undertaking some simple maintenance checks prior to your journey, having some toolbox essentials on board and knowing what to do if an issue arises.
Maintenance tips
• Check you have enough fuel to complete your journey and inspect all fuel lines and shut-off valves for leaks.
• Where possible obtain a sample of your fuel, check there is no debris floating in it, it smells like diesel and is clear and not cloudy. If it’s cloudy or smells of ‘paint thinners’ this indicates contamination which needs to be dealt with before going anywhere.
• Drain off any water from pre-filter housings or the agglomerator.
• Check batteries are charging correctly and that the charge rate from the alternator to the batteries is as it should be.
• Check the morse control is working correctly and the throttle and gears are selecting smoothly. Stiffness indicates the cable may be due for renewal or has rusted due to disuse.
• Switch isolators from one position to another to clean contacts. Give them a spray with WD40 contact cleaner.
• Check the condition of the stern gland, ensure there’s plenty of grease supplied to it and that the propshaft is turning freely.
• Check the engine oil and gearbox oil levels and top up if needs be.
• Check the condition of the fan belt − if it’s worn get it replaced.
• Check all coolant hoses for leaks and wear and tear. Replace if required. For raw watercooling engines, check the seacock, impeller and filter and all pipe work for leaks.
• Check the condition of the engine mounts, and look at the engine mount bracket for signs of cracks or breaks. If they are worn replace them or if the bolts seem loose, tighten before cruising again (but only adjust the bottom bolt).
• Check all coupling bolts and connections are tight.
• Check the air filter and if dirty, replace or clean as needed.
• Check the weed hatch seal is intact and that the weed hatch is secured.
Toolbox essentials
The following are useful to have on board:
• A multi-meter (battery tester)
• PTFE tape (for dealing with unexpected domestic leaks)
• Adjustable spanners
• A flat-head and multi-faceted Philips screwdriver
• Pliers
• A hammer
• Spare lengths of electrical wire/insulation tape
• A socket set And don’t forget the spares, such as: morse cables for steering, throttle and gear selection, fan belt, impeller, spark plugs, fuel filter, bulbs, bolts and fuses, plus a supply of oil and ‘stop leak’ or putty for those unexpected hull breaches.
Before you make that emergency call
Below are some common scenarios which may resolve the problem:
• If you’re losing propulsion and the propeller is slow-moving, put the engine in reverse. The prop may be fouled with bags or weeds.
• If the engine cuts out when in gear, check the propeller for obstruction.
• If the engine cuts out when revved, check the air filter − it may be blocked with dust (you can remove and run without it in an emergency). Alternatively, check for blocked fuel filters (Vetus has a small fuel pump filter that is usually overlooked).
• Is the engine overheating? It could be an airlock in the cooling system. Resolve it by unscrewing the bolt sitting on top of the water tank − this will release the air.
• If the boat won’t go into gear, check the cable is moving the selector arm on the gearbox, if it is then the cable is fine. Check the oil in the gearbox.
• Engine won’t turn off? Know where the manual stop button or lever is situated, usually on the right-hand side of the engine.
More info: www. rivercanalrescue.co.uk
