Local Waterways
Cruising the Thames from Bourne End: A Marine Engineer's Notes
Practical engineering notes on cruising the Thames from Bourne End. Engine stresses, lock etiquette, fuel availability, and pre trip checks.
7 min read
Journal
Notes from the water.
Practical marine engineering writing for boat owners between London and Oxford. Diagnostics, maintenance, kit choices and seasonal checklists, written from the side of the boat.
Guides
Mobile Marine Engineer vs Boatyard: Which Do You Actually Need?
When a mobile marine engineer at your mooring is the right answer, and when you genuinely need a boatyard lift. Honest guidance from a Thames engineer.
5 min read
Guides
Buying a Used Boat? What a Pre Purchase Engine Inspection Should Cover
What a proper pre purchase engine inspection covers on a used boat, why hours alone are misleading, and what to ask your surveyor.
7 min read
Maintenance
Anodes, Antifouling and Below the Waterline Care on the Thames
Choosing the right anode for fresh water, antifouling for the non tidal Thames, and how to spot galvanic corrosion before it gets expensive.
6 min read
Engines & Electrical
Diagnosing Common Marine Electrical Faults Onboard
How to approach 12V electrical fault finding on a boat: corrosion, voltage drop, earth faults, multimeter basics, and when to stop and call.
6 min read
Engines & Electrical
Marine Battery Banks Explained: AGM, Lead Acid, and Lithium for River Cruisers
A practical guide to choosing a marine battery bank for a Thames cruiser. Chemistry, sizing, charging, isolation, and install considerations.
7 min read
Maintenance
How Often Should You Service Your Marine Diesel Engine?
Service intervals for marine diesels on UK boats, including Volvo Penta, Yanmar, Beta and Nanni. Hours versus calendar, and what a real service includes.
6 min read
Seasonal
Spring Recommissioning: Getting Your Boat Ready for the Thames Season
A spring recommissioning checklist for Thames cruisers. Impeller, anodes, fuel system, batteries, and the river trial that confirms it all worked.
6 min read
Seasonal
Winterising Your Thames Boat: A Step by Step Guide
What to do, in what order, to lay a Thames boat up for winter properly. Engine, freshwater, heads, batteries, and timing around river stoppages.
8 min read
Engines & Electrical
Why Won't My Boat Engine Start? A Mobile Engineer's Diagnostic Checklist
A practical, in order checklist from a Thames marine engineer for diagnosing a boat engine that turns over slowly, clicks, or refuses to fire.
7 min read
On your boat, not in a queue