The first thirty seconds after a diesel fires tell you most of what you need to know about the next eight hours.
Before cranking
How Diesel does not produce the explosive vapor gasoline does, so this is about clearing any fumes and confirming airflow rather than avoiding a bang. If there is any smell of fuel, find it before you start.
How This is the item that pays for the whole list. Confirm by hand on the handle, not from memory.
How Lines, the shore power cord, the dinghy painter, a swimmer, an otter. Look.
Starting and the first two minutes
How Go and look over the transom within the first 30 seconds. You want a steady flow, not a dribble.
Watch for No water means shut that engine down NOW. An impeller dies in well under a minute dry, and then the pieces go into the heat exchanger.
How It should come up almost immediately and hold. Note the reading at idle so you have a baseline to compare against underway.
How Voltage should rise above resting within a minute.
How A puff at start is normal. Steady color after warm-up is not.
Watch for Black = too much fuel or overloaded. Blue = burning oil. White = unburnt fuel or water in a cylinder.
How Stand in the cockpit and just listen to both engines for thirty seconds. You know what they sound like. New noises are cheaper to investigate at the dock.
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Emergencies — Mayday script and six procedures · All checklists