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Salish, I don't agree with what your mechanic is saying about the expected "life" of this engine!! You may be better served with a different mechanic? For example, another Nordic Tug owner (a 2001 NT 37) has over 12,000 hours on his Cummins 6BTA 330 hp engine (so it is both turbo charged and...

If this is the "stock" Sherwood brand pump, I recommend changing it out for a new SMX 1730 pump from Seaboard Marine (sbmar.com). It is a far superior pump in almost everyway, and does not cost much if any more. It is a "plug and play" or direct fit. It comes with an impeller puller as well...

I do not believe in the BB flush technique of "raw water cooling (side) maintenance". It at best, looks after only a small part of what is needed to ensure a cool running engine. The flushing suggestion for the coolant side, is a good idea (using a compatible flush). There are many "items"...

I agree with Pete (jungpeter)! My stock Cummins exhaust elbow failed internally, with NO VISIBLE or other signs of the failure. I only "found the issue" due to an exhaust temperature alarm I had installed. It corroded internally (covered over with soot so not visible even on the inside) and this...

Miguel, Placing your boat into "charter" is a double edged sword! For some people, who look at it as a business, it MAY work out fairly well. For others, especially who more view their boat as their "baby", not so much! Our first boat, a Bavaria 36 sailboat, we put into a charter fleet for...

Salish, For the "potential" exhaust issue, check out sentoa.org under "maintenance tips" for several articles about exhaust issues on older (32 and 37) Tugs. Both concerns MAY apply to this boat?? including the recent "repair"? (and maybe NOT). The "stock" Cummins exhaust elbow (and installation...

Personally I agree with Scott about the single vs double ear and easily being able to listen to "outside" sounds. I used the lanyard idea and found this to work well. However, a person could easily use an elastic (stretchie) headband to "hold them on your head" either instead or in addition to...

We ran our Cummins 6BTA (WOT 2800) at between 1200-1400 rpm most of the time. I regularly used an IR gun to track temps and we always reached good operating temps. Like DavidM suggests, we would run periodically at WOT to "burn off" any carbon and to check for any potential developing issues...

+1 on not idling your diesel!! Start up and ensure all is well (gauges read correctly, alarms off, raw water flowing, etc.) slip the lines and depart. Warm up consists of warming up (while underway) under a small load (~1000 RPM or less) motoring out of the marina or anchorage. Wait until you...

When travelling the BC central coast, (North of Cape Caution) we found Black Flies (horse or deer fiies actually) to be a problem. When they bite, it really hurts!!!! We found screens to be very useful.

I concur with Dave regarding the Borel exhaust hose alarm. It is very inexpensive (from a boating viewpoint of expenses), easy to install, and will warn of a pending engine overheat BEFORE any damage can occur. This is the first place to (usually) show signs of a cooling problem, but without...

Foster Nordic, Another NT owner that I know (NT37) with a 5.9 L 6BTA (330 HP) engine now has over 12,000 hours on his engine. He is just now rebuilding the turbo (not the engine) as it is starting to leak at a seal. Every year for the last 20 years he has travelled from Everett to Alaska and...

https://performancemetals.com/pages/sacrificial-anodes-faqs Art, and others looking for info on aluminum anodes: See attached. Yes, this is a company that makes and sells aluminum anodes, but there are also links to other sources. There are not full scientific studies done on everything (and...

To expound on Dave's answer..... As long as saltwater is passing through and left sitting in the aftercooler, you have a potential recipe for (extensive) corrosion. Basically they act like a "battery": meaning dissimilar metals in an electrolyte (saltwater) means that one metal is giving up...

First off, I am completely unfamiliar with the Ford Lehman aftercoolers so what I am about to suggest could be moot. However, I am also reasonably sure that at least some good info can be gleamed from Tony Athens' site on aftercooler maintenance (under Tony's Tips and also on his forums) even...

Hippo, I agree completely with your 'analysis" of the "proven" situation. However, the reality is, to prove something using that rigorous a procedure, is very costly, and not likely to be undertaken unless there is a large profit motive involved. EG. some of the things not tested (proven) in the...

For those looking for evidence, the best I can suggest (and have already done so twice) is to check out sbmar.com under Tony's Tips and/or the forums on that site. Tony Athens, a recognized and well respected marine diesel expert with over 35 years experience servicing marine engines, provides...

It is possible that freshwater flushing while still using zinc anodes, and leaving the engine to sit full of freshwater could be worse than not flushing (if the zincs stop doing their job and other metals "take their place"). Therefore, switch to aluminum engine anodes as Dave said. Easy...

So true Dave

Yes, Steve, it simplifies things (by eliminating some potential big problems) by flushing with the engine running and just "changing the supply" of cooling water. If you find the dock hose "collapses" due to engine demand, switch to a "stiffer" hose that will resist this issue.:) I have used the...

Scott, Southern Boater has it right. If the freshwater is introduced at the sea strainer with the engine running, all you have done is either mix fresh with saltwater (if sea cock is open) which is still good, or replace the saltwater with fresh (if the sea cock is closed)! However, do not...

Skiff B., I have freshwater flushed my Nordic Tug regularly from when I first bought her. Not every single run, but at least 80-90% of the time we are at a dock where freshwater at a decent flow is available. There is no doubt in my mind that it is effective, and is well worth the small effort...

Personally, I don't understand the "use Barnacle Buster" is "good enough" crowd?? There is much more to properly servicing the cooling system than just ensuring the tubes are relatively clear. It is critically important that we keep the various fluids in the correct locations and only in the...

Personally, I am in the "follow the law" category, and don't really understand the "can't be bothered" crowd? JMHO. Canadians are also required to have a ship's license if travelling (operating the radio) in foreign waters. I did hear of at least one Canadian who was boarded by the USCG in US...

Hi Scot, That area can be a bit "unpredictable"! We saw the same type of unexpected wind (and weather) come up when we visited there. We chose to tie to the dock. While there, we witnessed a large sailboat (say 60 plus feet) that could not retrieve their anchor, over in the deeper water. Locals...