RYA Diesel Engine Maintenance

This course will help you prevent and solve diesel engine failure. It is designed to give you an awareness of the main systems of a marine diesel engine. You should leave with the ability to prevent breakdown at sea & rectify defects not requiring workshop support. The RYA Diesel Engine Maintenance course is designed to encourage greater knowledge, understanding and self-sufficiency.

A responsible and safety conscious skipper always checks the engine before they go to sea. And yet in any year, a significant proportion of search and rescue “call outs” are for vessels with mechanical problems. Many of these problems could be prevented if people took a little time to learn more about their engine. The engine is as much a part of the safety equipment as any other item aboard. And even where problems do occur at sea, many of these could easily be rectified without outside assistance.

This course looks at the principles of diesel engine operation, the systems and parts of the engine, fault finding, diagnostics and rectification of common problems, changing filters and impellers, routine maintenance and winter lay-up procedures. But this is not just about theory. Working with an actual engine, you will get a practical hands-on opportunity to see, touch and feel the different components, where they fit, how they can fail, and how you can both prevent and fix.

This course really is a must for all who go boating. Apart from genuine peace of mind, sound knowledge of diesel engines may not just save you money. It may one day save your life!

Course Outcomes

• RYA Diesel Engine maintenance certificate is awarded.