"If It Ain't Broke Don't Fix It" vs. Condition Based Maintenance

Published: Sunday, August 26, 2012 7:00 am
By: Arid Bilge Systems

When I was growing up in the good old days, Dad had a 1950 all-wood Wheeler. One of Dad’s favorite sayings was “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” and back then, this seemed to be a good motto to live by. As long as Dad had his little vise grips, auto body filler, and git rot, it seemed he could fix just about anything. In a worst case scenario, a short block could be had for around $450. Spill a little gas or oil in the water back then, and everyone would comment about the different colors it would make on the water. Dad had the rest of us to slave over the varnish. We had lots fun, adventures, and great memories. In the 1960s it seemed that we had it all.

Fast forward 50 years and the changes seem exponential. The complexities of the modern yacht, the regulations, the expense — add up all the changes over the years and it almost seems as if you were on a different planet!

For most of us today, Dad’s old saying has been transformed into “let’s fix it before it breaks,” aka preventative maintenance. The commercial vessels call it CBM or Condition Based Maintenance. If you are looking at the bigger picture, it is all about keeping costs down while extending the service life of our nautical investment.

Suggestions for Preventative Maintenance:

Many of the better yacht surveyors will insist on an engine and gearbox oil analysis. You may view one of the companies that analyze samples at this website: www.blackstone-labs.com.
Early leak detection: Dry bilge vacuum systems are being installed by many DIY’s. Leaving even the normal residual bilge water levels below will often mask developing problems. With a common lake at the bottom of the bilge, it is impossible to tell if you have one, two, or even six small leaks — much less where they might be originating. When the bilges are maintained to be bone dry, small leaks will then leave trails back to the source. Small leaks, left unchecked, often mature into bigger leaks at the most inopportune times. This may result in oil or fuel being sent overboard, or could even further deteriorate resulting in a near sinking event. You may view one of the companies that offers dry bilge equipment by visiting www.aridbilge.com. Also see the Summer Issue of Great Lakes Scuttlebutt on page 76, where Jeff Talbut tests the Arid Bilge System aboard his sailboat.
On the higher tech end, boaters can install listening equipment. Two types are available as one is based on vibration levels, while the other type uses microphones to measure tonal changes. As bearings and gears wear through their service life, they eventually wear down and start to vibrate as well as produce a tonal change. The equipment detects these changes and notifies the operator when this point is reached, usually before a breakdown occurs. You may visit www.swantech.cwfc.com for more information.