Getting companies to work on the boat in high season was, as expected, rather difficult.

I had a diesel ‘specialist’ from further afield come and fix the diesel. They managed to get the engine going after replacing the water damaged alternator and starter motor, but then backed away saying they could not guarantee the engine would be ‘seaworthy’ and it needed to be replaced. They offered a reconditioned Perkins engine for a hefty sum.

So, got a local company in for a second opinion. And guess what? The engine purred after being flushed with oil twice. It will probably need to be flushed again as there was still a trace of water in the oil. However, the following morning the engine turned over, but would not start. It transpired that the diesel pump probably got some water in it and needs to be checked. The engine was asking for diesel, but was not getting any. So, two steps forward, one step back. The good news in all of this is that the engine is fine.

The local company also pointed out that the alternator had the wrong belt fitted, the house batteries had ‘hot spots’ and were hot to the touch, despite being disconnected from any power source and a few other issues that were not identified on first inspection. Hmmm… Diesel specialists? Doesn’t look like the first company were quite on the ball.

I also had a marine electrician check out the electrics as the set up I inherited was rather haphazard (bits unsafely connected with insecure clamps, etc.) and was probably causing trouble with the batteries. Waiting for the verdict on that one…..