YachtForums.Com - View Single Post - Y4 pre-study material?

mmss1 · 07-11-2010, 03:48 PM

Hi K1W1,

thanks for your reply!

Well, I guess your are right, but the problem for me is that I am currently sole engineer on a 34m MY from the early eighties and our systems are not really up to date! (I'm actually surprised that we pass the surveys...)

The other yachts I've worked on have been smaller sailing yachts so their
systems weren't probably exactly what an MCA examiner would expect either.

Here are some examples of what I (think I) need:

In another thread on this forum I read a question about "reverse power trip".
I have only worked on yachts which use a single generator for all loads. They had all have 2 or 3 generators but not any means of running them in parallel.
Hence I have no practical experience of "reverse power trip", paralleling or synchroscope (which I have read about but don't really understand). I have no experience with load banks, frequency converters etc which seem to be used in many (bigger/newer) yachts.

When it comes to engine supervision I use gauges on the bridge and in the engine room. I have no experience of modern "computerised" diesel engines, common rail etc and would like to know more.

We have "small boat systems" rather than "ship systems" and I guess that the exams will be focused on larger yachts.

To (try to) clarify:
Yes, I completely agree with everyone that says that I should learn for life rather than for an exam and that there are thousands of books out there with really good information and that I could learn a lot of useful stuff. But being realistic (and a bit cynical) I won't really have the time to study too much that actually won't be in the syllabus for the Y4.

Perhaps anyone out there just took their Y4 and have some advice?

Best regards!

PS The ideal way to prepare for the Y4 would of course to get a position
as 2nd on a bigger yacht but that position seems to require a Y4 so it's
sort of a catch 22...

07-11-2010, 03:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
mmss1 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: San Remo Posts: 41	Hi K1W1, thanks for your reply! Well, I guess your are right, but the problem for me is that I am currently sole engineer on a 34m MY from the early eighties and our systems are not really up to date! (I'm actually surprised that we pass the surveys...) The other yachts I've worked on have been smaller sailing yachts so their systems weren't probably exactly what an MCA examiner would expect either. Here are some examples of what I (think I) need: In another thread on this forum I read a question about "reverse power trip". I have only worked on yachts which use a single generator for all loads. They had all have 2 or 3 generators but not any means of running them in parallel. Hence I have no practical experience of "reverse power trip", paralleling or synchroscope (which I have read about but don't really understand). I have no experience with load banks, frequency converters etc which seem to be used in many (bigger/newer) yachts. When it comes to engine supervision I use gauges on the bridge and in the engine room. I have no experience of modern "computerised" diesel engines, common rail etc and would like to know more. We have "small boat systems" rather than "ship systems" and I guess that the exams will be focused on larger yachts. To (try to) clarify: Yes, I completely agree with everyone that says that I should learn for life rather than for an exam and that there are thousands of books out there with really good information and that I could learn a lot of useful stuff. But being realistic (and a bit cynical) I won't really have the time to study too much that actually won't be in the syllabus for the Y4. Perhaps anyone out there just took their Y4 and have some advice? Best regards! PS The ideal way to prepare for the Y4 would of course to get a position as 2nd on a bigger yacht but that position seems to require a Y4 so it's sort of a catch 22...