So, you’ve decided to purchase an outboard motor to power up your Stacer boat for your boating excursions. But you’ve no idea how to operate this machine. Well, there's no need to fret, as maneuvering an outboard is like a walk in the park once you get the hang of it. Read the article below to know what is an outboard motor and how to use it:

What is An Outboard Motor?

In a basic sense, an outboard is a portable motor that is fixed to the boat to glide on water. A typical outboard has specific parts. That includes a gear case, the engine, and a propeller. Usually, modern outboard packages come with four-stroke engines. The outboard has a throttle, pull starter, gear, and tiller. Most manufacturers of outboard motor engines are car and motorcycle manufacturers so it’s not uncommon to see a lot of Yamaha boat motors or Suzuki outboard motors for sale in marine shops and boat dealerships.

The motor is attached to the back shelf of a boat and can be raised and lowered into the water on a hinge. There is also a hinge that allows the motor to turn from side to side freely, and a lever called the tiller extends into the boat to be used to turn the motor and steer the boat. At the end of the tiller is a handle that can be twisted to adjust the motor’s speed.

Most outboards use a pull cord to start the motor, but some motors will use an electric key or button starter. There should be a primer to get the flow of fuel started and a choke to restrict the amount of fuel going into the motor. Becoming acquainted with each of these components will make learning to use an outboard motor much easier.

Starting the Outboard Engine

Push the primer button or bulb enough times to start the flow of fuel into the motor, but not so many times that the engine will flood. The number of times you start the outboard will vary between models. Make sure that the boat is in neutral. Choke the engine and pull on the starter cord 3 to 4 times. Repeat until the engine fires up. Adjust the choke so that the outboard motor idles smoothly.

Moving the Boat

Some outboard motors use a lever to alternate between forward and reverse, while others will have the ability to reverse the twisting direction of the handle at the end of the tiller. Make sure that the motor is set to move in the proper direction to get away from the dock.

Turn the throttle arm until it lines up with the shift or the run mark. Now, push away your boat, put it in reverse gear, and back out the boat slowly until you are far enough to turn around. Once your boat is turned around, watch the traffic carefully and choose the proper space to go out into the shallow waters.

Push and pull the tiller to steer the boat. When using an outboard motor, the steering is a major concern. If the tiller is pushed to the right the boat will turn in left. Similarly, if the tiller is pulled to the left, then the boat will turn to the right, so keep in mind these important details.

Stopping the Outboard Motor

Boats do not hold brakes. Instead, they settle quickly when the engine is turned off or the throttle is shifted to neutral.

As the boat slows down you lose control of the steering. When the boat is moving with speed it’s easy to control the steering. But it becomes difficult as soon as it slows down. To kill the engine, put it in neutral, and turn the throttle hand grip to align with the stop position. Now push the red button on the engine which kills the engine.