Marine Technical Training Academy

 Marine Sanitation Devices (MSD) Recreational boats are not required to be equipped with a toilet.  If a toilet is installed, it must be equipped with an operable Marine Sanitation Device (MSD) that is certified by the Coast Guard.  Installed toilets that are not equipped with an MSD, and that discharge raw sewage directly over the side, is illegal.    Portable toilets or "porta-potties" are not considered installed toilets and are not subject to the MSD regulations. Marine Sanitation Systems Type  One MSD’s typically discharge treated waste directly overboard  This system reduces bacteria and discharges no visible floating solids Type two MSD system is similar to type one but with a better job of treating waste  These are typically installed in boats over 65’, but can be used on any vessel outside of a non discharge zone Type Three MSD system uses a head connected directly to a holding tank   Some systems use “Y –Valves” that allow w...

  How to install a Marine Generator To Install a new generator successfully follow these steps: 1.- Size the capacity of the generator in Kw according to the capacity of the AC Panel in Kw, plus 20% for the safety factor. 2.- Analyze different places in the engine room to install de generator, avoiding:  - Proximity to propellers - Locations over the waterline (More than 2 feet) - Long distances in between the trough full valve and the raw water pump. - Proximity of the exhaust gases pipe with cabin grills (Less than 15 in) - Excessive separation between the battery and the Genset 3.- Prepare fittings, hoses, and filters to install the fuel system 4.- Prepare Hoses, elbows adapters, and Muffler to install the exhaust system (Take into consideration antisiphon devices and Water separators). 5.- Prepare battery cables. Size those cables according to the distance in between the battery and the starter. Always install a Battery switch selector. 6.- Ask the owner his preference to ...

 Hydraulic Systems Hydraulic systems have the ability to multiply torque or amove machinery at a distance from the engine. Hydraulic applies force in a simple way. Mechanical systems would require an intricate system of gears, chains, pulleys, and levers, systems, however, can transmit force from a force engine to the place where it needs to be in order to do the work simply by stringing hydraulic hoses between the two. Hydraulic Fluid, Pipes & Hoses Fluids transmit force effectively because they do not compress. The force that is applied at one end of a hydraulic hose travels to the opposite end of the hose with little loss of power. Changes in the size of hoses along the way can increase or decrease the force applied at the opposite end. Why Hydraulic? Because it can't be compressed, a confined fluid is incredibly strong, can be minutely adjusted in any direction, yet is still easily controlled. Most marine applications use small, easily installed components, with hydraulic l...

 Bonding and Grounding “Bonding” refers to a common connection joining metal components to: Provide a low impedance ground fault path to trip a circuit protection device Prevent dangerous voltages from appearing on metal objects Provide a path for galvanic and DC stray currents “Grounding” is defined as a common connection to Earth for the purpose of: Lightning discharge System voltage stabilization Reducing static and RF interference Bonding or Grounding? Keep in mind that these terms are often used interchangeably in the current lexicon.  We will be focusing primarily on “Bonding” in its classic sense but may also refer to some aspects of this as “Grounding” (e.g. the green wire is called the ground wire, but it’s actually a bonding wire by definition in most cases). Our Priority There are 3 areas we are focused on:  Personal injury and Death, Fires, and Corrosion of underwater metals.  Personal injuries and deaths occur less frequently but the consequences are cat...

 Two-Stroke Engines A two-stroke engine is a combustion engine that completes the cycle in two movements of the piston compared to twice that number for a four-stroke engine. This increased efficiency is accomplished by using the beginning of the compression stroke and the end of the combustion stroke to perform simultaneously the intake and exhaust (or scavenging) functions. The four "cycles" (intake, compression, power, exhaust) occur in one revolution, while in a Two-stroke engine it occurs in two complete revolutions INTAKE  &  EXHAUST First Stroke: Intake + Exhaust for Gas engine In a two-stroke gas engine, the mixture (Air, Gasoline + oil), is injected into the combustion chamber by differential pressure at the first stroke Get here the Marine Diesel Engines Book where you can find all the information on this and many other topics. Get the book INTAKE & EXHAUST (Diesel) Toward the end of the stroke, the piston exposes the intake port, allowing the compressed...

  Carbon Content on Ferrous Alloys Cast iron contains 2 to 4 percent carbon. Carbon steels are classified by the percentage of carbon in hundredths of 1 percent they contain. Low Carbon Steel: Carbon content up to 0.30 percent  Medium Carbon Steel: Carbon content from 0.30 to 0.50 percent  High Carbon Steel: Carbon content from 0.50 to 1.05% Stainless Steel: The carbon content is held to 0.08% maximum. Cast Irons Most cast irons have a chemical composition of 2.5–4.0% carbon, 1–3% silicon, and the remainder is iron. It is usually made from pig iron. Hard skin, softer underneath, but brittle. It corrodes by rusting. Grey Cast Iron Grey cast iron is easily cast but it cannot be forged or worked mechanically either hot or cold. the carbon content is in the form of flakes distributed throughout the metal. Grey Cast Iron Uses White Cast Iron white cast iron has carbide impurities which allow cracks to pass straight through. Since carbide makes up a large fraction of the materi...