Seeing is Understanding
drawings taken from Marine Diesel Basics books
(click on subject to see drawings and explanation)
Electrical
Drive Train


Take control of your boat’s engine maintenance with this comprehensive, easy-to-use guide designed for owners of sailboats, motorboats, and narrowboats. Whether you're a seasoned sailor or a beginner, this book is your ultimate resource for keeping your marine diesel engine in top shape. Packed with 144+ maintenance tasks, clear drawings, and simple explanations, this guide ensures you can handle essential tasks for maintenance, lay-up, winter protection, tropical storage and recommissioning with confidence
Key Features:
- Covers everything from basic checks to more advanced repairs
- Clear Diagrams guide you step by step through every task,
- Compact 6 x 9 – keep it handy for quick reference
- Comprehensive Task Lists: Never be unsure what to do, or when to do
- More than 9,000 copies sold; available in English, Chinese, French, German, and Portuguese.
- Available in spiral bound (lies flat), paperback, hardcover and eBook
- Companion to the value-added Maintenance Logbooks, available for Single and for Twin engine installations.
What other sailors say about Marine Diesel Basics 1
“. . . The best guide on the subject I’ve seen, this book has a place on every diesel equipped boat.“ – Sail Magazine
“Essential material for anybody just starting out on diesel engines due to its clear illustrations...I highly recommend it.” – Good Old Boat
“As good a guide as you’ll get.” – Australian Sailing
“Clearly knows the subject intimately and has the rare gift of being able to transfer his knowledge to the reader in an extremely easy-to-understand manner." – Sailboat Cruising