Replacing Lugger/Northern Lights PTO Clutch (MV Dirona Channel)

[@angels814ever]

Ten minutes into this video I could tell this man is VERY smart... a natural educator... easy to understand precise information which means the context is conveyed fast. thank you for posting!!!

[@MVDirona]

Good to hear since, in high school, most of my teachers thought I was a natural truant with a near total inability to complete homework! :-).

[@angels814ever]

@@MVDirona Truants dont purchase Nordhavns.... =0

[@MVDirona]

Well, I admit I'm now pretty good about showing up every day for work and university before that but, in high school, it wasn't such a good story :-).

[@cliffordb47]

angels814ever if you google his name you will surprised he designs Amazons complete computer network system this guy is brilliant as well as being able do use his hands,he's not just paper smart ,he is absolutely amazing the amount of knowledge he has

[@Slooperdooper99]

I have been a heavy duty diesel tech for over 13 years now. It is mine and my wife’s goal to sell our home when it’s all said and done and move into a used 47’ Nordhavn and cruise the carribean watching your videos are awe inspiring. You really do quality work. In addicted to your maintenance and repair videos.

[@MVDirona]

Great plan! Thanks for the feedback on the videos.

[@Slooperdooper99]

If you don’t mind me asking what size boat did you begin with before you decided stepping into the 52’

[@MVDirona]

We had a 40' Bayliner for a decade. We used it heavily and put on 4,100 engine hours while exploring the west coast of British Columbia and Washington.

[@jsboening]

You are the type of owners you want to purchase a used boat from. Very well maintained vessel. 👍🏻 I’m looking forward to more of your videos. Thanks

[@MVDirona]

Thanks for the feedback on the videos.

[@hassunhus]

He was probably an instructor somewhere. He has the right temperament and patience to deal with such situations. I wish him well in all his endeavors. Godspeed !

[@MVDirona]

No teaching in my background but Jennifer's questions during these video's help to remind me to say what I'm doing when I start to get too focused. Thanks for the comment.

[@johnoneil4688]

Outstanding! I have a modest collection of motorcycles which I aspire to maintain myself. This mechanical endeavor proves to be a love/hate relationship. The obvious pride in your work and boat ownership inspires me. Thank you for these videos and please keep them coming. And if I might add a special thank you to Mrs. Hamilton for knowing just when to ask a pertinent question, forcing you to slowdown and explain what’s going on to us mere mortals.

[@MVDirona]

Your Jennifer does a great job of reminding me what I should have said when I get to focused on the job itself and it makes a big difference. Thanks for the feedback and good luck with your motorcycles.

[@gordonjamieson861]

You can tell that this couple just love their boat . The engine room is very very clean as is the rest of the boat. I just like the way that they explain everything in a way that even i who has no engendering skills at all. 🇬🇧🇺🇸

[@MVDirona]

We do love the boat. 11 years and 11,500 main engine hours of adventures all the way around the world, we still love it. We're currently enjoying winter boating in Norway: mvdirona.com/. Thanks for the feedback on the blog.

[@Eric-mm6wo]

Great engineer and teacher shows us what's we need to know in the future.

[@MVDirona]

Thanks for the feedback on the video.

[@brustar5152]

When lubing splines of hydraulic pumps with short shafts - ergo; heat transfer to the splines themselves from the hot pump - use a high temp grease, even a copper based lube so it doesn't just melt away from the heat over the next ten years. Using one of your trailer straps attached to an overhead abaft of the pump so it takes up some strain both lifting supporting the weight) and slightly pulling the pump rearward would ease the use of 'two' of your pry bars to just pop that thing off of there in one go. You are exemplary for having both the skill and the confidence to maintain your vessel. Having posted these videos showing the care you take with it's maintenance; you're unwittingly making it a desirable purchase for someone buying used. Don't be surprised if you develop a following of folks meeting you at the dock with the query: "ready to sell yet?" LOL Kudos.

[@MVDirona]

You're very kind in your feedback and I hope you are right in people being interested in buying Dirona. I need to be in the Seattle area for work over the next year or two and won't have time to use the boat so it's going to be sold. Good suggestion on high temp grease. Much better than dry splines.

[@casaMariaPT]

When you scrambled into the engine bay to make a start, you looked like you couldn't wait to begin. This kind of task is no hardship for you, not technically, not physically and not mentally...you sir are in your element, and it shows! I bet you have some kind of a system set up to remind you that something needs servicing, and I bet your heart skips a beat when it's time to get your hands dirty. Great to watch...thanks for the videos.

[@MVDirona]

I do enjoy the boat running reliably so we are willing to invest time in it. I won't go quite as far to say that I look forward to maintenance work but you are right we do have a system to remind when something needs to be done. Jennifer wrote this spreadsheet system to remind us when work is needed: mvdirona.com/2018/11/updating-the-maintenance-log/. We use this system to track anything that needs to be done periodically whether or not it's a mechanical task. It's been pretty useful. You'll laugh but, as I type this, we are rewriting the maintenance spreadsheet as a database application that will send email when work needs to be done, track what has been done, and the new app will be a bit easier to use than the spreadsheet.

[@casaMariaPT]

@@MVDirona You're right...I laughed! I also liked, subbed and rang the bell! I am looking forward to more of the same! I don't look at your lifestyle and think how lucky you are, the old adage 'The harder I work, the luckier I seem to get' is a good one. I do however have a certain amount of boat envy, not in a bad way though, the only thing separating my lifestyle from yours is hard work, aptitude and a lottery win. Stay safe my new friends!

[@MVDirona]

All the best to you as well.

[@harryrose9144]

My compliments to the mechanic. I also want to compliment the outstanding precision to clean threads along with excellent discipline in applying lubricant and thread lock. I see too many videos where these steps are missed or lubrication are overapplied leading to issues later. Outstanding work here and instruction. Lastly, great camera work too!

[@MVDirona]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@gertalper1019]

Just discoverd MV Dirona - utmost Respect for the both of you !

[@MVDirona]

Thanks for the feedback on the videos.

[@tomrichter244]

I was more nervous to see you pulling on those hydraulic hoses than about scratching something on the surface between the clutch and the pump. Nice video

[@MVDirona]

I was really nervous about the stiffness of those hydraulic hoses making it super challenging to get the pump out of there but it wasn't much of a problem. It's nice to have the PTO bearings back to nice and quiet. Thanks for the feedback.

[@roynichols4745]

I watch the NordHavn family alot, and you too. I am a retired machine repairman. You purchase the tapered pins that are threaded on the big end and use a small dent puller for extraction, that way you reuse them. This could come in handy if you are not able to get new ones at port. You have a beautiful boat also.

[@MVDirona]

Great suggestion. Tapered pins with threads would be much easier to remove. Thanks for passing on that idea.

[@fryfrysk]

Yes, you are a natural educator : step-by-step explaning keeping the coherence of the story. So impressive job well done ! some practical tips, if you like : @17.15 using the crawbar : use a old cotton t-shirt and stick the crawb into the t-shirt ( not wrapping around ) to protect paintwork. The same works with a screwdriver on sensitive spots, like paintwork. @19.00 use a small box ( I prefer a wooden box with rubber squares glued underneath against sliding) to put bolts, screws , small bottle of lubricant etc preventing it from you stepping on to them ; prevent ing from rolling underneath an engine or into hidden corners or fallen into small holes ( I have seen them all in the video). @33.00 you can use a thin rubber mat for floor protection instead of small wipes. Protects and prevents you sliding on the wipes.

[@MVDirona]

Thanks for the suggestions. I like your suggestion of using an old cotton shirt to avoid marking the surfaces when using a pry bar. Another reader suggested using wooden wedges which I actually have on the boat and do use for that purpose. They are remarkably effective and wood won't leave a mark. Using a small container to hold fasteners is a good suggestion. In some ways I like to spread out a bit and make piles of like fastenters but, on larger jobs, I agree I would be better off and more organized with a small container to hold the fasteners. That sounds like a good idea -- I'll try to remember to do that.

[@billyjay4672]

Very nice job keep showing us the repair side of things great to watch.

[@MVDirona]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@chriswhite4915]

A master at work!! So brilliantly explained and you made it look easy! I cant see how the chap from Seattle would have done a better job than that! You are living my dream! A nordhavn cruising the world! Love your content! All the best from ireland!

[@MVDirona]

Thanks for the feedback Chris.

[@tonkacaptain]

Your mechanical space looks very well maintained! (in my opinion). Keep up the good work. If you can, keep posting maintenance videos. So many will find them helpful .

[@MVDirona]

Thanks for the feedback on the mechanical space cleanliness, the video, and encouraging us to to another on boat maintenance. We probably will find some time over the winter here in Amsterdam to do another.

[@BullyHayes1977]

yeah that s a pretty big drawback of having the front mounted PTO - makes changing the accessory belt a much bigger job thank you for the video - really informative

[@MVDirona]

Your right on the accessory drive belt but but, with a spare already installed, it's not too hard. And, with properly set belt tension, the primary belt will last longer than the PTO clutch. Thanks for the feedback on the video.

[@matthewholzmueller6292]

Thanks for sharing this information! I love to get down in the weeds of a system I'm not that familiar with. Your a great boat owner, obviously you take great pride in your vessel, as you should.

[@MVDirona]

We try to take good care of the boat because we really depend upon it when we are a long way from shore and there is nobody around to help. But, on the other hand, we try not to get too crazy and over-invest in it or allow it to be the focus of what we do. We love the boat, but it is a tool to delivery an amazing trip and it serves us rather than we serve it. Jennifer and I are both pretty happy with both how little maintenance it requires and how reliable it has been over the last 10 years.

[@AgentRafa]

You're a top class mechanic mate, a born to be handyman. Thank you for sharing.

[@MVDirona]

Thanks for the feedback on our latest video.

[@JungleJimAB9AB]

First, I want to congratulate you both on having a very successful relationship. You performed a beautiful job, competently done using best practices that can be applied by every boat owner of any size vessel. You remained upbeat and your video provided entertaining and very informative commentary. Thank you for posting.

[@MVDirona]

Thanks, we appreciate the feedback.

[@scmckaug]

Great Video!! You guys explain things really well. Specially about what the problem is and the corrective action you guys are going to take to correct the problem. KUDOS. Enjoy watching you guys. Thanks for the videos. Keep up the good work and stay safe..

[@MVDirona]

Thanks we appreciate the feedback.

[@davidriley8590]

This gentleman is so precise he is a perfectionist.

[@wimschoenmakers5463]

Yeah... noticed that also after seeing his video. But he did a great job !

[@davidamato768]

Job well done. I appreciate someone that takes the time and has the patience to do a task the right way. Another excellent video.

[@MVDirona]

Thanks David. I appreciate the feedback.

[@allenkracower4787]

Excellent presentation and explanation. The gentleman must have a science or teaching background.

[@MVDirona]

Thanks for the feedback on the video.

[@09vrodz]

really enjoy your videos skipper, couple tips for ya, grease up them new tools cause they rustin, put a rag on that flat blade screw driver when your prying on painted surfaces, pick up your touch up paint and paint prep spray , some electric clutches are adjustable with some feeler guages , pick up some load straps that aren't the ratcheting type they are a bit faster to use and i forget the rest i was gonna say , looking forward to more of your videos

[@MVDirona]

Thanks for the feedback on the videos.

[@Democracy10]

Greetings from Los Angeles California USA 🇺🇸 Enjoyable channel. Thumbs up 👍 safe travels and happy adventures along the way. Mr. Hahn

[@MVDirona]

There is more detail on the trip up at mvdirona.com.

[@dalsie105]

This is why they travel the world with out a crew. He is the crew. He has a way of explaining what he is doing and how things work that a twat can understand and I'm proof of that. I would feel safe and happy to be broken down in the middle of the Atlantic with him on board. Mans a genius. And you know what they say behind every good man is a good woman. Just come across their channel and enjoying every second of watching them do what I dream of doing. Thanks guys

[@MVDirona]

Thanks. Having spares on board make repair much easier, having owned the boat for 10 years makes it more likely that we know the system causing trouble, and having good communications systems on board including satellite systems means we can ask questions of experts if we can't solve the problems ourselves.

[@galeriafuentes]

@@MVDirona I agree ! similar approach with doing your own automotive repairs, overtime on the same vehicle you will become very intimate knowing every sound, feel, shake, or movement. Abviously being out to sea it is very important to have extra critical parts and tools. Like your content

[@MVDirona]

Exactly! Thanks Jay.

[@barrysummers1622]

Thank you for another great video guys, I love this kind, with detailed maintenance and repair, keep them coming please, always very welcome. You both have safe and happy voyaging.

[@MVDirona]

Thanks for the feedback Barry. We post fairly frequently to our website (mvdirona.com) and we would like to do more videos but, man, they take time. We always think we'll get better at it. You know, how long can it take to shoot a video, cut out the irrelevant sections and publish it? :-) I remember years ago King5 TV in Seattle wanted to shoot a short 5 minute video for their news show to kick off boating season and they ended up spending a day with multiple cameras on Dirona. Even the pros take time -- they produce a far better product and we don't take that long but the faster they are done the more it seems to negatively impact their quality. Thanks for the encouragement to do more. We plan to do a couple of more while we are in Amsterdam over the winter.

[@daveredknapmedium]

I really enjoy your videos particularly the mechanical ones. Your attention to detail is great - as is your pre preparedness. Your ability to stay cool is also very impressive. I really don't like working when another is watching me!

[@MVDirona]

You nailed that one: 'I really don't like working when another is watching me!" I tell myself that it shouldn't make any difference at all but having the camera rolling, at least for some of us, makes the job harder, makes it harder to stay organized, and generally increases the time that a job takes. Thanks for the feedback.

[@vg5157]

WOW ,i think you clean the engine room everyday ,excellent condition!

[@MVDirona]

Thanks. The trick is there are no major oil leaks and the engines aren't releasing oily vapors into the engine room so keeping it clean is just wiping down the decks every month or so. The engine room cooling system moves vast amounts of air so quite a bit of dust does get in but, other than that, it's not difficult to keep clean.

[@ManSingh-hu8ux]

Bloody awesome! Thanks for the vid. Never heard about setting TW to zero for storage, now feeling abit panicky. Also didn’t know about thread lock and grease at the same time, that’s next level fitting.

[@MVDirona]

Thanks for the feedback and, sorry, on the grease and thread locker, it's not really "both" although I may have made it look that way. The grease is needed on bolt head to avoid twisting or deforming the rubber drive coupler that it is securing. The grease helps prevent deforming the rubber drive coupling. The thread locker is needed on the threads since this is a high vibration application where a bolt backing out would be explosively destructive. Thread locker on the threads and grease on the bolt head and shank above the threads.

[@ManSingh-hu8ux]

@@MVDirona Hi guys, thanks for clarification. I understood that its in different locations on the bolts. I just never thought of doing that before. I was thinking of somehow applying it to torque sensitive applications such as the head of an engine. Usually you would use oil on the bolt to allow correct torquing, but I always worry about the bolts coming loose due to vibration. Anyways, thanks guys.

[@MVDirona]

Sounds good. Different applications need different protection. This one requires a thread locker whereas I've never seen thread locker recommended on, for example, head bolts at least on the engines I've worked upon.

[@gck82s]

Handy to have a complete clutch assembly ready to go I don't blame you for not trying to change the bearing there and then could be done but it be a pain good clean job

[@MVDirona]

We try to have all the spare parts we need on the boat with a goal of never having to stop and wait for parts or service personal and not having to change or cut short any trip. So far, we been successful with the boat never getting in the way of a planned adventure. Consistent with that goal and knowing the clutch units can fail, I tucked away a new clutch assembly when the boat was new. I did have a look at changing the bearing but it requires a puller that is just a tiny bit bigger than what I have on the boat so I might just ask a machine shop to do the swap for me.

[@lightning9279]

Best hour to grace KZbins presence in a long time. Great stuff.

[@MVDirona]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@RenlangRen]

Thanks for this video! I am sure these educational videos take a lot of work, and maybe not as popular as sight seeing, but these are very helpful!

[@MVDirona]

You're right and thanks for the encouragement to do more videos.

[@ericsarchive7718]

Great video, thank you. What I find, in all of your "how to" videos, that is as equally helpful , are the questions that are asked by The Missus. *edit- Camera work is also top notch.

[@MVDirona]

Thanks for passing that along. Jennifer does a great job as both interviewer, cameraman, and production editor.

[@jshrawder49]

Just wow!! What a great video and explanation of what you did! I thoroughly enjoyed your video, now I’m off to watch your other videos!! I can tell you put a lot of time into your videos!

[@MVDirona]

You're right, even our amateur productions do take time. We keep thinking we're going to get better at it and be able to produce a video with less work but they are somewhat time intensive. Thanks for the feedback.

[@alcondragon]

Tremendous Video! Great Job and thank you for taking the time to show and to teach!... Being out there and having knowledge is a tool no one should be without!... God Bless you both and Smooth Waters Ahead!

[@MVDirona]

Thanks for the feedback on the video.

[@conormatthews3233]

Love your videos, some day hope to own a Nordhavn and travel the world.

[@MVDirona]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@TomChame]

Very neat and interesting job, well done. All the best from Panama.

[@MVDirona]

Thanks for the feedback on the Video.

[@petermerritt754]

Excellent, informative video and thanks to the editor (Jennifer?) for making it engaging. Appreciated.

[@MVDirona]

Yes, you are right. It was Jennifer behind the camera and doing the editing work on this one. The camera work ends up being a bit challenging due to space limitations and video editing always seems slower than it should be. Even with good non-linear editing tools, it's still not a quick process. Thanks for the feedback.

[@saxofonist70]

Job well done! Interesting to see how to maintain a Nordhavn properly. Greetings from Groningen!

[@MVDirona]

Thanks for the greetings from Gronigen. Your not far from where we are moored this winter.

[@saxofonist70]

@@MVDirona Yes, its about a two hour drive from where i live in Groningen(not living in the city but in the provence) and i was happely surprised that you are staying in Amsterdam this winter. You are travelling the world and then so close by. Nice!

[@MVDirona]

Amsterdam is great. We have an informal rule that we don't go back to the same place twice for extended stays but we had to make an exception for Amsterdam. We stayed here last winter but it just works so well we had to return. The Amsterdam City Marina location is excellent, the city is bike friendly, the train station is minutes away and Schiphol only a quick train ride away. It's great to be back.

[@saxofonist70]

@@MVDirona sometimes some places gets into your hart! ;-)

[@MVDirona]

Exactly!

[@TAllyn-qr3io]

I worked at ADE as a field service tech, test cell, production for Y2K, QC and finally production scheduler/pricing analyst. I worked on at least 10k of these units. Run forever as do the gen sets…look at A Perfect Storm…was a NL generator on there. 😉🤘🤘🤘

[@MVDirona]

I agree. Great engines. We have both an auxiliary engine with just over 1,000 hours and a gen with just over 8,000 hours. They are both solid performers. Northern lights does great work. You may have taken ours through the Northern Lights test bench. If so, thanks!

[@TAllyn-qr3io]

@@MVDirona good to hear that they are treating you right. Regular maintenance is a lifesaver 😉 you never know on the testing…without the test sheet would be really hard to tell. We were doing so many of the smaller engines that it was insane…they are much easier than one of the Deere or Komatsu blocked units with three of them paralleled plus STARS. Took upwards of a week, especially if Lloyds of London or other insurance certifier was there. I was the guy that installed their modern/computerized dyno. Tasted hundreds of propulsion units, mostly the L140’s and L170’s… moved into management after Y2K. It is very Awesome watching your stories…Nordhaven was a big customer. Oh, little story…we had a land based generator brought in by DEA (think that,was the agency) with over 30k hours on it…had been running nonstop up on some cartel drug site in some south American country…that is an advertising slogan right there…lol. Stay safe out there 😎

[@MVDirona]

I did a factory tour hosted by Scott Dyball and visited the test cells at Northern Lights some years back. Super interesting. This morning I looked up our engine test sheets and they were taken through the test cell by Derrick Breaux but I'm sure they got the same care you gave. Our 12kW generator produced 51.5A at 100% load and only 183F coolant temperature during test.

[@andrewrobbins4685]

What a great job you did on the Lugger. Very informative and interesting ! I didn’t realize you had a back up engine . Happy Holudays

[@MVDirona]

We love our John Deere 6068AFM75 but when 1,500 nautical miles from shore, you really want to be 100% confident that you have some propulsion available. After 10,830 hours on the main engine (mvdirona.com/2018/09/john-deere-6068-at-10000-hours/) we have never had a fault but we still wouldn't cross an ocean without backup power.

[@pogump]

“Spitfire” !! Lovely name of your cat, and I enjoyed the video from start to finish,take care both of you,and all the best. :) :) :)

[@MVDirona]

Thanks for the feedback on the Video. Spitfire has been keeping us company now for more than 16 years. He's as curious and as rambunctious as ever continuing to live up to the name he earned as a kitten. If any cupboard or storage area is opened, he's in there in minutes :-).

[@chuckoman]

Just have to say incredible explanation thank you for the details you're great at what you do

[@MVDirona]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@goutvols103]

Thank you for sharing. Quite modest on your abilities. It looks like you did this twice; once without the camera and once with the camera.

[@MVDirona]

Thanks for the comment. The job was made easier by the engine room being fairly warm and dry for it's entire life so parts were all removable without struggle and the rust issues were minor and fairly superficial.

[@goutvols103]

MV Dirona thank you for your reply. You run a clean ship for sure. Were you the one that I read about that linked up some micro controllers for data monitoring.

[@MVDirona]

Yes, your memory is correct. We have 5 Raspberry Pis on board that are doing digital input (getting the state of systems or devices throughout the boat), digital output (setting the off/on state of systems or devices throughout the boat), and analog input (measuring analog state of systems like battery voltage levels). In addition, we read the NMEA2000 bus (all navigation, electrical state, tank levels, boat position, weather, water depth, etc.) and store all data in a database every 5 seconds going back years. This database in the heart of systems that set warning lights, indicators, and alarms. Display synthesized state, start and stop the generator as needed, control the boat charging systems, shed loads as the power source capabilities are reached to prevent breakers triggering, and allows many boat systems to be controlled externally. For example, as we neared landing at the airport, we turned the water heater and boat heating systems on so it would be ready for us when we got back to the boat. If you are interested, more data is posted here: mvdirona.com/2018/04/control-systems-on-dirona/.

[@goutvols103]

@@MVDirona thank you for your reply and link. I can see where this database will come in handy when it is time to sell.

[@MVDirona]

That's good point. We mostly use the database to drive the on-board automation but it's also super useful to spot changes and trends and it shows the systems have been well maintained and have always operated well.

[@NorthPoleTime]

You guys ROCK! Thanks for taking the time to explain in such detail something that will be very useful to few of us. Much appreciated. Question: When you installed the clutch, on the video, I didn't see the spare belt (which is such a good idea) but at the end, there it was! Did you forget it the first time? Anyway, looks like you are having the time of your lives and so appreciate your sharing it with us!

[@MVDirona]

Yes, good observation. I had put the belt down out of the way in the laz when I took it off and forgot it initially. But, it only cost 10 min to get it back on there and it's a pretty important backup so worth installing. Thanks for the feedback on the video.

[@lb7wade518]

I must say you are very thorough!

[@MVDirona]

Thanks for the feedback on the video.

[@oldtug]

Greetings from Groningen. Great video. I wish my engine room was that clean.

[@MVDirona]

Thanks for the greeting from nearby Groningen. As you can imagine, we're enjoying being back in Amsterdam. It's a great city all by itself and, between the nearby Central Train Station and Schiphol airport only minutes away, it's hard to beat this location.

[@charlesrogers8420]

This gentleman is brilliant.

[@5cyljim]

Will be a very helpful video one day when I own one of these beautiful vessels. Great video.

[@MVDirona]

What I learned is that this job isn't difficult at all. I was expecting the worst. If you do end up in the market for a boat, after 10,600 main engine hours, I have no trouble recommending a Nordhavn. They are a good strong boat that take care of there passenger and don't eat up too much service time.

[@5cyljim]

MV Dirona Thanks for the reply! Being an A&P mechanic most of the work I do on planes are in tight cramp spaces and seeing the work space of your Nordhavn makes me jealous! But you and your wife’s experience on your boat and all your wonderful documentation and insight has just further cemented the fact that these are some of the best personal long distance boats you can buy. Fair winds and safe passages!

[@MVDirona]

I know what you mean when you comment on the massive work space on Dirona. I used to work on exotic cars so I'm very familiar with being wedged in very tight places trying to reach something only reachable by a tiny person with factor provided special tools. From that perspective, Dirona looks big. But some time back a friend with a 62 had a hydraulic cooling pump leak on their Nordhavn 68. I had never before really been that interested in a bigger boat but, wow, space does matter. I just walked to the back up the their boat, turned right and went behind the generator, sat down, and change the pump seal, wiped of my hands and was done. On Diorona, that would have been a lot more challenging a job so it's all retaliative. Still, understanding that all boats are a compromise, the trade-offs on Dirona of space against cost, moorage availability, etc. seems to work fairly well for us. After 10 years and 10,830 hours, it's still working out fairly well. And, on service space it's about 10x better than our previous boat so I really can't complain.

[@5cyljim]

MV Dirona Same goes for many planes we do work on, bigger they are usually the more room you have to work around in but also way more parts and systems that smaller planes lack or simply don’t have, so there’s that trade off. Also is part availability ever a problem for you guys being scattered across the globe? And what would you say your yearly cost is for parts both extras and ones that need to be replaced. Thanks again for the feedback! -Jim

[@MVDirona]

There's one difference. Our boat is a Nordhavn 52 which is on the small side but we have equipped the boat almost identically to what is common on a Nordhavn 63 or 68. It makes for a super comfortable and very enjoyable boat but we do carry a lot of gear for the size of the boat and that is noticeable around some service activities. Another factor that is somewhat different from aircraft is, with Dirona at 55 tons, a bit more weight here or there makes little difference so we carry a very large number of spares. This has the dual upsides of making me more efficient, if I think but I'm not sure a part is faulty, I can just change it and see. The second upside is remarkably frequently when we have a part wear out or fail, we have a spare on board and are able to just continue without delay or even needing to slow down. On most things, it's exactly as you say. Bigger boats are easier to work on than smaller ones and, compared to aircraft, even a "tight spot" on a boat like ours is relatively generous when compared to an airplane.

[@McQuokka]

Congrats on 10,000 subs chief!

[@MVDirona]

Ahhh, you mean 10k subscriptions! I was scratching my head thinking you must be making some reference to submarines. I hadn't noticed we had cross 10,000. Kind of cool given that what we do is only interesting to a fairly narrow cross section of the general population. Thanks for pointing it out.

[@McQuokka]

MV Dirona ...good achievement. Especially considering that you have a very particular type of channel. Its very interesting and of good quality, which is rare. Most YTers just spit out a video each week for the sake of it and the quality generally suffers. Its refreshing to see someone that actually cares about what they publish! Are you folks spending the whole winter in Amsterdam?

[@MVDirona]

Yes, we'll spend just under 4 months total in Amsterdam and, so far, we have been there for just over 3 months. After Amsterdam, we'll slowly explore our way south to the Med.

[@optimisticfuture6808]

Haha. I’m starting to believe you will never leave NL for winter. Didn’t you winter there last year or am I mistaken? Great point on wing hydraulics and glad I’m using wing for such and hence will be using. Thanks to both of you for your service to boating.

[@MVDirona]

Thanks Eric. You will be much happier using your wing frequently. There generally are two faults modes that hurt them and old age and wear aren't even on the list. Lack of use is #1 by far. The second fault that I've seen happen surprisingly frequently is engine flooding when boats are operating in really rough water that is defeating the stabilizers. With enough heal and wave force, water can be forced into the wing engine. I recommend a 1-way valve as a cheap and easy way to eliminate this risk. You are right on us planning to spend the winter in Amsterdam again. We generally don't like returning anywhere but Amsterdam is just such a wonderful stop with lots of everything we love and great train and air service to other parts of Europe. I'll bet we stay busy.

[@johngoncalves]

Extremely educational. Than you. Even learned something new about torque wrenches!

[@MVDirona]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@kevintwiss3495]

Thanks for making all the videos. I enjoy them.

[@MVDirona]

Thanks for the feedback. We'll have to get motivated, set aside some time, and do another.

[@drdistorzion]

Thanks for sharing your projects! it's like they say, cruising is just boat work in exotic places. :)

[@MVDirona]

Like all sayings, there is a glimmer of truth in it but the actual amount of service the boat consumes is surprisingly low. If you are interested, we post pictures of all service work we do to mvdirona.com and you'll see that there really isn't that much work relative to use. Nordhavn builds a pretty good boat and uses excellent components sized well to the job so the systems work fairly well. And, what's really important, is the boat is designed to be able to be serviced. They avoid the common fault of building larger components in such that simply can't be fixed or service in reasonable time frames. That allows us more fun time and less work time.

[@drdistorzion]

@@MVDirona I've plowed through most of your blog and yes it does seem to have a really good operation/maintenance ratio. And I'm guessing you would be kind of bored if you didn't get to tinker with some technical stuff at least once in a while? :)

[@MVDirona]

You might think that but, even though we do all of our own maintenance, it's actually hard to squeeze it in between a full time job and all of our exploring. We feel lucky the boat is built so strong with such good components so we aren't constantly trying to correct bad design decisions or upgrading poorly sized or chosen components. Less time fixing is more time having fun!

[@drdistorzion]

MV Dirona Full time work and full time exploring, yes that sounds like a busy enough schedule!

[@MVDirona]

It is busy but, generally, I like the job, like the boat, and love the adventure we're having so no complaints.

[@Colinpark]

I have used wood wedges 180 degrees out to pry apart two pieces. causes force to be equal on both sides.

[@MVDirona]

That's a good solution and I actually do have wood wedges that I could use. Thanks for the suggestion.

[@Colinpark]

@@MVDirona They can exert a lot of force, so be thoughtful what you are pushing against. I use them to put a pull on the piece, then the pry bar and sometimes tapping the part with the pull force caused by the wedges helps as well. Neat video I enjoyed watching you tinker.

[@gordonturner8544]

Great job the Hamilton team very well explained! I think Spitfire was trying to say “ hey Dad how often have I to tell you not to lay wrenches on top of that start battery! “ Just kidding many thanks for leading the way!

[@MVDirona]

Yes, that does sound just like Spitfire. He's asleep for most of the hard work and yet still finds the time to inspect and advise :-). I do admit that years ago I touched a 13mm spanner across an automotive battery posts and it most definitely didn't improve the chrome plating on the wrench.

[@nchristi26]

Dear MV Dirona, If I understand correctly you have 2 hydraulic pumps , 1 on the main eng & 1 on the wing eng. The main eng hyd pump is mostly for the stabilizers & back up. The wing eng hyd pump for everything else because it can run at a hi rpm without the prop engaged. If the wing eng hyd pump goes down & you have to use the main eng hyd pump , how effective are the bow/stern thrusters & windlass. I assume the main eng is around idle speeds during anchoring & docking operations. Thank you,Nicholas Christie Va Bh Va US

[@MVDirona]

Exactly. Technically both pumps are are 45cc Rexroth pumps and either are capable of fully running the hydraulic system at full output but, as you guessed, there is fine print. The first caveat is that full output of both thrusters at the same time requires more than 40 hp (I'm guessing around 48hp) but our wing is only a 40 hp engine so full output requires a small additional draw from the main. If the main engine were down we would have about 80% of full hydraulic system output. This wouldn't be very noticeable. The second caveat is the one you mentioned: if the wing engine is down and the main is idling you will only get around 20% of full power. Of course this would be very noticeable. The work around is to set the main to neutral and raise RPM when using the thrusters. This works well and produces full hydraulic output but is cumbersome. This operating mode is perfectly effective and I've experimented with it successfully but it requires more fore thought when docking. The last caveat is the main hydraulic pump is a live pump. A live pump is on and turning when the engine is running. On the wing engine, the hydraulic pump can be turned off and on by electric clutch. Ideally the main would have a clutch as well so that, if there is a hydraulic emergency, the system can be just declutched. In this design, the main engine needs to be temporarily shut down to stop the hydraulic pump. The longer term answer is to remove two large bolts, pull the pump back, and put a cover plate over the hole. Functional but not easy. It's a situation that might never happen but it would be preferable to be able to operate through it with less disruption than needing to shut down the main engine. Overall, we love the system but, like all things mechanical, there are some design compromises. Fortunately, we have never seen any of these issues in the last 11 years and 11,000 hours but someday we probably will.

[@royfcjr]

Back the bolts out one turn on the flex coupling to allow precise alignment. I have put hundreds of marine components together this way at a marine service facility in Tarpon Springs Fl. Other than that, I recommend Anti-Seize on the couplings which is resistant to corrosion somewhat better than grease. Your grade for the job at this point is a B+

[@MVDirona]

Thanks for your thoughts.

[@oliverb.endoriel490]

Excellent video. Thank you for posting 💪

[@MVDirona]

Thanks!

[@Quadman72]

Great Video and a great Job Captain!

[@MVDirona]

Thanks.

[@billdomb]

VERY nice description. Now tell us (probably a separate video) just how you keep the engine room looking like a surgical suite...

[@MVDirona]

Thanks for noticing William. I'm particularly happy to see the engine room still looking clean after 10 years and 10,830 engine hours. One of the biggest factors that make keeping it clean easy is the John Deere 6068AFM75, the Lugger L844D, and the Northern Lights M843NW3.3 12KW generator don't leak much oil. It's much easier to keep things clean when the engines are well sealed and not dumping oil. After that the biggest contributor to dirt in the engine room is the massive amounts of air that circulate through it. It's amazing how much dirt gets pulled in by the air moving equipment. But, at least this airborne dirt isn't oily and can be removed with a periodic quick vacuum. Another nice addition is lots of really bright lighting that makes it easy to spot something wrong when passing through the engine room. Lots of light makes it easy to notice a small problem before it becomes a big one and makes a mess.

[@James-seafan]

many great videos watching the maintenance videos is better then my engineering course may I ask if you could do a video of the main engine starting in the engine room thank you

[@MVDirona]

The starting of the engine really isn't very interesting. It always starts, it always starts quickly, and once it starts, the engine just lumps along at idle. If you watch the UPS truck pull up to your house or building, you'll see it restart as the driver leaves (they shut down the trucks). Not much to see unless something isn't working and, in the last 11 years and 11,400 hours, there's never been an instance of anything interesting happening on startup which makes for happy owners but boring video :-). But, if you do want to see the main engine running, this video starts it while in the pilot house but shows it running down in the engine room when cold: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXOcemeEatKFfdk.

[@James-seafan]

@@MVDirona thank you I'll watch the video it would be interesting to me as I've heard the generator and wing engine start and I would compare the three engines

[@MVDirona]

Sounds good James. I personally find the video microphone tends to make them all sound louder and, obviously, it doesn't show vibration. The main is a much smoother 6 cylinder whereas the wing is a 4 cylinder and the gen is a 3 cylinder. Another factor is temperature. Warm diesels generally run smoother and more quietly than cold ones.

[@James-seafan]

@@MVDirona thank you for the information

[@reighbh13]

Awesome video. I am a wiser man after watching. Thank you👍

[@MVDirona]

We appreciate the feedback.

[@richardbohlingsr3490]

Nicely done first class work. I would have switched units also. Then repair and to inventory.

[@MVDirona]

Yes, that's exactly the plan. And, thanks to comments from KZbin viewers, I've even had recommendations on where I can get a new bearing installed in the Amsterdam area where we currently are moored.

[@nchristi26]

Dear MV Dirona, Curious, do you think you would find conducting anchoring operation also degraded if only the main eng HYD pump was available(I guess eng is at idle). I think MV Dirona has a Maxwell 3500 HYD windlass rated at 2000psi & 11gal/min. That sounds like about 15 hp (2000psi x 11gal/min / 1714 x .85=15hp). Thanks, Nick

[@MVDirona]

Yes, the windlass will run slow and at lower power on just the main engine (no wing engine). It normally will do 44 to 46 ft/min but on the main alone it's in the high 30s. So it's functional but slower. When anchoring, main engine power isn't needed much so the solution is to just lift the engine speed to 1200 which will support for windlass speed.

[@nchristi26]

@@MVDirona Thank you for help in understanding these systems. Nick

[@markbourdo1219]

many great videos . . seems a lot wares out on these yachts?

[@MVDirona]

You're right there has been a lot at once but, generally, the systems on board a Nordhavn are very reliable. The boat is 10 years old and the main engine has 11,100 hours and the generator has 6,800 hours so there is some maintenance work needed at this point. There is still one major service item left on the generator where we will need to change the rear main oil seal so we're not done yet.

[@AMGOSUK]

Why is there a belt loose around the shaft? Is this just in case the "active belt" needs to be replaced - so you can quickly fit a replacement, without taking the "engine/gearbox" apart?

[@MVDirona]

This engine drives the prop through a Z-drive so you are looking at the front of the engine and what you are seeing is a spare accessory drive belt mounted on the front of the drive belt protection shield. The reason why this spare belt is in place where 99% of the engines you see out there don't have this is the front of the engine is driving a large hydraulic pump. This pump and the hoses that comes off of it, prevents a new drive belt from being installed. Of course, the hydraulic pump can be removed from the engine to change the accessory drive belt but it's a real time burner so the normal solution is to put a spare belt on the outside so it's ready to go immediately if there is an unexpected belt failure.

[@Screwdriversteve1]

Nice job. I do my own marine repairs as well. I've always said if you own a boat you need to know how to fix it! I want to point out some small items. A battery is not a tool bench, one day an extension or screwdriver will let the lightning out! Another concern is the battery switch should have been turned off to prevent accidental starting. I know; two people on the boat and both in the engine room but its a simple task that may help you keep your fingers. And lastly you had to roll over the engine to access the clutch bolts. Were you always turning the engine the correct way? A few problems can develop with turning the engine backwards. first and most likely you will fold the raw water impeller backwards and damage a vain. Less likely is pumping the oil out of the oil pump and loosing the prime and not having oil pressure on start up. As well when you bar over a diesel backwards you could introduce fuel into the cylinder from the injector pump on the return side. A load of fuel "could be" ignited if the engine is warm and conditions are right giving you a heck of a kick in the teeth with your wrench. Overall great job and I love an engine room that is cleaner than the galley

[@MVDirona]

I try to be careful and methodical but you take it much further. I don't agree with all of your concerns but it's a good list for consideration.

[@ericalbert6954]

Merci beaucoup, vos vidéos sont magnifiques !

[@lostchild2003]

Would it have been worth it to change out the hydraulic lines at the same time? Those hoses will dry out with time and crack which doesn't become a problem until you bend them.

[@MVDirona]

The boat is now 10 years old so we will eventually have to replace hydraulic hoses but that is a very big job. Those lines run throughout the boat in some very tight places. Changing them will be a multi-week job. I'm glad they are still nice and supple and showing no signs of stiffening or cracking. You are right it will eventually need to be done.

[@jimhanson7476]

Very well done and explained... Great job...

[@MVDirona]

Thanks for the feedback on the video.

[@ryanconrad9811]

Wonderful video, loved it and learned a ton! Thank you!

[@MVDirona]

Thanks for the video feedback.

[@TheRemyRomano]

Great job. Love this boat. Is the website still up?

[@MVDirona]

Thanks for the feedback on the videos. Yes, the website is still up (mvdirona.com) and we do have more videos to produce when time allows.

[@emadshiba4983]

Amazing quality work. BRAVOO

[@MVDirona]

Thanks!

[@jcgalmiche8352]

Cleanest engine room ever

[@MVDirona]

Thanks. In my opinion, keeping it clean makes it much easier to keep things running well.

[@hedhtr4]

How much easier it would be on the alignment pins if they had a small groove cut into it for better gripping.

[@MVDirona]

Perhaps it would help a bit. Based upon my experience with this part, it appears that if there is no corrosion, the pins come out fairly easy so think the key is keeping them free of water and perhaps with a thin layer of grease.

[@hedhtr4]

@@MVDirona Great Series of videos and web site, fair sky's and calm waters to you

[@MVDirona]

Thanks!

[@mikerogers9711]

Can you use Never Seize on the splines?

[@MVDirona]

Yes, absolutely. That would be a good choice in sparing amounts.

[@Weird600]

and on all machine fit surfaces

[@MVDirona]

@@Weird600 Sure, Never Seize is fine as long as used sparingly and kept off clutch friction surfaces. I used a light coating of grease.

[@Skysailor1000]

Does this mean that when You are sailing and the stabilizators are on (rough sea), the wing engine must be running all the time (due to hydraulics system)? Sorry for my bad english. Thank you for Your reply

[@MVDirona]

That's a good question and that's exactly why hydraulic designs need careful thought through around all reasonable failure modes. In Dirona's case, the main engine has a hydraulic pump on it so the stabilizers can be operated any time the main engine is running. And, if there is a main engine or pump failure, the stabilizers can be driven by starting the wing engine. This also ensures the emergency bilge pump can operate as long as either the main or the wing engines are running. To operate the thrusters or anchor windlass, both engines need to be run to get full power but, if either can't be operated, a good percentage of full output is still available on the windlass and, as long as both thrusters aren't used at the same time, the thrusters are close to full output.

[@Skysailor1000]

@@MVDirona Thanks for the detailed answer. In one video you explained that the wing motor "exercises" while using the oil pump to run the stabilizer and thrusters, so that confused me. Regarding thrusters, do you recommend hydraulic or electric? I have heard that an electric bowtruster overheats after one minute of operation. By the way, do You know the "Gross register tonnage" of the N52?

[@MVDirona]

@@Skysailor1000 One of the leading causes of a Wing engine not being operative when needed in an emergency is they typically aren't used. Basically emergencies are rare so the wing engine never gets used and this is bad for a diesel engine. Because our wing engine is needed for every docking/undocking and anchoring operation, it gets constant use. It's exercised frequently so it can always be counted upon. Hydraulic thrusters are continuous duty and can be run for minutes to hours without overheating whereas most recreational boat electric thrusters will have comparatively short duty cycles before they shut down due to excess temperature. However, there is nothing that makes electric thruster have shorter duty cycles. They could be made to run continuously but, to keep costs low, most recreational thrusters use smaller electric motors without sufficient cooling with short duty cycles. As an example of electric thrusters being able to have long duty cycles, most very large cruise ships use electric thrusters with continuous duty ratings and running them 5+ min at a time is fairly common.

[@paulbadger6336]

Well done 👍 I like your style.

[@MVDirona]

Thanks Paul.

[@seatravel8536]

Fantastic video

[@MVDirona]

Thanks!

[@McQuokka]

Did you end up changing the rubber damper coupling? Or the drive belt? Not clear from the video. It looked ok even though 10 years old.

[@MVDirona]

I did change the belt but, you are right, both the belt and the damper looked absolutely fine with no cracks or wear after 10 years.

[@McQuokka]

MV Dirona ...very good idea to hang the spare inside the clutch assembly!

[@MVDirona]

I wish it was my idea and I agree it is a good one but, in this case, it was the manufacture, Lugger (Northern Lights) that had the foresight to put in special clips to hold the spare drive belt. I've also seen it done on farm tractors where the drive belt is "captured" by a forward hydraulic power take off.

[@JDS11ify]

When you disassembled the pump drive connection it appeared there was a spare fan belt tucked out of the way but around the drive shaft from the engine. It would mean disassembling the entire unit to replace a worn belt. Did you leave it off intentionally? I am impressed with your presentation, explanations and technique. Good clue about unwinding the spring in the torque wrench. Thanks. My foot/lb wrench is the newer model but my inch/lb wrench is the older model with the external pointer! LOL I noticed right away you referred to ft/lbs and NOT lbs/ft.. Many these days think they can redesign terminology, hey, and even science. BTW … is there a value to isolate the main engine hydraulic pump/pressure from the lugger pressure if one or the other develops a leak? A high pressure manifold would mean the pressure could be maintained while repairing a leak in either of the two pump setups? If there is, sorry I did not pick that up.

[@JDS11ify]

Sorry. I sent my comment about the fan belt before seeing the belt was there at 46:30.

[@MVDirona]

You did see the belt properly installed later and you are right it was not on there at first. I made a mistake and needed to back track and pull the clutch back, install the belt, replace it. The backtrack only cost 10 min but I would have preferred to have the belt there from the beginning. Good eye.

[@JDS11ify]

@@MVDirona Thanks for being up front. I was reluctant to mention it only because of being on the 'web'. Great job with the videos. Informative and straight goods.

[@MVDirona]

Thanks!

[@JJP72095]

Excellent!! Thank you

[@MVDirona]

Thanks for the feedback on the video.

[@nchristi26]

Thank you for the videos. I see one alternator on the wing engine ,I assume it is for the engine start battery, is there another alternator somewhere on the wing engine for the house batteries. Or when the main engine is down do you just have the generator to charge the house batteries. Thank You, Nicholas Christie Va Bh Va

[@MVDirona]

Good observation. Ideally, I would have a 60hp wing engine and it would have a large alternator. The boat was designed around a 40hp wing engine and the builder was unwilling to go larger since the boat was designed with a 40. They hydraulics at full output needs the entire 40hp and, if the engine is being used as a propulsion engine, we need the 30 hp it can produce continuously (40 hp output is an intermittent rating). Since there is no HP left to be taken from the wing engine, it doesn't power the house when running. The main engine is a 266hp John Deere with power to spare, so I have no trouble drawing 9kw from that engine. Each alternator draws roughly 7.2 hp. Giving up 15 hp from the main engine to power the house is almost undetectable whereas even taking 5hp from the wing would prevent it from being able to do it's job. So, if the main where to go down, we would need to push the boat with the wing engine and power the electrical systems by starting the generator a couple of times a day.

[@nchristi26]

Thank you

[@jeffrykunkel5444]

Very informative, thanks very much. One question, you say in close quarters the main engine is idling and you use the wing to run hydraulics. Do you have to run the wing to run the hydraulics when the main is at idle or is it just your procedure in order to exercise the wing? Also roughly how much HP does it take to run the pump? I am have a spec on the new N475 and it has only a 30hp Yanmar as the wing which seems under powered to begin with (I have not asked for higher HP option, I am sure this engine spec can be upgraded). but a full hydraulic system seems a better option than electric 24v motors for thrusters, windlass etc.

[@MVDirona]

Both the wing and the main have the save 45CC Rexroth pump so either one of them can run any hydraulic accessory. The advantage of this approach is, if either engine fails, everything keeps working. A notable and very nice side effect of this general characteristic is the stabilizers keep working on main engine shutdown or failure. The wing can both power the boat and run the thrusters. Similarly, if the wing doesn't work or can't start, the main can still run the thrusters but I will need more than idle to get full force of the thrusters but the system is still fully operational. The reason why the wing is run in close quarters is the main won't supply enough volume to deliver anywhere close to fully hydraulic power at idle. If the wing is out, I would rev the main in neutral for thruster operation and the shift the boat for and aft on the main. You wouldn't be able to do both at once. The quick summary is that both engines have the same pump and either engine can run everything hydraulic. Normally, I use the main for stabilizers and emergency bilge pump and the wing for anchor windlass and thrusters but either engine can drive any hydraulic accessory. I agree with your assessment that, in recreational boats, hydraulic thrusters are typically a far better choice. Often have more power and usually they are continuous duty whereas electric will usually have very strict thermal limits on continuous operation. You asked how much power the hydraulic system draws off the wing engine. It takes the full 40 HP. The ideal wing engine for the Nordhavn 52 would be about 60 HP but small boats have to make some compromises. Only a 40HP was available in this boat and we run it's hard but it works well. We have full hydraulic operation. But it does have to work hard. It's a good think that Lugger makes a reliable package that can take the hard work without issue. Generally we have really liked our hydraulic system and are glad we didn't go with electric thrusters and windlass. Especially the windlass when anchoring deep. But, all other members of the 47/52 family are at least partly electric and all the smaller Nordhavn's are 100% electric and they do fine and most owners are fairly happy with overall performance.

[@reiniervenhuizen1407]

When using a powertool and then checking with a torque wrench make sure that the torque wrench will have some rotation prior to click for the set value. If there is no rotation the bolts can have more torque then the target value

[@MVDirona]

Absolutely. It's an important point not to over-torque with power tools. What I do is just wind the screw in but not hit it with the impact of the impact tool. The final 1/2 to 3/4 turn is all by hand.

[@abassplayer4life]

Excellent job!

[@MVDirona]

Thanks David.

[@patrickleahy770]

Very detailed video... someone mentioned “don’t forget the touch up paint.” I don’t know if they were kidding or not, but would that be standard practice to prevent rust and keep the engine looking sharp? Or purely aesthetics?

[@MVDirona]

Touching up paint after service isn't anything I've ever done just due to the time and mess cost but it's a good idea in that a clean engine will show faults faster and easier. It's probably worth doing but, thus far, I've not.

[@JesusGutierrez-gq9mz]

Nice job man

[@MVDirona]

Thanks!

[@Weird600]

I'm sure your pretty close, but as a Millwright, I would of installed those alignment pins in the clutch housing before I would of tightened those bolts in the coupler. There is a small chance of that coupler being slightly out of alignment and causing the rubber to fatigue sooner than it should. Just keep an eye on it and look for small flecks of rubber under the unit which will incur if it starts to fail. Great job otherwise.

[@MVDirona]

Your point is a good one. Thanks,

[@acknative1]

Great job.🔧🔩🧰

[@MVDirona]

Thanks!

[@AMGOSUK]

The use of your 2nd engine to drive the boats hydraulics is as you say a very good -- driving items like bow/stern thrusters I understand. But you said Stabilisers as well (presumably fins) -- well this surprised me. Did I hear you correctly -- the boats hydraulics are only driven by the spare engine? If correct I assume this would mean that if you want the stabilisers working while on passage then you have to run both engines, which would be wasteful.

[@MVDirona]

Good question. Let me clarify. All hydraulics will run off either engine (but not the generator) on this boat. Designs vary greatly from no backup to even more backup than we have but, on our boat, either the main engine or the wing engine can drive any or all hydraulic components. What I'm describing in the video is normal operation. The stabilizers take little power and always run on the current propulsion engine which is normally the main but could be the wing engine. The thrusters, windlass, and emergency bilge pump are big consumers of hydraulic power and they normally run off the wing engine but can run off of either. The reason they normally run off the wing is these components are normally used in close quarters where the main engine is at idle and, at idle, it doesn't have the hydraulic power to drive these accessories. So, the normal operation is to have the wing at full output running hydraulics and the main engine at idle to be popped in and out of gear to maneuver. But, if the wing was inoperative, all these components could also be run from the main engine but positioning the boat and then dropping back to neutral and putting the engine at higher revs to run the accessories. If the main prop is used, the main is brought down to idle (which limits they hydraulic output), shifted into gear to reposition, and then back to neutral at higher revs to run the hydraulics. All equipment can run from any engine but the dance between higher revs in neutral and idle maneuvering is only used when the wing is disabled. The normal operation in close quarters is to have the wing at full output running hydraulics while the main is at low output doing close quarters positioning. The normal operation underway is to have the propulsion engine running the stabilizers and propulsion machinery and either engine can do this but, of course, the main engine is usually the one used.

[@ironhenry2708]

Great video as always, but I hate seeing any raw water pipe work with single jubilee clips like on the raw water pump.

[@MVDirona]

Thanks Dan and I agree with you observation on double clamping. The policy we use is to double clamp any connection that is below the waterline with a through hull connection. So, the exhaust hosing and the through hull are double clamped. The raw water pump is below the water line but it's not double clamped because the inlet hose goes up above the water line to a siphon break before going down to the pump. And the outlet hose goes to the heat exchanger and eventually to the exhaust which has a loop several feet above the water line. It wouldn't hurt to double clamp but the reasoning above is why the technique is not used in this particular case.

[@Mordalo]

I swear by my Milwaukee power tools. :) As always, great video!!

[@MVDirona]

Thanks and, yes, I totally agree on Milwaukee. Great gear.

[@paulwood5112]

Excellent educational video James. Do you ever routinely change any of those hydraulic hoses? I presume the fluid gets changed on an hours run basis?

[@MVDirona]

There is no specified replacement interval on the hydraulic hoses but the most conservative recommendations I've seen is 10 years. If the hoses are kept in good condition and aren't chaffing against anything, they should go far longer. I keep an eye on them looking for abrasion or potential wear points or hose breakdowns but, without evidence of any problems, I'll likely let the hoses do 15 to 20 years. On the hydraulic oil, American Bow Thruster has no recommended change period as long as there are no faults in the system. They do recommend annual filter changes but the oil is fine unless there has been a mechanical fault that could allow metal or other impurities circulate in the system or some other problem with the oil like water being introduced at the cooler. As long as there are have been no faults in the system and the cooler is good, the oil should last well. The fluid was changed once when the system was fairly new because it pulled several gallons of motor oil was pulled into the system. This actually isn't a big problem and the system will actually run fine on motor oil but I like running on pure ISO32 so I changed the oil. Around 5 years back, I elected to install a larger heat exchanger so I took that opportunity to change the oil again at that time.

[@billflixtone6684]

Great job, thanks

[@MVDirona]

Thanks!

[@reiniervenhuizen1407]

I live just south of amsterdam, if you have questions about the area, no problem trying to help you

[@MVDirona]

Thanks, that's kind of you to offer. So far, we're finding all we need but there may be times in the future when local knowledge or language skills can help. So far, everyone is taking good care of us.Thanks for the offer.