Pre-season marine engine servicing is best booked in the winter, not in the fortnight before you want to go to sea. Workshops and engineers fill up as the season approaches, and a service that finds a fault in March leaves little time to get the part and fit it.
This guide covers when to book, what a service should include and what to have ready, for fishing boats, workboats, passenger vessels and leisure craft.
When should you book a pre-season marine engine service?
Work back from the date the vessel has to be earning or ready to sail. If you restart at Easter, which falls on 28 March in 2027, aim to have the service finished by early March. That leaves a couple of weeks to fix anything found and to carry out a proper sea trial. [confirm with client: Watermota’s suggested booking window]
Ask for a date in December or January, even if the work itself is a month or two away. A diary slot is easy to move and a missing slot is not.
What does a pre-season marine engine service include?
A service should follow the engine maker’s schedule, which is set by running hours, calendar time or both. The usual items for a diesel installation are listed below, though your engine’s manual is the authority:
- Engine oil and oil filter, and gearbox oil level.
- Fuel filters and water separator, with the fuel tank checked for water.
- Air filter, belts and hoses.
- Coolant level and strength, and the raw water system.
- Sea water pump, impeller and strainer.
- Anodes on the engine, shaft and hull.
- Batteries, charging, alarms and wiring.
- A check for leaks, loose fittings and exhaust condition.
What should you have ready before the engineer arrives?
Have the engine make, model and serial number to hand, along with the gearbox and pump details, the running hours and the service history. The hours decide which interval service is due, and the history shows what was done last time.
Write down what the engine did last season: a slow start, a high temperature, a weeping seal or an alarm that went off twice. Engineers find problems faster when they know where to look. If parts need ordering, give the supplier those details early.
What is the difference between a service and commissioning?
A service is routine work to keep an engine in good order. Commissioning is the process of bringing an engine into service for the first time, or after an overhaul or a repower, and checking that every system works together. Watermota offers both, along with overhauls and repairs, workshop services and service support for all makes of marine engine and equipment.
If your engine has been laid up all winter, ask for a recommissioning check as part of the service, so the covers come off, the cooling system is refilled and the engine is tested in the right order.
What should happen on the first run after a service?
The first run is the test of the work, so do not skip it. Run the engine up to working temperature and check for leaks, oil pressure, coolant temperature and alarms. Then run it under load, ideally on a short trip, and look again once it has cooled. Anything that appears at this stage is much easier to fix at the quay than at sea.
Which spares should you order before the service?
Order the filters, impeller and belts the service needs before the engineer arrives, so the work is not held up waiting for a delivery. Our guide to winter refit planning explains how to build the list. Watermota’s online shop stocks impellers, sea water pumps, spare parts and sea water strainers, and our team can identify the right part from your engine make, model and year.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a pre-season marine engine service take?
It depends on the engine and the installation, so ask for an estimate when you book. [confirm with client: typical times for single and twin engine installations]
Can Watermota service an engine it did not supply?
Yes. Watermota’s engineering services include service support for all makes of marine engines and equipment.
Should I service the engine every year even if I did few hours?
Usually yes. Many makers’ schedules combine running hours with calendar time, so check your manual for the interval that applies.
Contact Watermota on 01626 830910 to book your pre-season engine service and put your vessel in the diary before the spring rush.
