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You missed out!

The ultimate 

Marine Diesel Engine Maintenance Online Course

with Nigel Calder & Dr. Jan Athenstädt

Learn All You Need to Know About Boat Engines

On-Demand Online Course • 63 Lessons • 11+ Hours of Video

The most comprehensive online resource on boat diesel engines. No pre-existing knowledge required!

  • Lifetime Access
  • Expert Instructors
  • 60-Day Money-Back Guarantee

As featured in

Practical Boat Owner
Sail Magazine
BoatUS Magazine

Why Maintenance Matters

  • Almost 40% of all rescue missions conducted by the Royal Netherlands Sea Rescue Institution were due to engine problems.
  • When excluding causes such as navigation errors, bad weather, and sickness, engine problems were the reason for almost 70% of rescue missions due to technical issues!
  • Pretty much all engine breakdowns can be prevented with proper maintenance.

Course Content

Learn at your own pace:  We start with the basics but dive deep

Ideal for visual learners:
  • 100s of animated infographics
  • demonstration on real engines
  • extensive lecture notes to re-visit the content

Nominated for the DAME Design Awards 2025

Click on a module to expand the lessons

Introduction

4 Lessons

About This Course

How to Use this Course

Safety Precautions

Maintenance & Overhauls

Diesel Engine Basics

7 Lessons

The Combustion Process

Conventional Injection Systems

Engine Operation

Engine Cooling

Turbochargers

Reducing Emissions

High Pressure Injection Systems

Marine Engine Installations

8 Lessons

Engine Access

Engine Mounts

Fire Fighting Equipment

Raw Water Cooling Systems

Exhaust Installations

Hose Clamps

Fuel System

Air & Noise

Fuel

3 Chapters

Basic Fuel Cleanliness

Fuel System Introduction

Fuel Properties

Fuel Contamination

Tank Sampling

Fuel Treatment

Tank Cleaning

Fuel Filtration

Particle Counts

Filter Ratings & Limitations

Water Separation

Primary Filter Setups

Fuel Filter Maintenance

Changing Primary Filters

Changing Secondary Filters

Priming Filters & Bleeding the Fuel System

Lubrication

5 Lessons

The Oil System

Oil Filters

Oil Change Schedules

What Oil to Use?

Oil Change

Cooling

2 Chapters

The Raw Water System

Raw Water Circuit

Raw Water System Maintenance

Impeller Change

Sacrificial Anodes

Descaling Heat Exchangers

Siphon Breaks

Exhaust System

The Fresh Water System

The Freshwater Circuit

Freshwater Pump Belt Maintenance

Types of Antifreeze

Changing the Antifreeze

Air

4 Lessons

Air Supply

Crankcase Ventilation

Air System Maintenance

The Exhaust Side

Drive Train

10 Lessons

Damper Plates

Transmission Configurations

Clutches

Transmission Maintenance

Couplings & Joints

Stuffing Boxes

Dripless Shaft Seals

Shaft Bearings

Propeller Installations

Saildrives

Final Words

1 Lesson

Final Words

Bonus: Engine Work

5 Chapters

Tools & Spares

General Tips on Tools

The 90% Toolkit

The 10% Toolkit

Spare Parts

Troubleshooting

Cranking Problems

Slow Cranking

Getting Water Out of the Engine

Engine not Firing

Smoke Diagnostics

Overheating

Other Problems

Electrical Issues

Extended Layups & Winterization

Engine Preparation

Cooling System

Longer-Term Layups

Valve Adjustments

Valve Adjustment Mechanisms

Establishing Cam Position

Adjustment Process

Engine Alignment

Engine Alignment

Bonus: Repowering a Boat

1 Lesson

Repowering vs. Rebuild

Bonus: Sea Trials

1 Lesson

Testing an Engine

Bonus: Engine Performance

2 Lessons

Optimized Efficiency

Engine Performance Curves

The course content is compliant with ABYC and ISO standards

Sign Up Now - Risk Free

One time fee: $299

  • Lifetime Access
  • Expert Instructors
  • 60-Day Money-Back Guarantee

What our students say

Read more testimonials

We're looking forward to seeing you in class!

Dr. Jan C. Athenstädt

Nigel Calder

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