Taking a boat out for a day of fishing or just cruising around on the water is always a lot of fun. However, those fun days will be cut short if your boat suddenly fails to operate efficiently. To prevent this from happening, you need to properly practice boat maintenance. One of the most crucial parts of your boat to maintain is the outboard motor which, if it isn’t well maintained, could break down on you at the worst possible moment, leaving you and your guests stranded out on the water. 

Boat motors are self-contained propulsion systems for boats. Their main function is to help the boat move forward on water. There are two main types of boat motors; the inboard and the outboard motor.

Outboard motors are the engines placed outside, typically at the back or on the stern of your vessel. It consists of a gearbox, propeller, and engine that are commonly used for small vessels. One advantage of outboard motors is they can be easily installed, have high horsepower, and are very easy to maintain. Mercury outboard motors and Yamaha outboard motors are some of the most common outboards sold in the market.

Outboard motors aren’t all that complex to operate but they can be tricky if they are not maintained well. When it comes to proper maintenance, there are a few things that anyone who owns one should know.

Keeping Your Boat and Motor Clean

Regularly washing your boat and its motor may seem like a mundane task, but it is something every boat owner should make sure is done regularly. A dirty hull can significantly reduce your boat’s performance and cause your vessel to increase its overall fuel consumption. Your engine is also made up of thousands of individual pieces and components, all of which are regularly exposed to salt water, dirty air, and other environmental factors that can degrade and corrode your components. Thoroughly cleaning your motor, both after use and on a schedule, will ensure your boat’s motor runs at peak performance for as long as possible. Make it a habit to at least rinse the boat and motor with fresh water after every outing to reduce residue. You can buy the appropriate cleaning materials for your boat and its motor engine in marine shops. 

Regularly Changing Your Oil

Just like with a car, you must regularly change your boat’s oil to ensure the best performance.  Changing the oil in an outboard motor is a relatively easy task but one that many boat owners will neglect. Changing the outboard motor oil once every 100 hours, or at least once every season is recommended by most manufacturers.

Regularly Inspect the Propeller

Nicks and cracks in the propeller can reduce the overall speed and performance of your boat as well as put unexpected additional load on the engine. Checking the propeller should be routine whenever the boat is launched and every time it is pulled out of the water. Nicks in the prop can come from running over things in the water, rocks and debris kicked up by the trailer tires when towing, or several other potential hazards while out on the water.

It’s not only important to check your propeller for damage but also to make sure it’s tightly secured and hasn’t vibrated loose. Additionally, check for any debris like the fishing line that may get tangled around the propeller shaft. A prop shaft wound with a fishing line can cause the outboard’s seals to leak and the bearings to wear out prematurely.

Check the Battery

It’s always a good decision to check the battery and connections every time the boat’s about to head out on the water. Make sure that all of the connections are free of corrosion and well connected. Saltwater is especially damaging to battery connections, but fresh water can wreak havoc as well. A dead battery on the water can be a real problem when its out on the water. It can take hours before help may be able to arrive and you’re stuck in the water pathetically.

Topping off your battery with a full charge the night before any outing is a good idea to prevent your battery from dying while you’re cruising on the water. It’s also a good idea to make sure the battery fluid is at the proper level. 

With very little time, effort and money invested, an outboard motor will last for years. Because they are simple motors, it doesn’t take an engineering degree to keep them working properly. A person with very little marine engineering ability or experience can easily perform any of the maintenance tasks mentioned in this article and the time spent is truly an investment in the longevity of your boat. However, if you think that your outboard motor is already past its prime and is not working in the proper condition, then it’s time to change them and buy a new one. You can approach outboard dealers in your local area or search the internet to get good deals and to ensure that you’re buying from legitimate sellers.