How To Keep Your Outboard Motor In Shape

Outboard motors are neither more sensitive than cars engines nor do they require more exceptional maintenance than car engines, but they are exposed to more violent environments than cars. Therefore, you should spend some extra time of the day after every boat trip maintaining the well-being of your boat. Why the extra effort? Because for one, cars are not in danger of constant exposure to water and secondly they do not face be threat of being damaged by salt deposits from ocean water. Since your boat faces dangers each time it ventures out to sea (or other bodies of water), it is worth the extra effort in order to keep your outboard motor in shape. Make use of the following steps to do so.

Step one: Each time you take your boat out to sea or any other bodies of water, salt and other types of sediments can accumulate and thus it is necessary to flush the engine of the boat. One easy way to do so is by purchasing a pair of rabbit ears, which is a rubber seal with a metal clamp attached, useful in many situations. Merely attach the rabbit ears to the part of the motor where it is most likely to be exposed to water and then connect the posterior region of the rabbit ears to a water hose.

2. By starting the engine, the water pump will circulate the clean water into the interior and wash out the salt remnants and other chemical buildups. 3. During the process of flushing the motor, beware of clogging in the outflow tube. By placing your hand in the flowing water, you can check to see if the water flow is adequate. If the water is not being pumped hard enough, stop the engine at once and remove the obstruction by maneuvering a thin wire into the tube to unclog. After successfully clearing the tube, start up the engine again and recheck the water flow.

After the water has been flushed out, be sure to drain out the extra oil that might have collected in the gas line of the boat. Replace the fuel line once the extra fuel has been expelled completely. The last step of technical work is to check for leaks, both formerly acquired and newly acquired. You might have to consult a mechanic who specializes in boats in order to fix leaks.

Last but not lease, coat your boat with WD40 or Quick-lube or other types of similar product to prevent corrosion after scrubbing the boat completely. Place a plastic covering over the engine so that it will be safe from harm during the time it is not in use.

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