Crest Marine Services

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All posts by Mike

  • Mike
  • Aug, Sun, 2025
Uncategorised

Water Rescue Training with SARA in Lydney

At Crest Marine Services, safety on and around the water is at the heart of what we do. Last week, I had the opportunity to join a day’s water rescue training in Lydney with the Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA) an invaluable experience that deepened both my skills and respect for those who dedicate their time to saving lives.

The course took place under blue skies and bright sunshine, with my fellow trainees being a team from the Environment Agency. While the conditions were calm, the training scenarios were designed to prepare us for the far more challenging situations that real incidents can bring.

We began the day with discussions on how to approach a water rescue, covering scene assessment, hazard awareness, and coordination with other emergency services. A key focus was on personal protective equipment, including the correct selection, inspection, and use of lifejackets and buoyancy aids, ensuring both rescuers and casualties remain as safe as possible during an incident.

First aid was also a central part of the morning, in many real-life rescues pulling someone from the water is only the start. We explored best practice for first responders and how to provide immediate care until further help arrives.

The afternoon moved into practical training, putting the theory into action with the deployment of lifebuoys, throwlines, and reach poles. These hands-on exercises allowed us to test techniques, work under time pressure, and gain confidence in using specialist rescue equipment effectively.

Preparedness doesn’t stop when the training ends. My own van carries a rescue throwline ready for immediate use in an emergency part of our ongoing commitment to being able to assist quickly and effectively should the unexpected happen.

It was an excellent day of learning, made even better by the expertise and professionalism of the SARA trainers. Whether it’s responding to emergencies, maintaining safe operations, or simply being prepared for the unexpected, training like this ensures we’re ready to help keep people safe on the water.

A big thank you to the SARA team for their dedication and knowledge and to the Environment Agency staff for being great training partners.

  • Mike
  • Aug, Sun, 2025
Repair , Upgrade

Powering Up for a 10 year Circumnavigation

At Crest Marine Services, we pride ourselves on delivering reliable, safe, and creative solutions for complex electrical issues afloat. One of our recent callouts came from the skipper of Shadowfax, a yacht preparing for a ten-year circumnavigation, and just three days from departure.

The problem? The vessel’s inverter wouldn’t run the calorifier’s immersion heater. The setup worked fine from shore power and the generator, but the inverter refused to cooperate, despite the live being properly connected. It was clear this wasn’t a basic fault.

The skipper had already spoken to a few marine electricians, who suspected a neutral issue but declined to get involved. That’s understandable. Neutral faults can be notoriously tricky to diagnose and fix. With a fault on the live, you can easily verify voltage and track the problem. On the neutral side, though, things are far less straightforward. Fault finding gets technical very quickly, and with time running short, mistakes weren’t an option.

After a detailed discussion with the skipper about how the system was originally designed, how it needed to function, and what protections were in place, we got to work. We spent time fault finding and carefully evaluating the wiring setup. Once we confirmed that all necessary protections were present, we re-wired the relevant circuits so the immersion heater could run safely from the inverter when needed.

To help protect the house battery bank, we also installed a timer module — a simple but effective safeguard to prevent the heater being accidentally left on and draining power when underway or at anchor.

We wish the skipper and his family the very best as they begin their ten-year voyage around the world aboard Shadowfax. It was a pleasure to help them get one step closer to departure.

Fair winds and following seas.

  • Mike
  • Mar, Sun, 2025
Repair

Wiring Loom Repair on Predator: Getting Back on the Water After Engine Failure

We were recently contacted by Supreme Fishing Trips based in Padstow, regarding an urgent issue with their charter boat, Predator, a Bullet 38. Over the winter water had frozen in the cooling system, causing a crack that went unnoticed until the boat’s first trip of the year. Unfortunately, during the trip, the engine began overheating, and the skipper managed to bring the boat back without the need for a lifeboat, which was a commendable effort.

Despite his best efforts the engine suffered irreparable damage and required replacement. During the engine replacement process, we were called in to deal with an additional issue—the main loom to the rest of the boat had been severed. We were tasked with carefully tracing the old wiring, identifying each connection, and matching it up to the new engine wiring.

We connected the new wiring using high-quality waterproof connectors to ensure durability. This upgrade means there’s no need for the wiring to be cut again if it ever needs replacing in the future, preventing any further issues down the line.

The engine wasn’t yet ready for a test run at this point, so we returned after the first trial. The skipper reported that the temperature gauge was running backwards. We found that the new engine came with a temperature sender that was not compatible with the old engine`s gauge, so we advised him on the correct temperature sender to fit to the new engine. Once the new sender was installed, we were pleased to hear that Predator was back on the water a few days later.

Replacing an engine is never a quick job, but we were happy to have played a key role in getting Predator back on course with a fully functional electrical system.

At Crest Marine Services, we specialise in providing reliable, high quality solutions for electrical issues on both leisure and commercial vessels. If you’re facing similar challenges or need expert advice, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here to help get you back to sea!

  • Mike
  • Mar, Sat, 2025
Build , Repair , Upgrade

Smooth Sailing with S/V Bahari: Electrical Repairs & Lithium Upgrade

When the new owner of S/V Bahari, a Prout Snowgoose 37, contacted Crest Marine Services with concerns about the boat’s electrics, we were happy to help. A thorough inspection revealed several dry joints on the PCB of the main control panel which we were able to repair. Additionally, we found and resolved loose connections, corrosion inside switches and identified damage to the AIS cable.

Beyond the repairs we spent time with the skipper, walking through the various onboard systems and explaining how to control different functions. Understanding which switch does what can make all the difference when out at sea. To put everything to the test we joined the skipper for a shakedown sail out of Falmouth. It was a fantastic trip, made even more special when a pod of dolphins decided to accompany us along the way.

Impressed with our work, the owner inquired about upgrading his house battery bank. Given the boat’s needs we recommended switching to LiFePO4 batteries for improved efficiency and reliability. The skipper agreed, and we set about putting together a specification and building a new lithium battery setup in preparation for an upcoming maintenance period at Gweek Boatyard.

At Gweek, we assisted with the battery installation and also reviewed the charging system. During our initial visit, we helped unlock the existing Victron MPPT charge controllers, and provided the boatyard technical support over the phone, advising on the correct system setup to optimize performance.

The owner has been in regular contact, keeping us updated on how the system is performing. We’re continuing to monitor the system to ensure that S/V Bahari has all the power she needs for her intended use. So far, everything is looking great, and we’re always on hand for further upgrades if required.

If you need expert marine electrical support, from repairs and upgrades to full system installations, get in touch — we’re here to help keep you powered at sea!