QA

How Do Outboard Motors Work

How does a small outboard motor work?

The crankshaft turns the main driveshaft running down the long spine of the motor. A small gearbox at the bottom of the driveshaft converts vertical spinning motion into horizontal spinning motion. The propeller powered by horizontally spinning gears powers the boat through the water.

How does a 4 stroke outboard motor work?

A four-stroke engine works by running one compression stroke followed by an exhaust stroke. Each stroke is followed quickly by a return stroke. Most four-stroke outboard motors on the market today feature high-tech computer management systems to keep the motor running smoothly, which grants them great performance.

How do I get my boat motor to run after sitting?

Get some water to the engine via a garden hose. Then put on some ear muffs and let the water run for a couple of seconds. Prime up the fuel, turn the key, and hopefully, start and run the engine! If you are going to let the engine sit and run for a while, (which is a pretty good idea to do).

How do outboard motors get air?

Marine engines typically will not have a true air filter. There’s an air box in front of outboard engine carburetors to quiet the sound of air rushing into the engine. Inboard motors use a flame arrestor on their carburetors to eliminate the possibility of fire and bilge explosion.

What is the fin on the bottom of a outboard motor called?

What is the purpose of a skeg? The skeg of your outboard or stern drive motor serves two highly important functions. The skeg acts as a precise rudder, allowing the motor to turn your boat accurately and safely. Second, The skeg allows essential protection of your propeller from debris in the water and running aground.

Where does the exhaust come out on an outboard motor?

Most all of the exhaust of an outboard is expelled through the bottom fin of the propeller. This is why there are bubbles coming up from the propellers when the boat is started.

How does an outboard motor shift gears?

The pinion gear is permanently engaged with the forward gear and the reverse gear, so when the driveshaft is rotating, the pinion gear is rotating, and the forward and reverse gears are rotating. If you hear grinding as you shift the outboard into gear, it’s usually a worn dog clutch.

What does the skeg do on an outboard?

The skeg is the lowest point on an outboard motor (pictured above). It acts as a precise rudder, which allows your boat to turn safely and effectively. It also protects the propeller from getting caught in debris in the water or other hazards the boat may come in contact with.

Is a 4-stroke outboard more powerful than a 2-stroke?

Power/responsiveness Obviously a 2 stroke 60HP has the same power as a 4 stroke 60HP but it is how that power is delivered that changes. As the 2 stroke is firing (igniting the fuel mix) a lot more often, it becomes a lot more responsive and generally a bit more ‘zippy.

Is a 2-stroke outboard faster than a 4-stroke?

A 2 stroke outboard motor has a faster pick-up speed than a 4 stroke. However, once running, both offer speed and power. The make and model of your outboard motor will be the biggest determining factor as to how fast your motor can run.

Why marine engines have 2stroke?

Why 2-stroke Engines are Used More commonly than 4-stroke on Ships? Fuel Selection: The fuel prices have gone sky high and better grade fuel is adding higher costs to vessel operation. A two-stroke engine can burn low-grade fuel oil and hence reduce the running cost of the ship.

What does it mean when a guy says let me drive the boat?

What does ‘drive the boat’ mean? It involves giving someone a shot of liquor, usually D’usse, straight from the bottle.

Do you drive a boat or steer a boat?

The action of driving the boat is probably most often called piloting the boat. You may also hear people say “steering the boat,” navigating the boat” or a lesser known “conning the boat. If it’s a rowboat, you’ll be rowing the boat. If it’s a sailboat, you’ll be sailing the boat, or be called a sailor.

Do you drive a boat or con it?

What is the word for driving a boat? The generally accepted phrase is conning the boat. Although for smaller craft terms such as steering, piloting.

How long can fuel sit in boat?

Ethanol gas (E10 or E15) is no good for more than 6 months. If a stabilizer is added to it, you can extend its life close to a year. If it is older than that, just remove the old gas completely and fill it up with fresh gas because ethanol can attract moisture, forming water inside the tank.

How long can a boat motor sit without running?

One of the most commonly-asked questions we get is, “Is it okay if my boat isn’t running for a while in Fort Lauderdale, FL?” The answer is yes—but you have to do some maintenance beforehand. As long as it’s well maintained before going into storage, a boat can sit for a few months, a few years or even a few decades.

Can you put an outboard motor in gear out of water?

There is no difference putting the motor in gear at idle in or out of the water. The prop shaft will actually spin the prop with less initial resistance than if the prop was in the water.