Working in the engine compartment - I am getting too old for this

mrsrobinson

Well-Known Member
Mar 9, 2006
7,704
Virginia
Boat Info
2001 380DA
Engines
Caterpillar 3126
I spent another day yesterday in the engine compartment, this time removing, cleaning, and reinstalling the transmission coolers. My fingers have cuts, I have bruises all over me, my joints hurt, my head hurts..I am getting too damn old for this.

It was 100 degrees, boat's in a covered slip and I had a high flow fan blowing on me and that was pretty manageable. Only went thru 2 shirts and 3 POWERADES.

Oh to be young again, oh and not 6'3".
 
I spent another day yesterday in the engine compartment, this time removing, cleaning, and reinstalling the transmission coolers. My fingers have cuts, I have bruises all over me, my joints hurt, my head hurts..I am getting too damn old for this.

It was 100 degrees, boat's in a covered slip and I had a high flow fan blowing on me and that was pretty manageable. Only went thru 2 shirts and 3 POWERADES.

Oh to be young again, oh and not 6'3".
Happens to all of us.
 
If you have to ask the question, then YES! Pay someone to do the work and enjoy your time on the boat!

Tim
 
Easy answer - get a bigger air-conditioned engine room.
R.b6ef8c6555a247ac5b6d1d2f0abaf803
 
I have an AC vent right on the other side of the engine room wall in the aft cabin. It's right there ;)
 
It gets harder to do stuff as you get older. It is just hard to hire anyone in my area that is competent to work on the boat right now.
 
It gets harder to do stuff as you get older. It is just hard to hire anyone in my area that is competent to work on the boat right now.
This is exactly why I drove to the boat yesterday to do the work myself, I didn't have confidence in the marina based on my phone conversation with them. I had confidence in the mechanic who they kicked off the premises.

I'm learning a ton, which I enjoy, and it's fun fixing things, but man I'd rather be on the water.
 
Another thing I like about sedan bridges is opening up the engine hatches in the salon and working in dry air coditioned comfort. Even still there are times it might be better to send in a pro once you find a good one. I get an overnight slip at another marina before Id let our local guys work on my CATs.
 
I enjoy reading the threads about guys doing their own repair/modifications on their boats and admire their skill levels.

I'm not that much of a mechanic so I always called my mechanic when I needed stuff done. He's good and he favored taking care of my boat over just about any other at his shop. Oh, and he made house calls!
 
I spent another day yesterday in the engine compartment, this time removing, cleaning, and reinstalling the transmission coolers. My fingers have cuts, I have bruises all over me, my joints hurt, my head hurts..I am getting too damn old for this.

It was 100 degrees, boat's in a covered slip and I had a high flow fan blowing on me and that was pretty manageable. Only went thru 2 shirts and 3 POWERADES.

Oh to be young again, oh and not 6'3".
I did the same this Saturday and then started waxing on Sunday. I’m convinced the Sea Ray engineers were all 5’5” and 120 pounds. Crawling around in the ER and some of the other micro spaces is not meant for someone who is 6’2” and 220. :confused:
 
I enjoy reading the threads about guys doing their own repair/modifications on their boats and admire their skill levels.

I'm not that much of a mechanic so I always called my mechanic when I needed stuff done. He's good and he favored taking care of my boat over just about any other at his shop. Oh, and he made house calls!

For me, it adds a lot to my boating experience and confidence that I can take care of situations if the unexpected happens - especially if traveling.

3 summers ago I had my new BC 34 on it's first long trip, to a relative's house. I forgot to reopen a seacock and burned the impeller. I had to learn quickly how to replace an impeller on a diesel - if I didn't have the base skills I would have been in a lot of trouble. There was a lot of time in a hot engine room in the summer. It was not pleasant, but I got it done. It saved the trip.

On Saturday I started up to go away for the weekend. Ready to pull off the dock my bow thruster threw an error - no communication. 15 minutes of troubleshooting identified the likely issue. It wasn't fixed but I was confident I could take care of it at my destination. Another 15-20 minutes after I arrived and the issue was resolved (loose connection in a comms wire). Now for all you saying pfft, wuss needs a thruster, a reminder that my boat is 37' with a single engine and a small rudder. Just trying to exit my slip in tight quarters was interesting, and I knew the return forecast was for high winds. So a bow thruster is a pretty important for me.

I may have mentioned this earlier. My generator would not stay running at the start of the season. Through some methodical diagnostics, I found the heat exchanger was fouled. I cleaned and reassembled it, and the repair was done in 2 days, vs. having to schedule a service call. My wife can't go out in the heat w/o AC, so no generator = no boating.

Anyway, my point is that understanding your boat's systems and being able to diagnose stuff can really pay off in saving a trip, your wallet, and your sanity. And when I told my wife I fixed the thruster, she just said "of course you did".

I will admit that some boat maintenance takes a toll on my knees now, and they are sore for a few days after.
 
I can't do some things anymore. Don't even try. 320 DA is the worst. I have all electric tools with every extension and adapter known to man. Oh...and don't forget this!
SmartSelect_20220725-121122_Google.jpg

But I am going to rebuild the vacuflush and change the shower sump out this week:)
 
I can't do some things anymore. Don't even try. 320 DA is the worst. I have all electric tools with every extension and adapter known to man. Oh...and don't forget this!
View attachment 131074
But I am going to rebuild the vacuflush and change the shower sump out this week:)
320DA isnt so bad. :D
54CB31A2-3294-410B-A2AB-6C539D30B512.jpeg
 
For me, it adds a lot to my boating experience and confidence that I can take care of situations if the unexpected happens - especially if traveling.

3 summers ago I had my new BC 34 on it's first long trip, to a relative's house. I forgot to reopen a seacock and burned the impeller. I had to learn quickly how to replace an impeller on a diesel - if I didn't have the base skills I would have been in a lot of trouble. There was a lot of time in a hot engine room in the summer. It was not pleasant, but I got it done. It saved the trip.

On Saturday I started up to go away for the weekend. Ready to pull off the dock my bow thruster threw an error - no communication. 15 minutes of troubleshooting identified the likely issue. It wasn't fixed but I was confident I could take care of it at my destination. Another 15-20 minutes after I arrived and the issue was resolved (loose connection in a comms wire). Now for all you saying pfft, wuss needs a thruster, a reminder that my boat is 37' with a single engine and a small rudder. Just trying to exit my slip in tight quarters was interesting, and I knew the return forecast was for high winds. So a bow thruster is a pretty important for me.

I may have mentioned this earlier. My generator would not stay running at the start of the season. Through some methodical diagnostics, I found the heat exchanger was fouled. I cleaned and reassembled it, and the repair was done in 2 days, vs. having to schedule a service call. My wife can't go out in the heat w/o AC, so no generator = no boating.

Anyway, my point is that understanding your boat's systems and being able to diagnose stuff can really pay off in saving a trip, your wallet, and your sanity. And when I told my wife I fixed the thruster, she just said "of course you did".

I will admit that some boat maintenance takes a toll on my knees now, and they are sore for a few days after.

Well said and I 2nd your sentiments!

Bennett
 
Current engine room. I took a nap on the left side one afternoon.

upload_2022-7-25_13-31-33.jpeg


Ironically this one in a smaller boat was easier to work on in some ways. There was more space at the front, and I could crawl around to get to the right side. The one above, I have to fit between the hatch support ram and the exhaust elbow to get to that side, including the batteries. Bit of a squeeze.
upload_2022-7-25_13-37-51.jpeg
 

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