Women and engines

[hellosailor]

Thank you, Gamayun.
Most folks don't realize there are actually five human genders (male, female, and three types of hermaphrodite, which no one is bold enough to discuss) so when I see talk about gender-specific bathrooms, I keep asking "That's all five, correct?" And with transgender surgery, I'm not sure, I think that means we need twenty-five separate bathrooms!
Hey, I'm buying stock in the companies that make all those porcelain fixtures.(G)

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

I think the attitude is always the same: you want to learn something? then go for it!

Join an engine maintenance course up first. Exercise what you have learned on your own engine next.

This is basically 99% of all boat engine know-how.

The remaining 1% is pretty complex and often nothing set in stone. You learn such things from experience and over many years. I think only people who are keen pro diesel mechanics ever get there. I say skip this part, sip your cold beer and browse sailing magazines while they earn their well deserved dollars for their worthy efforts.

I have learned most from reading books and from using the engine. I have never taken a course but this only because there was none at hand.

I read heaps on all basic engine subjects. Magazines, books and here at CF too.

So this is my 2c from 15 years of using an old Volvo Penta MD7a.

Good luck and enjoy your ride,
barnakiel

That is why I asked, why are you calling a mechanic?
If you want to learn, buy a book and dive into the thing, yes you will tear stuff up, even experienced mechanics do, but fixing your screw up is where you will really learn.
I feel too often we expect to be taught things, and expect to be spoon feed information, perhaps that is from our Society concept that everyone needs a College education.

I see that when people come on here and state they are just beginning, but list a whole list of 100 series classes they have taken.
Just dive in, if your smart you will figure it out, perhaps you will figure out being a grease monkey is not for you, maybe you will gain satisfaction from doing.
I suspect there was a time, not too long ago that people just bought a boat and went cruising, and either succeeded or failed, without a dozen classes.

[Cormorant]

Also, this doesn't address the sexism part of your question, but -- I've learned about 90% of what I know about diesel engines (and gas outboards) just by reading threads here on CF. Use the search function here and you'll be amazed at what pops up. Every conceivable problem, with multiple points of view, tons of practical expertise, personal stories, and often an elegant solution. . . .

[sailorchic34]

Most of what I know about engines I learned from my dad being his gofer. I knew how to balance a set of SU carb's and adjust valves back when I was 9. I also have read several engine manuals and have the shop manual for my yanmar.

It's really not rocket science. I would recommend a 18" or longer breaker bar that will give you leverage when loosening a stuck nut/bolt.

Then all you need is the engine manual and maybe watch a video or two on the subject. Plus enough good tools to do the job.

[BandB]

Wifey B: Be assertive and confident and, if they ask for your husband, just politely but firmly remind them it's your boat and they need to deal with you.

A fun little similar story. My dream car was a Porsche so I went shopping, hubby accompanying me. I'd ask something and sales guy would address answer to my hubby. At some point we knew they didn't have the exact car I wanted but he claimed he could get one within 24 hours, then he'd go back to trying to sell on the color they had. He then looked at my hubby and asked "what do I have to do to get you to buy this today?" My hubby looked back and said, "I have no interest in a Porsche, today or any other day, and since you refuse to talk to the customer, it's time for us go leave." I bought one later that day at another dealership.

We have a female licensed engineer working for us too.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by bearkeley

Ok...don't want this to be controversial so trying hard not to vent...but....how can a woman learn about her boats engine when mechanics always ask for the husband!

?

Smack the mechanic on the side of the head with a wrinch handle

[boatpoker]

Many years ago I rented a chain saw and knowing absolutely nothing about them I asked the older woman in the store for advice and told I knew nothing of these things. She showed me how to start it !

When I returned the saw she wanted to charge me for a new chain. Apparently it was burned out because I had not pumped the lube lever while in use. I refused to pay for the chain as she had not informed me of this requirement nor even showed me the lever .....
Me - Why didn't you tell me that when I asked how to run this thing ?
Her- You're a man you wouldn't have listened to a woman anyway !

My wife can change the impeller, the oil and does terrific epoxy work. There is absolutely no reason a woman should defer or be expected to defer to a man in any situation that does not positively require testicles.

She sometimes lets me drive the boat

[Sailor g]

The great thing about CF is you can get opinions on ways to fix something that can give you a new idea or make you feel better about your idea.

[JPA Cate]

Bear,

MarineTex is one of those products that it is very handy to have around. One time, used it to seal the edges of a fuel gauge mounted on a newly installed diesel tank, while underway. The fix lasted the lifetime of the tank.

As to advice about male chauvinism, for me it amounts to this: ignore it, it is not your job to fix those guys; there are plenty of less chauvinistic ones around. You get on with your fixing stuff, living your life in your own way, and after a while, the locals will get used to your being different, but will not usually generalize the knowledge to other females.

Ann

[Pelagic]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

Bear,


As to advice about male chauvinism, for me it amounts to this: ignore it, it is not your job to fix those guys; there are plenty of less chauvinistic ones around. You get on with your fixing stuff, living your life in your own way, and after a while, the locals will get used to your being different, but will not usually generalize the knowledge to other females.

Ann

Great advice Ann, (especially as it was my own on page 1) [emoji1]

But it is also not just gender related...many "specialist" talk down to their customers as they will assume that customer cannot understand the intricacies of their profession.

Many times I have had to laboriously drag that info out of a technician in order to decide how I wish to manage the problem

[RaymondR]

Originally Posted by sailorchic34

Most of what I know about engines I learned from my dad being his gofer. I knew how to balance a set of SU carb's and adjust valves back when I was 9. I also have read several engine manuals and have the shop manual for my yanmar.

It's really not rocket science. I would recommend a 18" or longer breaker bar that will give you leverage when loosening a stuck nut/bolt.

Then all you need is the engine manual and maybe watch a video or two on the subject. Plus enough good tools to do the job.

Hi Sailorchik, how's the Yanmar going.

I am a great big lusty old roughneck with a lifetimes experience of brute strength and ignorance and I carry about a 24" cheater(breaker) bar on my boat. They are not gender specific, just an overt sign of professionalism.

Of course an alternate use for them could be to threaten the male chauvinist beggar with braining if he didn't reform his viewpoint on women's abilities.

[JPA Cate]

Originally Posted by RaymondR

Hi Sailorchik, how's the Yanmar going.

I am a great big lusty old roughneck with a lifetimes experience of brute strength and ignorance and I carry about a 24" cheater(breaker) bar on my boat. They are not gender specific, just an overt sign of professionalism.

Of course an alternate use for them could be to threaten the male chauvinist beggar with braining if he didn't reform his viewpoint on women's abilities.

I have to say I really enjoyed this post. Sometime around 1978, I discovered the delightful help breaker bars could give.

Not too long after that, I took to carrying one between the seats of the car, against burglars. Whack! Just imagining it made me feel safer!

Ann

[bearkeley]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

I have to say I really enjoyed this post. Sometime around 1978, I discovered the delightful help breaker bars could give.

Not too long after that, I took to carrying one between the seats of the car, against burglars. Whack! Just imagining it made me feel safer!

Ann

I just googled it....a long socket wrench? At 4'10, and under 100 lbs (usually), i have the advantage of small fingers and ability to fit easily in our engine compartment, but definitely could benefit a lot with more leverage....now I.m wondering if there is another post about breaker bars and other essential tools and things like marine Tex, etc we should have on the boat?

As a new cruiser, I have found this forum to be invaluable.

[ValiantV]

I think what's "funny" about some mechanics assuming that the husband is the knowledgeable one in a partnership when just as often the male is as - or even more clueless - than the woman.

In an age when some men can't change their own oil, do basic maintenance on home systems, or figure out anything more demanding than putting batteries in a TV remote - it's pretty sad that mechanics give these men that much credit.

As a mechanic by training and experience, I'm sometimes asked by women to accompany then when seeking repairs so "I don't get taken advantage of". I often reply that men are likely taken advantage of just as readily if they aren't knowledgeable about the equipment.

It sounds like you already have a good answer on fixing the problem (without a mechanic!) But as for the "chauvanism" facet, I'd simply suggest that you correct the mechanic and let him know that YOU are the one to talk to on technical issues as well as the customer.

LOVED the story about the Porsche!

Oh, I've had a 24", 1/2" drive breaker bar in my tool kit since 1978 - and I'm 6'2", 180#. Torque is not gender specific!

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Why are you calling a mechanic?

Quite, that's the husbands job

Would it be fair to say that since most of the males on CF grew up in a time before the internet, then they must have amused themselves with motorbikes, cars and outboards etc whilst girls will have been busy slapping on the lip gloss.

So to catch up a girl should read lots of the threads on CF about engines and watch some of the great you tube videos around. How fabulous is this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_0xifuTqVA

Something a little more educational:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgkVrCd8Lc8