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Caterpillar C7 Marine Engine Survey


Twin Caterpillar C7 marine diesel engines during professional marine engine survey inspection by 805 Marine Diesel Mechanic in Ventura California

Premium Marine Engine Survey Report
2005 SPORT FISHING BOAT

33 FT • Twin Caterpillar C7 Marine Diesel Engines • ZF Marine Transmissions

Marine Engine Survey

Conducted by: Jeff Lendall & Sons — 805 Marine Diesel Mechanic

This Caterpillar C7 marine engine survey documents propulsion-system condition, ZF28C marine transmission findings, ECU scan results, turbocharger boost performance, drivetrain inspection, oil-analysis reports, cooling-system evaluation, and sea trial observations for this 2005 33FT sport fishing vessel.

805 Marine Diesel Mechanic professional marine engine survey and diesel propulsion inspection logo

Caterpillar C7
ZF28C
Oil Analysis
Sea Trial

Sport Fishing Boat

HIN / IMO RPGBA132D505
Official Number 1173363
LOA 33 FT
Year 2005

ENGINE 1 — PORT

Engine Make: Caterpillar
Engine Model: C7
Engine Type: Inboard
Power HP: 455
Fuel Type: Diesel
Hours: 1752
Serial Number: C7X00327
Engine Location: Port

Transmission Port: ZF Marine Transmission ZF28C

ENGINE 2 — STARBOARD

Engine Make: Caterpillar
Engine Model: C7
Engine Type: Inboard
Power HP: 455
Fuel Type: Diesel
Hours: 1763
Serial Number: TC7X00326
Engine Location: Starboard

Transmission Starboard: ZF Marine Transmission ZF28C

Generator

Generator Make: Cummins / Onan
Generator Model: E-QD
Generator KW: 13.5
Serial Number: G70613.5TX

The Onan E-QD 13.5 kW marine generator was inspected for cooling-water flow, exhaust-water discharge, vibration at mounts, belt condition, and sound-shield integrity. Operational checks were limited to visual and short-run evaluation.

ECU Computerized Survey Findings

No Faults Detected With ECU Connection: Both ECM/ECU communications were clean with no active fault codes. Live engine data remained stable at idle and under load with no derates logged.
Fuel Filtration System: Racor Twin Turbine Series fuel filter/water separator 10-micron assemblies appeared serviceable with no water present.
Throttle & Shifter Controls: Glendinning shifters worked properly at flybridge and main cabin stations.
Series Turbochargers With Heat Shield: Turbo boost pressure reached 53 PSI during WOT testing with no abnormal turbocharger noise observed.
Gear-Driven Seawater Pump With Bronze Impeller: Seals not leaking and no water present.
Tube-Type Heat Exchanger: Inlet and outlet temperatures within operating parameters.
Engine Oil Cooler: Inlet and outlet temperatures within operating parameters.
Engine Mounted Fuel Cooler: Fuel cooler temperatures remained within operating range.
Seawater Pump Outlet Pressure: Sensor operating properly.
Water-In-Fuel Detection Switch: Sensor working properly.
Exhaust Temperature Sensor: Exhaust temperatures balanced port and starboard and operating properly.
Coolant Level Sensor: Working properly.
Engine Mounts and Bed: Barry engine mounts appeared satisfactory with no excessive movement detected.
Lubrication: Oil-level indication normal both port and starboard.
Lube Oil Pressure: WOT engine load approximately 47 PSI.
Ventilation: Operating properly.
Cooling System Type: Freshwater reservoir-type cooling with seawater cooled wet exhaust operated satisfactorily.
Seawater Strainers: 2-inch Groco bronze-alloy strainers with sight glass appeared serviceable and well maintained.
Coolant Level: Expansion tanks pressure-tested to 25 PSI with no noticeable pressure drop. Infrared heat-gun testing showed normal operating temperatures.
Hoses and Clamps: Double-clamped where sighted using quality 304 stainless-steel compression-style hose clamps and high-temperature silicone hoses.
Belts and Pulleys: Belts and pulleys appeared serviceable with very minimal wear.
Seacocks and Strainers: Ball-valve seawater seacocks operated smoothly and satisfactorily.
Exhaust System: High-quality silicone exhaust hose installed with double clamps where sighted. Exhaust system operated satisfactorily.
Engine Alarms: Low-oil-pressure alarms, water-in-fuel alarms, and coolant-overheat alarms audible at helm station and operated properly.
Engine Shut Down: Port and starboard shutdown systems operated satisfactorily at flybridge and main cabin.
Stuffing Boxes: Starboard dripless shaft seal leaking and requires adjustment or replacement.
Emergency Shut-Downs: Port and starboard emergency shutdown systems appeared to work properly.

Sea Trial Report

The sea trial was conducted in moderate conditions with normal load-out. Operational testing included cold start, idle quality, shift response, acceleration, cruise operation, WOT testing, thermal stabilization, and post-run inspections.

Sea Trial Item Observation
Engine Start Engines started without excessive cranking. Starboard starter intermittently failed to engage and likely requires rebuild or replacement.
Exhaust Appearance No visible black, blue, or white smoke observed at idle, transition, cruise, or WOT.
Cooling Water Exhaust Cooling-water discharge appeared adequate and balanced port and starboard.
Engine Instruments All engine instrumentation operated within normal parameters at idle, cruise, and WOT.
Steering System Steering system operated normally and was highly responsive.
Throttle Operation Glendinning controls provided smooth throttle response with no dead band.
Transmission Operation ZF28C marine transmissions shifted smoothly in and out of gear with no excessive noise or leakage detected.
Backdown Test Backdown test satisfactory.
Rudder Linkage Rudder linkage operated smoothly underway with no leaks detected.
Oil & Coolant Leaks No oil or coolant leaks observed on main engines or in exhaust discharge during testing.

WOT TEST:
Wide-open throttle sea-trial testing performed for approximately 2 minutes. Engines produced smooth, clean power with turbo boost stabilizing around 53 PSI. Lube-oil pressure remained steady and engines operated without smoke or abnormal vibration.

Oil Analysis

The following oil-analysis reports provide wear-metal trends, viscosity data, fuel dilution observations, and predictive maintenance guidance for the propulsion and generator systems.

Port Caterpillar C7 Engine

Starboard Caterpillar C7 Engine

Starboard ZF Marine Gear

Port ZF Marine Gear

Generator


Master Marine Diesel Troubleshooting Guide – 805 Marine Diesel Mechanic

Findings

Twin Caterpillar C7 marine engines operated smoothly with strong throttle response and no smoke signatures indicative of injector, turbocharger, or internal engine wear.

  • Starboard dripless shaft seal leaking and should be adjusted or replaced.
  • Starboard starter intermittently failing to engage and should be rebuilt or replaced.
  • Cooling-system maintenance, zinc replacement schedules, and routine seawater-strainer inspections should continue per Caterpillar maintenance recommendations.
  • Continued oil analysis and aftercooler service intervals are recommended to maintain long-term propulsion reliability.

Overall, the propulsion package appears well maintained and suitable for continued sport-fishing and offshore coastal operation once the noted corrective items are addressed.

Marine Engine Survey Summary

As a result of this

Marine Engine Survey
,
including ECU scans, visual inspection, operational testing, and sea-trial evaluation, the propulsion and support systems demonstrated clean power delivery, proper cooling and lubrication-system behavior, responsive controls, and strong WOT performance.

Two primary corrective actions are recommended:
starboard starter repair/replacement and
starboard dripless shaft seal service/replacement.
With these items corrected, the propulsion package appears positioned for reliable continued operation.

OVERALL ENGINE RATING: VERY GOOD

The engine room and propulsion systems appear to be well maintained overall.

Caterpillar C7 marine engine survey overall propulsion system rating showing VERY GOOD condition after sea trial and inspection

805 Marine Diesel Mechanic is a mobile marine diesel engine specialist based in Ventura, California serving Ventura Harbor, Channel Islands Harbor, Oxnard, and Santa Barbara. Services include marine engine surveys, diesel diagnostics, cooling-system service, fuel-system troubleshooting, and pre-purchase inspections for sport-fishing boats and cruising vessels.


Book Your Engine Survey Today

Speak with 805 Marine Diesel Mechanic about your Caterpillar C7 marine engines, ZF marine transmissions, cooling systems, and full-vessel inspection needs.

NOTICE:

The following statements limit the liability of the undersigned and set ethical standards associated with this report. Use of this report for any purpose constitutes acceptance of the following:

NOTE A:
This report is issued without prejudice and is the property of the Requestor as listed above. Any use or distribution by another party is prohibited and shall render this report invalid.

NOTE B:
This report is issued subject to the understanding that the undersigned surveyor is not responsible for error, omission, negligence, or misstatement. This report is a statement of opinion based on conditions observed at the time of inspection. It is not a warranty expressed or implied. This inspection is valid for the inspection date only as vessel conditions in a saltwater environment may deteriorate rapidly. Condition is regarded as good or better unless otherwise stated herein.

Survey Conducted By

Owner / Surveyor: Jeff Lendall

Jeff Lendall & Sons
805 Marine Diesel Mechanic