Outboard Engine Mounts
Boats are a lot of fun. They add the excitement of a day out on the lake spent fishing come to life. Even the most basic of boats requires maintenance and checks to ensure that it is in fully working order. No one wants to sink or have a motor go out when they are far from the dock. Learn about checking the outboard engine mounts in this article.
Angle Of The Motor
The trim or the motor in relation to the hull is important. You want to make sure the motor is making contact and not floating in the air. Take into consideration the hull design when determining the mount.
In addition, when checking outboard engine mounts and choosing trim, look at the weight and speed as well. The balance, of course, will play in prominently.
While it is important to have the trim right angle, make sure that the motor sits at the right height to give the greatest speed without causing drag or water pressure loss either.
Prevent problems with experiencing no thrust by not mounting the engine too high. What happens is the exhaust gets spit into the blades, which inhibits thrust. First, check to see if there is debris caught in the motor as this is one simple reason that the motor is not working right. The technical word is caviation; that is, when debris gets stuck in the propeller. It could also be too large of an angle with the trim too.
Consider Motor Stand
When checking the outboard engine mounts, be sure that the outboard motor is protected as well. A motor stand should be well-made and strong. It will hold the motor and allow for moving of the motor. The stand has wheels with a cart.
Bailing The Boat
Another great aspect of the boat stand that most people do not think of off-hand is hat they actually help drain water from the boat. Simply standing it up tall will drain out water. Every little bit helps if you are having to constantly bail water out of the boat.
The stand plays another integral part for good operation of the motor. It keeps water away from the mechanical workings of the boat and away from the engine as well. Buy them based upon horsepower and weight.
The stand plays a security role as well. When on land, it is easy to keep the boat hooked up to the stand to prevent theft. Yet, being able to move is also important so make sure you have stainless steel wheel casters and pneumatic tires.
While checking outboard engine mounts is important there are a few components of the outboard motor that can give headaches if not maintained properly.
Outboard Motor Parts And Characteristics
Outboard engines may have up to 6 cylinders and may be as little as 2 horsepower to 250 horsepower. Unlike other smaller engines, they have a propeller and a drive shaft in place. The cooling system is interesting because it uses water, not air to keep it cool.
The majority of styles are 2 stroke, though 4 stroke are more frequently being released onto the market. As a whole, the 2 stroke are not the most environmentally friendly because they dump pollutants into the water as they mix the gasoline and oil.
Parts Of An Outboard Motor
The cylinders are connected to the driveshaft, which runs the length of the engine. The driveshaft is splined to the gear assembly that hooks into the propeller. The engine turns the crankshaft and through the whole driveshaft to operate the propeller.
The powerhead is the top of the engine with the pistons, camshaft, rods, and starter motor. The midsection hooks the motor into place with he stern brackets and contains both cooling and exhaust along with the steering assembly. The last portion of the engine contains the gear case, propeller, and pump.
Internally, the motor has the cylinders, spark plugs, and ignition, along with the flywheel. The flywheel is pulled into motion at ignition which makes the spark get the engine going. Boats usually have two types of batteries — one to operate the engine, and one to operate any other boat features.
If there are lights, a refrigerator, or any other electrical needed, they will usually be furnished by the deep cycle battery.
When exposed to water everything can corrode or rust. That’s always the concern with boats. Aluminum makes up most cylinders to prevent this problem, in addition to steel liners.
The outboard motor is an excellent way to enjoy long-term use of a boat for leisure. They last a long time when they are well maintained. That involves providing regular inspection, whether it is the beginning of the fishing season or the end.
Every time you take the boat out, gives a cursory glance of the motor. No one wants to be stalled out because of a simple repair that could have been prevented. In addition, the motor needs to be mounted properly against the transom with the hull so that the motor operates properly. Keep it as high as possible without making the motor have problems in its operation. Otherwise, it could be an unhappy day on the lake.
The key to checking outboard engine mounts is to ensure they are at the maximum height without causing a loss of thrust. Consider how accessories and parts play into the effectiveness of an outboard motor.