7–10 Common Problems at Sea—and How to Fix Them
1) Engine Won’t Start
Likely causes: flat battery, loose terminals, fuel starvation, kill-switch/neutral lockout, faulty starter relay.
Quick fix:

• Confirm neutral and kill-switch; check panel alarms.
• Measure battery at rest (>12.4V) and under crank (>10V). Clean and tighten terminals.
• Prime the fuel system: open the bleed screw, operate the lift pump until bubble-free fuel flows, then tighten.
• Bridge the starter relay only if trained and safe.
• Prevent: schedule charging checks as part of routine yacht maintenance and replace aged batteries proactively.

2) Overheating Under Load
Likely causes: clogged seawater strainer, failed impeller, loose belt, low coolant, stuck thermostat.
Quick fix:

• Kill the engine safely; ventilate.
• Clear the strainer and confirm seawater flow at the exhaust.
• Replace the raw-water impeller; inspect cover-plate wear.
• Tension/replace the belt; top up premixed coolant.
• Bypass a suspect thermostat temporarily to limp to port.
• Where we help: Our Boka Bay yacht service modules teach impeller swaps in under 15 minutes.

3) Sudden Power Loss
Likely causes: clogged primary/secondary fuel filters, air leak on suction side, collapsed hose, sooted turbo.
Quick fix:

• Swap the primary filter; pre-fill with clean fuel if allowed.
• Check clear bowl for water; drain and re-bleed.
• Tighten all hose clamps between tank and lift pump.
• If turbo is sooted, throttle back and maintain conservative RPM.
• Tip: Carry 2–3 sets of filters for real redundancy.

4) Rough Running & Smoke
White smoke: unburnt fuel (air in lines, low compression) or coolant ingress.
Black smoke: over-fueling or restricted air intake.
Quick fix:

• Re-bleed injectors at the spill line; check air filter and intake path.
• Inspect intercooler hoses for splits; verify boost clamps.
• If coolant loss is suspected, stop and assess—do not push the engine.

5) Fuel Leaks or Contamination
Likely causes: perished lines, loose banjo bolts, dirty bunkering.
Quick fix:

• Tighten fittings; replace suspect hoses with USCG-approved line.
• Dose with biocide only after confirming contamination; change filters and polish fuel if available.
• Prevent: sample the day tank; keep water separators drained.

6) Charging System Failure
Likely causes: failed alternator/regulator, broken belt, poor grounds.
Quick fix:

• Inspect belt and retension/replace as required.
• Check alternator output with a multimeter; verify engine-to-block ground strap.
• Isolate non-critical loads; start genset if available.
• Training focus: Fault-tree testing with a multimeter and safe load management.

7) Starter Motor Clicks Only
Likely causes: voltage drop at solenoid, weak battery, seized starter.
Quick fix:

• Clean and tighten solenoid connections; perform voltage-drop test (<0.5V per connection).
• Parallel start batteries if your system allows and it’s safe.
• Gentle tap on the starter casing can free a stuck Bendix—use caution.

8) Cooling Hose or Clamp Failure
Quick fix:

• Reduce load; cool down.
• Patch small splits with self-fusing tape and a spare hose section as a sleeve; double-clamp.
• Replace the run at the next safe harbor.
• Pro move: Carry a universal silicone elbow and mixed-size clamps.

9) Emergency Belt & Impeller Substitutions
Quick fix:

• Use a spare belt matched to alternator and raw-water pump pulleys.
• Keep a complete impeller kit (impeller, gasket, cover O-ring, screws).
• Why it matters: These two spares resolve the majority of “limp home” events.

The Onboard Kit Our Instructors Recommend

• Diagnostics: compact multimeter, clamp meter, fuel pressure/vacuum gauge, infrared thermometer.
• Fuel: primary/secondary filters, spare lift pump diaphragm, biocide.
• Cooling: impellers, gaskets, thermostat, silicone hose patches, clamps.
• Electrical: terminals, heat-shrink, fuses, spare relays, ground straps.
• General: belt set, hose knife, self-fusing tape, nitrile gloves, absorbent pads, fire blanket.

Our yacht service Montenegro team tunes this list to your engine model and cruising range.

Safety Protocols You Must Follow

• Ventilate engine space; monitor for vapors before restarting.
• Isolate batteries and fuel when working on live circuits or lines.
• Keep a second person on watch; use radios and check-back calls.
• Wear eye protection and heat-rated gloves.
• Log every action for post-incident yacht repair Tivat support.

Why Train with YachtService.me in Tivat

• Certified experts: Training delivered by seasoned yacht technicians who service boats daily in the Adriatic.
• Local realism: Drills mirror Boka Bay wind, traffic, and marina constraints.
• Custom courses: Diesel vs. gasoline tracks, owner-operator vs. crew.
• Aftercare: Priority access to parts, remote triage, and scheduled follow-ups.

Ready to Make Your Yacht Safer?
Build capability before you need it. Book emergency engine repair training with YachtService.me in Tivat and Boka Bay. You’ll leave with a repeatable diagnostic playbook, the right spares, and the confidence to keep moving when it counts.
Next steps: contact our team to schedule your session—your fastest route to reliable, stress-free cruising.