Marine Engine Surveys
What is a Marine Engine Survey?
A marine engine survey is an in depth mechanical inspection of the engine(s) on a boat or yacht. This is not an inspection that just any surveyor can perform. To conduct a proper mechanical survey on marine engines the surveyor needs to have professional marine engine technical training, factory specific engine training, hands on mechanical experience, (service, troubleshooting, and repair), and continuing education on the engines the surveyor is inspecting. Without proper education, experience, and mechanical knowledge of the engines many things can be missed which can cause an owner or a prospective buyer of a vessel thousands of dollars in unseen damages, overdue maintenance or even the replacement of a faulty engine that appeared to run properly.
A marine engine survey is an in depth mechanical inspection of the engine(s) on a boat or yacht. This is not an inspection that just any surveyor can perform. To conduct a proper mechanical survey on marine engines the surveyor needs to have professional marine engine technical training, factory specific engine training, hands on mechanical experience, (service, troubleshooting, and repair), and continuing education on the engines the surveyor is inspecting. Without proper education, experience, and mechanical knowledge of the engines many things can be missed which can cause an owner or a prospective buyer of a vessel thousands of dollars in unseen damages, overdue maintenance or even the replacement of a faulty engine that appeared to run properly.
The inspection process and testing of the engine's components during a marine engine survey are the following:
- Sea trial (running the engines at wide open throttle, backing the engines down, and hard over turns to inspect the steering assembly)
- Compression testing
- Borescope viewing of the cylinders and pistons
- Inductive testing of the ignition systems
- Infrared thermal imaging of the engine blocks or powerheads and transmissions to ensure proper temperature anomalies throughout the engines while running
- Computerized marine engine diagnostics (includes dynamic testing, static testing, and component activation of the engine's components - to learn more about marine engine diagnostics click here)
- Inspection of the steering assembly
- Inspection of the engine's electrical actuators or hydraulic systems
- Oil analysis to search for unusual wear metals and foreign substances in the engines
- Testing of the fuel to search for phase separation, excess water or Ethanol in the fuel
- Proper rectified and regulated voltage to insure the engines are charging the batteries when running
- An overall visual inspection of the engine to look for things such as galvanic corrosion, back probing, worn timing belts, proper belt tension, proper wiring connections, improper previous repairs, etc
If requested or recommended, I can conduct more advanced inspections and testing during the marine engine survey or analysis. I can also provide diagnosis or determine the mechanical failures. These advanced inspections and testing I can perform are the following:
- Digital data testing (on NEMA 2000 and CAN bus data systems)
- Stray current testing
- Battery load testing
- Vacuum testing
- Leak down testing
- Electrical parasitic draw
- Carbon monoxide testing
- Fuel analysis
- Coolant analysis
- Mechanical failure analysis
Vacuum testing of a fuel tank due to a faulty anti-siphon valve
Oil in the cylinder of a Yamaha F250 outboard engine from a damaged "o" ring during a marine engine survey
A corroded in-line fuse connection that was causing power loss to engine components
Low compression testing of a MerCruiser 5.7 Liter inboard engine during an engine survey
Fouled spark plugs causing the engine to idle rough during a marine engine survey
A badly damaged ring seal on the lower unit of an outboard engine from a previous hard grounding discovered during an outboard engine survey
Emulsified oil (seawater mixed with oil) found in the powerhead and up into the air intake of a Mercury Verado 2.6 liter engine
An badly corroded intake valve from seawater intrusion in a Mercury Verado 4.6 liter outboard engine (taken with a borescope camera)
Infrared thermal image of a Yamaha outboard engine running with a hot spot from a lack of water circulation in the powerhead
A power graph using the diagnostics computer of cylinder drop testing to test the ignition system of an Evinrude outboard engine
Phase separated and contaminated fuel in the fuel rail of a Yamaha OX66 outboard engine
Using special software to verify a faulty digital fuel guage on the NEMA 2000 network that was not reading fuel
Conducting a shaft run out test on a Yamaha lower unit after suspecting the shaft was slightly bent
Conducting a leak down test after discovering a power loss of the outboard engine to isolate the source of the loss
Leaking oil from an oil check valve on a Mercury Verado 2.6 liter outboard engine
Very old, phase seperated fuel pulled from a fuel rail of a Mercury Optimax outboard engine that stalled multiple times when throttled up
Fuel pressure testing of a Yamaha two stroke outboard engine during a fuel diagnosis
Fuel taken from the primary fuel filter (on the left) and fuel taken from the VST (on the right) of the same Mercury two stroke outboard engine which confirmed a faulty oil pump
I am currently certified on Yamaha, Mercury, and Honda outboard engines and MerCruiser inboard engines. I have specific factory and technical trade school training on Evinrude, and Suzuki outboard engines and BRP, Yamaha, and Volvo gasoline inboard engines. I attend yearly annual training from factory training schools throughout the United States.
My combined training, education, and technical certifications can be found here.
Please contact me if you would like to arrange a marine engine survey or engine analysis at (561) 255-4139 or via my contact page here. I would be more than happy to discuss it with you and can combine it with a pre-purchase and valuation survey for a prospective buyer.
My combined training, education, and technical certifications can be found here.
Please contact me if you would like to arrange a marine engine survey or engine analysis at (561) 255-4139 or via my contact page here. I would be more than happy to discuss it with you and can combine it with a pre-purchase and valuation survey for a prospective buyer.
Capt. John Banister, AMS®SAMS® Accredited Marine SurveyorABYC® Standards Accredited
ABYC® Gasoline Engines Technician CertifiedYamaha Certified Outboard Marine TechnicianMercury / MerCruiser Certified TechnicianHonda Certified Outboard Engine TechnicianUSPAP® Certificate on Appraisal StandardsITC® Certified Level III ThermographerUSCG Licensed Master CaptainMember SAMS®, ABYC®, IAMI®, & NFPA®