Annapolis Boat Diesel Engine Repair

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ANNAPOLIS DIESEL ENGINE REPAIR FOR YOUR BOAT

MAINTENANCE TIPS

Here are a couple tips that will save you money on repairs for your boat’s diesel engine. These tips will prevent costly repairs: 1. Get regular maintenance: Take your boat to a certified marine diesel mechanic for regular repairs and maintenance. 2. Make sure you have clean fuel: If your fuel gets water or dirt in it, it can damage your engine and cause costly repairs. Hiring a professional to do regular fuel cleaning/polishing is a good way to prevent this. 3. Check your air filter: A clogged air filter can damage your engine, causing it to lose power and burn fuel inefficiently. Clean it regularly and replace if necessary. 4. Change your oil: Make sure your oil is not contaminated with water or debris and change it regularly. 5. Check your cooling system: Make sure your raw water or fresh water intake is not clogged and that water is flowing through the engine correctly.

COST

Always factor in extra costs when you shop around for a quote from diesel boat motor mechanics. Depending on the age of your boat’s diesel engine, repairs could get costly if some of the parts have been discontinued by the manufacturer. Marine diesel engine repair could cost anywhere from $300 to $3,000 in Annapolis depending on the scale of the repair and the age of the engine. With diesel boat motor repair, quality work does come at a premium so it’s often better to go with a slightly more expensive mechanic with lots of experience. Otherwise, you may end up getting poor quality work done and then have to hire the more experienced diesel mechanic to redo the work anyway.

SELECTING THE RIGHT MARINE DIESEL MECHANIC IN ANNAPOLIS

Your search for marine diesel repair should include both online and empirical research. If you have friends with a similar diesel engine on their boat, you should ask them who they use for repairs. The Boat Diesel Engine Repair page on Mariner Exchange can be used to find rated and reviewed boat repair shops in your area. Looking at a boat repair shop’s website can be a good way to see how professional they are, but don’t be deterred if they don’t have one. There are great diesel boat motor mechanics out there that are mobile and don’t have a website. These mobile diesel mechanics are often less expensive because they don’t have the overhead of a facility. However, keep in mind that boating in Annapolis is highly seasonal so boat motor repair may not be the mobile mechanic’s only line of work. If you’ve gotten a referral and done your homework, then the mobile mechanic may be fine, but larger facilities that employ marine diesel mechanics year-round will tend to provide better quality service. A tell tale sign of quality is to see if they have certifications from the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) or from the manufacturer of your engine. In Annapolis, many of the best diesel boat motor repair facilities are located on Back Creek where the majority of the boat repair shops are located. There is also a high concentration of quality marine diesel mechanics south of Annapolis in Herrington Harbor and across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge on Kent Island.

LOOKING TO REBUILD YOUR BOAT’S DIESEL ENGINE?

When your boat’s diesel engine has reached its last leg, it may be time to hire a diesel boat motor mechanic to do an engine rebuild. When doing this, it’s important to make sure the mechanic has done a rebuild before and is certified by your engine’s manufacturer. Also, be sure that all critical parts of the engine are examined and replaced if necessary. This includes, but is not limited to, the water pump, alternator, and the starter.

These parts are often overlooked and the engine fails after the rebuild is completed. As a boater, you are left with few options and likely will have to do a full repower at that point. If you select a thorough diesel boat motor mechanic, then this should not be an issue but it is best to confirm and ask about these parts when you are vetting mechanics.

Diesel engine rebuilds are definitely more cost effective than doing a full repower. One thing to keep in mind is that you will not get the comfort of a manufacturer warranty and you will miss out on the latest technological innovations.