Marine Diesel Basics

Name: Marine Diesel Basics
Address: Toronto, ON, CA
Telephone: +14168767612

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Marine Diesel Basics

Learn Marine Diesel the easy way! Give Up or Get In! A great experience. No-one buys a boat to spent their time in the engine room or worrying about a breakdowns.

Step-by-step guides & diagrams to help boat owners, cruisers & DIYers fix problems with confidence.
✅Trusted by Sailors worldwide. School of hard knocks
The Marine Diesel Basics series has come out of years of anxiety, frustration and expense aboard my own boat "Kuan Yin" while sailing solo along the magnificent coast of sub-Arctic Labrador, Canada. One really bad summer, after being rescued by th

e Coast Guard following a major oil leak and shearing coupling bolts, I decided I had a clear choice - give up or get in completely and train as a marine mechanic. Full-time student
So I signed up for a college course at Georgian College in Ontario, and got stuck into being a full time student for the first time in more than 30 years. Being the Apprentice
After college - and winning a prize as one of the top 5 students - I was fortunate to be taken on by a very experienced sailor, marine mechanic and teacher and worked on many different types of boats. Avoiding heartache and anxiety
The purpose of the MDB series is to help other boaters avoid the heartaches, anxieties and expenses that come from a mechanic system that's not working properly. We have our boat for the joy of being out on the water, for sharing with family or friends. The purpose of these books is to enable anyone to be confident and knowledgeable to take care of the all the basics of their marine diesel system - from fuel fill to propeller - so that they can get out of the engine room and go sailing!

05/08/2026

WATCH MDB2 Engine Essentials

05/07/2026

WATCH MDB2 Chapter Organization

05/04/2026

New preview videos for Marine Diesel Basics 2 are now available on YouTube.
In these updates, Dennison shares a closer look at the structure, content, and progress of the upcoming book.
If you’d like to understand how MDB 2 is being developed — and what it will cover — you can watch the latest uploads on the channel.

Follow the channel to stay updated as the book approaches completion.

MDB 2 Preview Videos are now live on YouTube.

Explore each section of the upcoming book — Engine Essentials, Fuel, Cooling, Electrics, and more — and see how everything comes together before release.
A complete look at what’s coming next.

Watch the full previews on YouTube →
Book Navigation - https://youtu.be/5FsKM3EMx-Y?si=AvJ_8HUeNdL-Gd7p
Chapter Navigation - https://youtu.be/Zh5DRKvhg18?si=DDhKHnwUEiLqY3PK
Engine Essentials - https://youtu.be/Q2n6tKQg92w?si=PY7mjEeMmCeEPqjt
Diesel Fuel - https://youtu.be/xPxCJ1GPyMg?si=84QRIgDEvajqOhx4
Lubrication - https://youtu.be/55kAIJ5vIRM?si=ZjvCHy_B_UkSuOqu
Cooling - https://youtu.be/chr5uLsBmNg?si=9EWDlbikb5t2-MNS
Breathing - https://youtu.be/XDfLgECCOi8?si=h9nWix1mYVvsk-CO
Electrical - https://youtu.be/TnKsXolrdWE?si=fIjHPFO3Xi69QFyw
Drive Train - https://youtu.be/wlV1XsRh2us?si=BmH-BKIWiagoio-R

05/03/2026

IT'S FINALLY COMING — MDB 2!

04/25/2026

Dennison Say Episode 18
What’s the most challenging part of writing technical topics for sailors?

For Dennison, it’s the drawings.

Every illustration has one purpose — to clearly show what needs to be understood. Finding the right drawing, the one that truly teaches, can take hours and hours of work.

Because in Marine Diesel Basics, drawings aren’t just visuals — they’re the teaching tool.

It’s detailed, demanding work…
but also a labor of love — and one that brings a real sense of accomplishment when it finally clicks.

And it’s exactly this level of detail and clarity that’s coming in Marine Diesel Basics 2.
___
Check out our bookshop:
Maintenance Logbook - Single Engine Installation - https://marinedieselbasics.com/

04/22/2026

Dennison Says Episode 17

Sailboat vs motorboat — same ocean, very different maintenance.
Dennison breaks down where the real differences begin.
___
Check out our bookshop:
Maintenance Logbook - Single Engine Installation - https://marinedieselbasics.com/

04/20/2026

Dennison Says Episode 16

In this episode, Dennison reflects on the shift toward electronically controlled diesel engines — designed to improve emissions and efficiency.

While these advancements make sense in many industries, he shares a different perspective when it comes to life at sea.

Out on a passage, reliability and simplicity matter most.
And for Dennison, that’s where mechanically operated diesel engines still stand strong.

Because when something goes wrong offshore, a skilled diesel mechanic — or even the boat owner — can understand, diagnose, and fix the system without relying on complex electronics.

It may sound old-fashioned…
but at sea, simplicity can be the difference between uncertainty and control.

Because out there, it’s not just about efficiency — it’s about what you can fix when it matters most.
___
Check out our bookshop:
Maintenance Logbook - Single Engine Installation - https://marinedieselbasics.com/

04/11/2026

Dennnison Says Episode 15

Have you winterized your boat yet?
What’s the one thing you always check before freezing temperatures hit? 👇
___
Check out our bookshop:
Maintenance Logbook - Single Engine Installation - https://marinedieselbasics.com/

04/09/2026

Dennison Says Episode 14
Essential Piece of Advice for New Sailors

If there’s one thing every new sailor should do, it’s this:
make friends with your diesel engine.
Don’t be afraid of it. Don’t avoid it. Get involved.

Dennison’s advice is simple and practical — get your hands dirty and start with the basics. Learn your systems by touching them, checking them, and maintaining them yourself.

That means:
Checking and changing the coolant (especially on indirect-cooled engines)
Inspecting and tensioning belts
Checking and replacing the impeller
Doing regular visual inspections
These small, hands-on tasks build real understanding. And understanding removes fear.

You don’t need to know everything.
You just need to start.
Confidence comes from involvement — not avoidance.
___
Check out our bookshop:
Maintenance Logbook - Single Engine Installation - https://marinedieselbasics.com/

MDB 2 Preview Videos are now live on YouTube.Explore each section of the upcoming book — Engine Essentials, Fuel, Coolin...

04/07/2026

04/02/2026

WATCH MDB2 Drive Train (Preview)

𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘄 — https://marinedieselbasics.com
Fair winds, and stay tuned for more.

Address

Toronto, ON

Telephone

+14168767612

Website

https://marinedieselbasics.com/book-shop/, https://www.amazon.com/Marine-Diesel-Basics-Maintenance-Recommission-ebook/dp

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