On Mon, 08 Nov 2010 15:17:41 -0500, HarryK wrote:

I'll replace a battery, change the oil, change spark plugs, change
filters, et cetera, on a boat engine, but that's about it. Anything more
complicated, engine-wise, and I want a trained mechanic to do it.

That's all well and good if you are near your home base or some other
area with good services. Once you get off the beaten path it becomes
increasingly difficult to find good people, especially those who are
willing to work on a boat and have repair parts. Most people can
learn to do basic chores like replacing a water pump, alternator,
starter motor, or anchor windlass, all of which have been known to
fail at inopportune times. Sometimes you can find someone ashore who
can fix it, or if you are really provident, you might even have a
replacement onboard.

If I have something that may be suspect, I'll have my local mechanic
change it before we leave, watch how he does the job, and keep the old
part as a spare if it still has some life in it. If not I'll order a
new one and take it along.

Another increasingly frequent issue is getting the carburetor of the
dinghy engine fouled with ethanol fuel. I've pretty well solved that
with the addition of a big filter. Previously however I have needed
to tear down the carb and clean it several times while in the
boondocks.

Having the right tools for all that is absolutely essential.