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Developing your spare parts strategy

Ocean Navigator
  • Anticipate problems, determine what you will need before you need it.
  • Be vigilant in your inspections and look for clues (rust, oil leaks, chafe dust, corrosion, etc.) that indicate something is wearing out or going wrong.
  • Ensure that you have a comprehensive tool inventory, including any specialty tools aboard to make a wide variety of repairs.
  • Download the manual for each piece of equipment and determine spare parts requirements.
  • Consider changing out good working parts with spares so you know the part you removed will fit and do the job if it needs to become the future spare.
  • Diagram the location of serviceable items (like fuses and anti-siphons) so you know where to work when they need repair or replacement.
  • Keep your spare parts catalogued and remember where they are stowed.
  • Use clear see-through bins and label the contents on the outside.
  • Protect expensive replacement parts with shrink-wrap and store in a dry environment.
  • Create a documented system of preventative maintenance for each piece of machinery on board.
  • Update your maintenance log or data sheet for each piece of gear after you have worked on it.
By Ocean Navigator