Guide for Selecting a Used Outboard Motor
In a perfect world, we would all be able to afford precisely what our hearts desire. There wouldn’t be much diversity in the boating world, as we’d all be cruising past each other in top-of-the line boats with high-end outboard motors attached to the transom. Just think of all the luxury and convenience we would experience on a daily basis. Unfortunately, we would also miss out on many of the great stories that make boating so much fun. Old, well-worn boats have a certain character that their new counterparts lack. To an extent, the same could be said for outboards themselves.
There are several considerations to make upfront when selecting a used outboard motor for your vessel. They fall into three main categories: age, accessories and brand reliability. First, be sure you understand the difference between age and use. An eight-year-old outboard that has lain dormant inside a garage will be in much better shape than a four-year-old engine that has been run hard and denied basic maintenance. Check to ensure that the motor in question operates with a TC-W3 formulation of outboard motor oil.
Choose the accessories that best complement your pre-existing boat. For instance, find a motor that features cable steering, an electric start and other features that make boating more simple if you have a boat that allows for it logistically. As a final consideration, do some research about the specific brand of motor in which you want to invest. The big names in outboards have remained the same for decades: Yamaha, Evinrude, Mercury.
As many boaters know, the Environmental Protection Agency has been cracking down of production of inefficient vehicles in recent years – whether they are designed to drive along roads or motor through a waterway. In some respects, the influx of restrictions and guidelines has been a good thing. After all, most boaters want to make as little lasting environmental impact as possible as they go about their hobby.
In order to keep your marine motor running smoothly and efficiently, it’s essential to perform a full-scale tune up at least once a year. This guide to annual tune ups is not intended to be an absolute authority on how to do your maintenance work but rather as a series of suggestions. As previously discussed, each individual outboard comes with a specialized maintenance schedule courtesy of the manufacturer. Adhere to that schedule first and foremost.
If you’re anything like me, your outboard-powered boat is your true pride and joy; it’s your portal to a quiet, early morning fishing session or to an adventure in uncharted waters. Since I don’t have much spare cash to spend on costly repairs and replacement parts, I make sure to put in the routine maintenance work when it really matters. If you take a few minutes to perform some checks before leaving the dock, you’ll thank yourself later.
If you’ve ever taken a look at a tall ship or even a cruise liner, you may have noticed an element that most of those enormous boats have in common. Along the bow, the stern and the underside of the boat you’ll find barnacles and other saltwater mainstays. A shipwrecked vessel will attract even more barnacles than an active one. Needless to say, these crusty objects clinging to the underside of the craft do much to slow things down.
By now you’re probably familiar with the big three names in outboard motors: Evinrude, Yamaha and Mercury. In recent years, the Environmental Protection Agency has tightened its restrictions on engine efficiency and marine pollution. This just makes sense as the American public becomes more sensitive to ecological issues and biofuels are made a viable alternative to fossil fuels in automobiles.
