This month, we’ve recognised 2 of our employees at Parts & Power who deserve to be our Employees of the Month for working especially hard and going above and beyond. Congratulations to Andy Rahaman, the Inventory Director (left) and Meckel Weste (right), who also won a Bose Speaker for her amazing efforts. Keep up the good work! 
Category: Parts and Power
CATAMARAN GETS A DOUBLE HEART TRANSPLANT
Marine Maintenance Services based in Nanny Cay Tortola has just completed a double generator change aboard a Privilege Alliaura 62. This yacht is used for Crewed Charter & relies on its generators to keep the whole show on the road.
The original generators were Onan. When it came to decide on which option suited the boat for replacement, the crew chose the Northern Lights due to the reliability, simplicity & parts availability. As a result, we installed 2 x Northern Lights M844LW3 16kw 50hz units. They were mounted on secondary vibration pads & had sound shields installed.
The crew are super happy with the result. The generators are whisper quiet and vibration free. We hope they have a great 2019 season.
US EPA Tier III Compliance for Marine Generators
Questions about US EPA Tier III Compliance for Marine Generators?
Northern Lights Has Answers.
Understanding EPA Tier requirements can be a challenge for even the most experienced boaters. To clarify the issues around Tier III generator requirements, the experts at Northern Lights have prepared the following FAQ’s. Download the PDF from this link: Sales Bulletin – Questions about US EPA Tier III Compliance for Marine Generators?
Two New Northern Lights Models
Two New Northern Lights Models Fill the Market Need for Clean, Reliable Power.
Northern Lights, Inc. (NLI) is pleased to announce the release of two new models – the M944W3F and M944T3F.
You can download and read the complete bulletin here: Sales Bulletin – Two New Northern Lights Models
Dan Durbin Retires from Parts & Power after 23 years of service
Dan Durbin retires from Parts & Power on 1 July 2017 after 23 years of service to Parts & Power customers in the Caribbean, and around the world. Dan joined Parts & Power in 1994 as Service Manager. He became Director of Technical Services, then spent the last few years working as lead Sales Engineer.
Dan’s career started as a Generator Instructor at the Army Engineer School and served as a Generator Technician in Vietnam and Germany. After being honorably discharged from the Army, Dan held many technical posts including that of Technical Service Manager at Cummins NW and International Service Manager for Alaska Diesel Electric, manufacturers of Northern Lights generators. Dan was instrumental in the development of the Northern Lights generator design and focused the product on Reliability, Simplicity and Durability. It was the philosophy that has made the Northern Lights Product so successful, especially in mega yachts, and charter vessels, where down time for a generator is an unacceptable situation.
Dan was also instrumental in developing Parts & Power as the premier engine & generator distributor in the Caribbean. His wide range of experience and technical experience helped Parts & Power expand from Marine Engines and Generators to Land based Generators, Automatic Transfer Switches, Electrical Distribution Products, Power Quality products, JCB excavation equipment and Marine Air Conditioning and Refrigeration.
Dan’s skills as a Technical Instructor are well known and appreciated by many in the Technical Fields. Dan taught classes on Diesel Engines, Power Generation, ATS, Electrical Distribution, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, and JCB machine Operation and Maintenance. He taught for many organizations including H Lavity Stoutt Community College, Northern Lights in Seattle, South Florida, Europe and the Caribbean, and JCB, in addition to regular training for Parts & Power.
Dan was active in several local community service organizations, and never denied any customer, or competitor, technical advice whenever asked.
Dan will be sorely missed by the many lives he touched in the Caribbean and South Florida, but none so much as his family at Parts & Power.
Although Dan will be relocating to South Florida to be near his family, he will remain on retainer with Parts & Power for future projects and training.
Proper Loading of Marine Diesel Generator Sets
Among the most common issues people report with their marine generator sets are dirty exhaust or “wet stacking”. Most frequently, this condition is caused by cylinder glazing and carbon build-up. The root cause is simple: underloading the genset.
Diesel engines in marine gensets should typically run at least 60-75% of their maximum rated load. Short periods of low load running are permissible providing the set is brought up to full load, or close to full load on a regular basis.
Running a diesel engine under low load conditions causes low cylinder pressures, and consequent poor piston ring sealing. The ring-to-liner seal relies on combustion gas pressure to force the piston rings against the oil film on the cylinder bore. Low cylinder pressures result in low temperatures and poor combustion, leading to soot formation and unburned fuel residues and ultimately clogging of the ring grooves. Advanced cases of this condition can even cause the rings to stick in the grooves, further damaging the cylinder bore.
Cylinder glazing occurs when hot combustion gases blow past the now poorly sealing piston rings, causing the lubricating oil on the cylinder walls to flash burn, creating an enamel-like glaze. This smooths the bore and minimizes the effect of the honing marks machined into the bore surface.
Hard carbon is highly abrasive, and is also formed from poor combustion. It wears the honing marks on the bores, leading to increased oil consumption, evidenced by blue smoke. Poor combustion also clogs injector tips, resulting in black exhaust smoke.
The problem is further exacerbated by the formation of acids in the engine oil from condensed water and combustion by-products which would normally boil off at higher temperatures. Acidic buildup in the lubricating oil causes damaging wear to bearing surfaces.
Running your generator set lightly loaded will inevitably shorten the service life of the engine, and results in pollution that is unacceptable to you, to port authorities and to neighboring vessels. Prevent costly repairs and downtime by maintaining adequate engine load on your genset.
If you encounter any of the above problems, or just want more information, contact your nearest Caribbean dealer, visit wwwCaribbeanNorthernLights.com or call Parts and Power at 284-494-2830.
Northern Lights Visits Customers at Antigua Charter Yacht Meeting December 2015
From 5-9 December members from the Northern Lights family visited customers at the 54th Annual Antigua Charter Yacht Meeting (ACYM).
The Charter Yacht Show was very successful with 105 yachts ranging in size from 62 ft to 296 ft. In addition there were another 40-50 yachts in Falmouth Harbour which were not in the Show.
Mike Prado and Nils Nelson, from Deerfield Beach, Vice President/General Manager, Brian Vesely, from Seattle, and Tom Gerker from NL Distributor Parts & Power visited vessels on Falmouth Harbour Marina, the Yacht Club Marina, the Dockyard Marina and the Catamaran Marina.
They found many of the yachts had Northern Lights products on them, both generators and Lugger propulsion engines. In most cases they received nothing but favorable reports from Engineers and Captains. A few vessels had questions or problems on their equipment that the team was able to address. In many cases the NL representatives found a recurring theme that they had discovered at previous shows. Many of the NL customers simply needed advice on how to maintain their Northern Lights equipment, and where to go to get information. In some cases, issues that Engineers and Customers were having in the field were recorded by Brian so he could make changes in Production at the Factory to make Northern Lights products even better.
They found that, in some cases, customers were overhauling their generators prematurely. Because they had owned competitor’s products in the past who recommended overhauls at 10, 15 or 20,000 hours, they felt that they had to do the same on their NL product. Several customers had done overhauls or repairs at 10 or 15,000 hours to find so little wear that they questioned the value in having done the work. Brian and Tom recommended using oil analysis and valve adjustment measurements to monitor wear, as many Northern Lights generators run well past 30,000 hours with nothing but routine maintenance.
Northern Lights were, once again this year, the only engine or generator manufacturer who attended the show. They have been attending the Show for over 15 years, to meet their customers and get feedback on the performance of their equipment. Customers who attend the ACYM typically own generators that run for extensive periods of time, and are more often than not in distant locations far away from a repair facility. So their generators must run reliably.
Having the new General Manager at the show allowed Brian to hear the Voice of the Customer in order to make changes and improvements to the current product, and get an idea of what customers were looking for in future products.
BVI 11TH ANNUAL CHARTER YACHT SOCIETY AGM & CREW PARTY
On 8 November Parts & Power and Marine Maintenance Service, in cooperation with Northern Lights Inc, sponsored the 11th Annual Charter Yacht Society Annual General Meeting and Crew Party at Peg Landing Restaurant at Nanny Cay Marina. The Annual Event kicked off the 34th Annual BVI Charter Yacht Show. Over 125 members of the Charter Yacht Society (CYS) were in attendance.
Although Parts & Power had been sponsoring the Boat Show Crew party for well over 15 years, the format changed 11 years ago when CYS Executive Director, Janet Oliver, approached them with a novel idea. The CYS is comprised of members, who by the nature of their business, are transient. It was challenging to get a majority of members together to attend an AGM. So Janet proposed combining the AGM with the Annual Crew Party. The format proved to be very successful.
After welcoming remarks by CYS Chairperson, Ruth Ross, & Parts & Power MD, Tom Gerker, a financial appeal was made to membership by Phil Aspinall of VI Search and Rescue (VISAR). Following that, a buffet dinner was put on Peg Leg’s and the AGM was held. Among other issues discussed was the important role the CYS plays in promoting the Charter Yacht Industry with Government, and lobbying to prevent an increase in fees for their members. The Charter Yacht Industry contributes over $50 million to the local economy. Being comprised, in large part, by small single charter boat businesses, it is difficult for the owners or crew of those Charter Yacht Businesses to have their voices heard by Government. The Charter Yacht Society does an outstanding job of representing them.
Following the AGM, Tim Dabbs of Marine Maintenance Services and Tony Tucket of Parts & Power, held an entertaining Trivia Challenge for the CYS members. Winners were awarded promotional items supplied by Northern Lights Inc. Peg Leg’s Restaurant and Manager Luis Samuel did an impressive job of providing ample hospitality and refreshments in a beautiful, nicely set, facility. A good time was had by all.
On Monday, 9 Nov, the Boat Show began. The maximum capacity of 78 yachts were in attendance. Of those, there were 5 Monohulls, 6 Motor Yachts and 67 sailing catamarans, reflecting the changing nature of the Charter Yacht Industry. There were 135 brokers which is 30% more than the previous high. With more demanding qualifications to be a broker, and a nominal charge by the CYS, this is a significant comment on how important the BVI Boat Show has become.
Parts & Power, Marine Maintenance Services and Northern Lights were proud to be able support such an important organization as the BVI Charter Yacht Society, and such a successful event.
Very satisfied customer
Parts & Power in the BVI received this testimonial from Bob Tetrault of M/Y Bjoyce:
“To the entire P&P crew; Our visit and work accomplished while in the BVI was above and beyond what is expected today. No one is better at getting parts to us as we roam the Atlantic.
Today I opened a delivery that was ordered three days ago. We are presently in the Chesapeake and the order was placed by email after a prompt answer to my price and availability request.
I have been a Perkins, NL and Lugger customer for 25+ years with nothing but stellar service to speak too. Carry on Tom and my best to the crew.”
Bjoyce is a Nordhavn 55 trawler.
NORTHERN LIGHTS 2015 CARIBBEAN FALL REPOWER SALE
Parts & Power and Northern Lights are announcing the best sale we’ve had on Northern Lights Generators in years.During 1-30 September 2015, we’re offering special pricing on select marine and industrial generators only available through Eastern Caribbean dealers. Contact your nearest Eastern Caribbean dealer, visit www.CaribbeanNorthernLights.com, or contact Parts & Power at 284-494-2830 for details or the dealer nearest to you.
Don’t forget to ask about our Special Pricing on the Technicold brand of Marine Air Conditioning!
For quotations on units please contact Shawina Jacobs (Shawina@partsandpower.com), Dan Durbin (dan@partsandpower.com), Ingrid Penn (Ingrid@partsandpower.com) or Ron Marchman (ron@partsandpower.com). Or call 284-494-2830.
Conditions
All units must be shipped by 30 Sept 2015. Units and Accessories must be ordered together to validate discount. All accessories and optional equipment are at standard prices and discounts. Applies to specific Northern Lights units only, contact us for details of eligible units.