What engine spares to take on a small cruiser?

[Orchidius]

Hi there,

I'm the lucky owner of a 29ft classic steel cruising boat I'm fitting out to make the big leap from Europe to the Caribbean. The engine on the boat is a Volvo Penta 2002 and is running great. It's been rebuilt in 2012, and atm I don't have to do much else to it for the cruise. What I am doing however is trying to compile a list of spares to take with me.

From what I understand, there are quite some cruisers that take large amounts of spares for everything from the starter to the alternator, only to realize after some years that they never need them and that the spares start needing maintenance themselves.

That's not the way I'd like to go, since it's a small boat as it is, and there won't be much room left for food/water if I fill it to the brim with parts. Also, nowadays DHL can deliver pretty much anywhere and the Caribbean have quite some places to source parts from as well.

So, what would you take?

[roland stockham]

Lots of filters, and then some more.!!!
Spares seem to be OK in the Caribbean if a bit pricy. Make sure you have enough for at least 2 services, take extra zincs (they burn faster in warm water) spare belts etc. Worth including spare regulator for the alternator and a good tool kit.
The most important spares are for rig, steering and sails. Make sure you can do emergency repairs to these. The main thing you will use the engin for on the crossing is charging so if you have an alternative (genset, solar, wind, shaft) you can do without the engine.

[MarkJ]

Just filters.

You never know what spare part you will need, and a recently refurbished engine shouldnt need anything. So why spend $1,000 on parts you will never use?

You can buy everything in the Caribbean. And if anything goes wrong you are only a day sail from a major cruising port.


Mark

[Pete7]

Oil plus multiple fuel Filters, alternator belts and some engine oil which also goes into some of the greaboxes on the MB2 box, though do check because later boxes changed.

Some lengths of hoses even just to short out the hoses to the calorfier and from the engine seacock to gearbox and on to the water pump. Spare jubilee clips and grease for the stern gland.

Spare key? Starting handle? if you can find one (I am still looking).

[zeehag]

oil filters
fuel filters
more fuel filters
more oil filters
oil.....3 gallons
if you have fresh water cooling, antifreeze also
more oil and filters
ZINCS

some spare hoses and an electric assist fuel pump

[boatman61]

The big fuel/water separator filters are expensive.. I cheat a bit and buy the little in line car filters that I fit before the main filters.. got a blockage.. pull off-push on in a minute.. also 10 of those take as much room as one of the standard filters.. save money and time as they're only about £1 each at Halfords etc last time I bought some.. 10microns gets rid of the worst..
Spare impellor kit.. spare belt or 2.. an oil filter, some oil... maybe a spare injector or 2 if your feeling flush.. and an air filter.
Restock as you use em..

[zeehag]

oh yes forgot belts and many hose clamps and .....
make sure if you use those lil filters boaty suggests that you have no air leakage..mine developed air leaks ..ggrrr....

[wanderer1]

Oil and filters,enough for at least 2 changes and a few x-tra litres of oil for topping up.That should last at least a year.1/2 dozen fuel filters,you will need them!!and at least 2 x-tra impellers for your water pumps,raw water and circulating pump,some spare engine hose and clamps,a couple of belts.That about covers your basics.That`s what I carry and that`s from my experience of over 16 years of cruising.

[jeremiason]

Originally Posted by wanderer1

Oil and filters,enough for at least 2 changes and a few x-tra litres of oil for topping up.That should last at least a year.1/2 dozen fuel filters,you will need them!!and at least 2 x-tra impellers for your water pumps,raw water and circulating pump,some spare engine hose and clamps,a couple of belts.That about covers your basics.That`s what I carry and that`s from my experience of over 16 years of cruising.

What he said, plus some spare zincs

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by zeehag

oh yes forgot belts and many hose clamps and .....
make sure if you use those lil filters boaty suggests that you have no air leakage..mine developed air leaks ..ggrrr....

That's what Jubilee's are for... Eheheheheheheeee

[captain58sailin]

A dog musher's head lamp. spare AAA batteries for said headlamp. I carry a spare starter and alternator. Belts, injectors. fuel and oil filters. What I do, when I change my belts, I keep the old ones as spares and put the new ones in service. A long handled magnet for fishing tools out of the bilge. Dbl ended hose barbs to repair broken hoses. Lots of electrical tape. Soft stainless wire. Extra impellers and gaskets.

[MarkSF]

Couple of spare impellers, and whatever gaskets and circlips are needed to change the impeller. Also consider a spare raw water pump. Shaft seals can fail.

Enough engine oil for a complete fill (in case you lose it all)

Transmission fluid (likewise)

Coolant / antifreeze

Fuel and oil filters

Belts

Zincs incl. the heat exchanger one

[Orchidius]

Great stuff guys! Thanks a bunch! About half of what you guys mention isn't even on my boat or is irrelevant, so looks like this spare-kit won't bite my wallet all too hard . It sure is a spartan existence, but at least it won't cost me an arm and a leg .

[wanderer1]

A starter as a spare you won`t need if you have a crank.Alternator??? .If the one you have now is working good,I wouldn`t worry over.By the time that one F@#!%s up it will probably be in better shape than your spare and cheaper to repair.There a a lot more important things than stuff you may never need when cruising on a budget.

[Boracay]

And demineralised water for the batteries. Lots of the stuff.