Preparing for Dry Dock: Get Your Driveline Parts Ready

When it's time to haul your vessel into the yard for a dry dock planning ahead is a necessity, especially now with parts taking forever to ship. At AME, where fixing drivelines is our bread and butter, we've seen how good prep work can save captains and owners from a world of downtime pain.

First tip? Start early. Dry docking is no time for "we'll figure it out later." Parts like shafts, couplings, and bearings can have lead times stretching into months. Without these, your boat isn't going anywhere. Pro tip...Gather your specs and place orders as soon as you've got your dry dock booked. Waiting it out means you're risking your next charter or shipping run.

Here's where the real magic happens, a Vibration Analysis Condition Monitoring Survey, using an analyzer like the VIBXPERT II by PRUFTECHNIK Group. If you're ignoring vibration reports, you're flying blind. A proper vibration analysis should be done before you even think of scheduling your time in the yard. It's like getting a peek under the hood. It'll flag potential issues like misaligned shafts, worn-out bearings, imbalanced props, engine misfire, worn mounts or torsional couplings. This way, there are no surprise problems when your ship is on blocks, because surprises in the yard are expensive and time-wasting.

When the dry dock date rolls around, your parts should be in hand, your driveline components should be inspected, and your crew should be ready to roll. Knock out repairs and replacements efficiently, and you'll be back to steaming ahead on schedule.

Need our team to help you line this all up? Reach out to us and we'll bring our years of experience and shop know-how to keep your vessel cruising smoothly.

Don't wait for the yard to tell you what's wrong. Stay ready to avoid delays, lost bucks, and unhappy boat owners.