Comments for BoatHowTo

Comment on Filter Ratings & Limitations by Tom Neverdal

Tom Neverdal — Sat, 07 Nov 2026 19:57:49 +0000

Tony Athens of Seaboard Marine actually recommends using 10 µm as the primary filter and 20 µm as the secondary on Cummins 6BTA engines, which I have. Have you heard of this? Do you know the reasoning?

Comment on Marine Diesel Engines Maintenance - The Ultimate Guide by Matthew Smith

Matthew Smith — Fri, 06 Nov 2026 21:42:21 +0000

Apologies if I missed this in the course! It’s been a bit since I’ve reviewed the lessons. I was wondering what is best practice when not intending to use the boat over winter regarding running the engine. There’s much contradictory info out there. Every month or 2 I will make sure to run the engine for at least 30 minutes under cruising rpm at the dock in forward and reverse. When spring comes I do my annual oil change if I haven’t hit the recommend hours interval. Is this wrong? Some folks online claim it’s better to let the motor sit.

Comment on Changing Secondary Filters by Tom Neverdal

Tom Neverdal — Thu, 05 Nov 2026 20:56:29 +0000

What is the test Kit called where you determinewater in the fuel?

Comment on Exhaust System by Harley Soltes

Harley Soltes — Tue, 03 Nov 2026 14:26:20 +0000

And…if you were to recommend the raw water alarm sensor would you put it in the hose between intake filter and raw water pump or in the hoses going to the anti-siphon on their way to the exhaust?

Comment on Exhaust System by Harley Soltes

Harley Soltes — Tue, 03 Nov 2026 13:58:20 +0000

I am going to install a cooling system alarm on my Yanmar 4LV150 this Winter. There is a choice of exhaust hose sensors like you mention AND an option for a raw water flow alarm installed inline with your raw water hoses. What do you think about the water flow alarms instead of the hose temperature sensor?

Comment on Final Words by Angus Whitfield

Angus Whitfield — Mon, 02 Nov 2026 09:21:56 +0000

A great next step having completed the RYA Diesel engine course – takes working knowledge to the next level! Highly recommended for any yacht owners / aspiring Yachtmasters

Comment on Medium Boat by Jeffrey

Jeffrey — Sun, 01 Nov 2026 23:43:55 +0000

I know you’ve answered questions on this subject before, but I would like to get specific so I can put the subject to rest for once and for all. I have a high quality negative bus which is connected to my engine block via a 0000 cable, it makes no connection to sea water. All negative/grounds are connected to this bus either directly or through sub-buses. I do not have a bonding circuit for my under water hardware and don’t plan to. I have a non-conducting flexible coupling between the trans and shaft. The shaft and prop are zinc’d. Must I install jumpers from trans to shaft? I would prefer not to. Are there any safety issues if leave it as is? Will there be any increased corrosion issues if I leave it un-bonded? Thanks Guys.

Comment on Battery Efficiency by Jan C. Athenstädt

Jan C. Athenstädt — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 08:03:00 +0000

In reply to John Henriksen. Thanks for pointing this out, not sure why my update to the text back then has not shown up. I now changed the text to: "If this is an 80Ah battery, it has been discharged down to 20% of nominal capacity."

Comment on Battery Efficiency by John Henriksen

John Henriksen — Mon, 26 Oct 2026 16:47:17 +0000

In reply to Jan C. Athenstädt. Is it fixed or am I still reading it wrong? "The rate of discharge (amps) is multiplied by the hours to give us Ah. For example, a battery is discharged at a rate of 4A and it sustains this for 16 hours. The Ah capacity is (4A x 16H) = 64Ah. If this is an 80Ah battery, its capacity has been reduced by 20% of nominal capacity."

Comment on The Water Tank Analogy by Jan C. Athenstädt

Jan C. Athenstädt — Mon, 26 Oct 2026 11:38:52 +0000

In reply to Anthony Colfelt. Thanks a lot, Anthony!