Stu Davies shares his tips for making sure your boat's saildrive runs smoothly
engines
Exhaust elbow repair: step-by-step
Mark Ryan tackles a job to avoid ‘killing your engine and perhaps your crew...’
How to change a boat engine filter
Stu Davies takes us back to basics and advises on how to change oil, fuel and air filters on your engine
Electric engine conversion on a Contessa 32
Norman Rubenis gets ‘Thunderstruck’ when he ditches the diesel and converts his Contessa 32 to run on a 10kW electric motor
Bleeding the fuel system on your boat
Basic engine maintenance is essential for boat owners. Stu Davies shows you how to bleed the fuel system
Is it time to switch to an all-electric boat?
Rupert Holmes takes an in-depth look at the practicalities and pitfalls of choosing electric propulsion, or even an all-electric boat
Alternator belt tensioning: step-by-step
Every boat owner should know some basic engine maintenance. Stu Davies shares how to tension the alternator drive belt
How to winterise a boat engine
Engineer Stu Davies explains the steps you should take to make sure your boat’s engine is protected over the winter months
How to replace a failed starter motor on a boat
When Colin Haines's boat won't start, he begins troubleshooting and ends up replacing his failed starter motor
Casting a cutless bearing housing
Don Fitzroy Smith turns to the experts when an obsolete fitting can’t be found
How to change a water pump impeller
Stu Davies shows you how to check and replace an engine’s raw water pump impeller, and explains why it’s an important job
Backflushing an outboard motor: step-by-step
You’ve replaced your impeller, but the engine’s still not pumping cooling water as it should. Jake Frith recommends chemical backflushing
Replacing gearbox oil seals: step-by-step
Outboard engine gearbox oil seals are vulnerable to damage and can be difficult to remove. Rupert Holmes explains how to change a typical set
5 top causes of boat engine failure – and how to avoid them
Jake Kavanagh talks to Sea Start marine engineer Nick Eales about how to avoid the five major causes of an engine breakdown at sea
How to service an outboard engine: step by step
Stu Davies shares useful maintenance tips on how to keep your 2-stroke and 4-stroke outboard motors running sweetly
Rebuilding an outboard motor gearbox: step-by-step
Small outboard motors can often be a low priority when it comes to maintenance. David Parker found out the hard way that his trusty little engine had been ignored for…
“Why changing to an electric motor was a disaster”
Felix Marks attempts to embrace a green future for his Tofinou 7, but his experiment with an electric motor proves costly when damp conditions prevail
Milky oil in my saildrive. What do I do?
While changing his engine oil, Chris Mardon noticed milky oil in his saildrive. Will it have caused damage to the leg? Stu Davies has the answer
How to service a marine engine cooling system
Is your boat's engine beginning to run hotter than normal? It may be time to service the cooling system, suggests Tony Davies
Why an oil test is vital for boat engine health
Gilbert Park and Larry Rumbol explain why regular a regular oil test can increase the life and reliability of your boat engine – and save you money