If you do a lot of fishing, or if you simply take your boat out on the water regularly, is likely that you use an outboard motor. These are the motors that are on the back of boats, typically smaller ones, that allow anglers and people that like to go out on the water to get to their destination.
You might have a favorite fishing spot that you would like to go to every day. It is possible that you simply like to ride around on a local lake for fun. However, when you’re outboard motor starts to malfunction, it is time to either fix it yourself, or find an expert that can help you with servicing an outboard motor.
Common Problems With Outboard Motors
There are so many problems that can occur if you have an outboard motor. They are made with very specific components. For example, at the top you have the power head which is the engine. This is something that can begin to malfunction if you have had your outboard motor for many years. In the midsection, you have the exhaust housing. In the lower unit you have what is called the gearbox. This is a portion of the outboard motor that tends to break down the most.
All of the gears spinning on a regular basis will cause them to wear down, and you could end up stranded in the water once these gears begin to slip. Other components include the tiller, mounting bracket, and the anti-ventilation plate. It is also problematic when your water intake is no longer functioning, or if your propeller has broken off or is simply not spinning. All of these problems can be resolved by getting the right parts.
You will have to have the expertise and tools necessary to restore your motor to how it was before. However, many people are not very good at working on outboard motors. That is why they will take it to an expert at servicing an outboard motor, a local mechanic that works on these motors all the time.
How To Find An Outboard Motor Mechanic
You can find these mechanics very quickly, especially if you are living in an area where there are an abundance of lakes. It is common for businesses to provide not only rentals for boats, but they will also have mechanics on hands that can fix these types of problems. If you cannot find one right away, you can always look in the Yellow Pages. If you would prefer, you can start searching online. A search for outboard motor mechanics will lead you to all of the ones that are currently listed in the search engines. Additionally, you will see advertisements for these different companies that provide this type of service.
How To Select The Right Outboard Motor Mechanic
When you choose one of these mechanics, it’s typically based on several factors. You will want to find out how long they have been in your area providing these services for other anglers or boat owners. If you have a couple businesses that are very similar in regard to years of experience, the only two factors to consider are price and availability. You should request a quote over the phone after talking with these businesses.
Simply tell them what is happening, and then bring the motor to them. They can give you a rough estimate over the phone, or even send it to your email, as to what they believe is wrong from your description and how much it will cost to fix. The company that you choose to do this, or the individual outboard motor mechanic, should be able to identify the problem right away. Once they have done this, they can order the parts that will be necessary to restore your motor.
They will also give you a quote on how much the total cost of the parts will be. In many cases, those prices are going to be much lower than you can get access to on your own because they can often by many of the parts that you will need at wholesale prices. You will have to pay for the labor, but by simply using an expert mechanic that has years of experience at servicing an outboard motor, you will always know that it’s going to be repaired in the proper manner.
How Long Will It Take To Do The Repairs?
The speed at which the repairs can be done will depend upon the mechanic and the number of problems that your outboard motor is experiencing. For example, if you have an engine that cannot be repaired, but will need to be replaced, they can find reconditioned motors, or brand-new motors, that they will have to order which could take several days.
If it is something as simple as a propeller that is not spinning, then they will have to order a brand-new gearbox. If the propeller has fallen off, that’s a very easy thing to fix. It’s a simple matter of placing the order and waiting for the part. No matter what type of problem you are having, if parts are necessary, there is always going to be a delay. If you are using a mechanic that has been fixing outboard motors for many years or decades, you can trust that the repairs will be done properly, regardless of the price.
Fixing outboard motors may not be something you are good at, but there will always be experts that are. If you are having problems with your tiller, exhaust housing, or even your skeg, they will know exactly how to repair the problem. Outboard motors are very technical devices to most people that look at them. A trained mechanic will know exactly what the problem is and what parts will need to be ordered. If you need to find a person that is an expert at servicing an outboard motor to help you, you now know how to find the best mechanic in your area that will offer reasonable prices for their services.