Working in the engine compartment - I am getting too old for this

I can stand up between my engines, I can't turn around though, so I have to make sure I'm heading in the right direction when I hop in
 
Similar experience this weekend. I'm 62 and 240....9....and half. I changed the oil/filters, trans oil, and all fuel filters. And it was hot! It took about 3 hours for all, so I saved about $400, that's almost 20 gal of diesel.....lol

I'm still doing it for a few reasons: Admittedly a cheap-skate. I find satisfaction in the results, and I like to know how my boat works. If I can't fix it, at least I can have an intelligent conversation with a mechanic who can. I too have been on trips when something happens and I've been able to fix it and salvage the trip.

Also, no need to go to the gym that day.

But, I do know where to draw the line. I'm paying someone to replace all the motor mounts and realign the engines.
 
I was in the engine room yesterday cleaning a little. Busted my forehead on something, not bad enough for stitches, been sitting at the computer all day today waiting for the swelling to go down in my knees, popped an old leftover pain pill, they don't hurt to bad right now.:)
 
Man I get/have so many cuts from the engine room it drives me crazy. I have a special bag with the fabric bandaids in it and the Neosporin pain. I always have banfaids on my hands lately. Recent project is swapping out hose clamps with t-bolt clamps, all of them. If I could find someone that is fair in price and did good work, I'd start paying them yesterday. I am way too old for this, a few years older then you @mrsrobinson, I feel your pain.
 
I like how the new Sea Rays are moving towards outboards instead which makes the engine room yoga mostly obsolete.
 
Regarding band-aids, that's a good idea, I need to keep them by the engine room. I had a nice bleeder yesterday on my middle finger knuckle. Kept putting shop paper towels on it to slow it down. Finally went to get a Band-Aid and my hands were too sweaty to do anything with it. Woke up this morning and it was super red, put a lot of Neosporin on it and it seems better now.

Oh, and I shot some CRC into the anchor light connection, dumbass me, it shot right back and almost got in my eyes.
 
mrsrobinson said:
Regarding band-aids, that's a good idea, I need to keep them by the engine room. I had a nice bleeder yesterday on my middle finger knuckle. Kept putting shop paper towels on it to slow it down. Finally went to get a Band-Aid and my hands were too sweaty to do anything with it. Woke up this morning and it was super red, put a lot of Neosporin on it and it seems better now.

Oh, and I shot some CRC into the anchor light connection, dumbass me, it shot right back and almost got in my eyes.
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Yep, 100 times until I started just putting neosporin on it right away and a bandaid to stop the bleeding. Hose clamps are the worst.
 
SKybolt said:
Yep, 100 times until I started just putting neosporin on it right away and a bandaid to stop the bleeding. Hose clamps are the worst.
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Agreed, that's what I think I cut mine on. Most of mine have red plastic tips on the ends, not sure if it came that way from the factory but I like them.
 
mrsrobinson said:
Agreed, that's what I think I cut mine on. Most of mine have red plastic tips on the ends, not sure if it came that way from the factory but I like them.
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The red caps are great. You can buy replacements. I ordered some from PYI when I got new set screws for my shaft seal.
 
Bilge in The Office is crouch only, access through cockpit hatch at salon entrance. Genny is aft of the hatch, you can pull the fishbox out to access the rear of it, seawater pump, macerator, and such.

Was dark till I installed 5 LED fixtures three weeks ago, not enough though, have 5 more ready for next week.

I've been inboard,outboard, upboard, and downboard in there.

And yeah,I'm getting too old for it, but can't help it at 60. Good news is I'm 5'10/150, so it still works.

Understand the bandaid sh$t for sure, every single timeI touch anyhting, I keep a half dozen in my wallet....
 
I'd send a picture of my bilge, but I can't get in there WITH the camera to take a pic!

As far as cuts on the hands, I started wearing gloves. Mechanic gloves or sometimes the ones with the fingers cut off. It makes a huge difference when reaching around where you can't see what you are doing. Blind boat yoga isn't nearly as bad with the gloves. The worst part is, at my age I might be able to reach the screw, but I don't always have the strength in those weird positions to get them all the way back in! Then you have to get a wrench on a screwdriver where you can't see it while trying to apply downward pressure turning it with a wrench. I really think they should make the engineers perform maintenance on every boat they design. It MIGHT improve the design.

Writing a check does seem like a better idea. Getting a mechanic is the reason I keep doing it. They are difficult to find. A good one is even harder!
 
mrsrobinson said:
Agreed, that's what I think I cut mine on. Most of mine have red plastic tips on the ends, not sure if it came that way from the factory but I like them.
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It's funny, I use to use black electrical tape and napkins as bandaids, but graduated to real bandaids. Most of my hose clamps have or had the rubber ends on them as well but they fall off over time. T-bolts are much better clamps and won't cut you quite as bad.
 
mrsrobinson said:
I spent another day yesterday in the engine compartment, this time removing, cleaning, and reinstalling the transmission coolers. My fingers have cuts, I have bruises all over me, my joints hurt, my head hurts..I am getting too damn old for this.

It was 100 degrees, boat's in a covered slip and I had a high flow fan blowing on me and that was pretty manageable. Only went thru 2 shirts and 3 POWERADES.

Oh to be young again, oh and not 6'3".
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yep, pretty much the same here. Starting using grip gloves last winter and it’s helped quite a bit. A royal pain to get used to and yes, constantly pulling one or the other off for small parts. Also got tired of blood spots on my sheets after the band aid falls off while sleeping. My new system is band aid after cut happens, apply a couple of coats of new skin on cuts before bedtime. Perfect time to have 2 beers while it dries.
 
I use pretty thick latex gloves, but they usually end up tearing, and my hands get sweaty on the inside. I bought a pair of nice mechanic gloves last year for just this kind of work, but ended up using them to do yard work. I forgot about them until I read this post.

I was shocked yet proud of myself while removing/reinstalling both transmission coolers I didn't drop a single tool or anything, that might be a first. While buried in there I did try cleaning out the bilge some, found some broken zip ties, sockets and plastic battery terminal caps. Some of the other stuff was unidentifiable.
 
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