If the love of your life is boating, and you are never really happy until you feel the sea breeze as your boat powers through the coastal waters, there are maintenance tasks to be carried out that ensure your outboard is always ready to go. If you take your outboard motor for granted, here are a few signs that will tell you it is either time for a repair or a replacement.
Noticeable Loss of Power
The propeller, which is the spirally thing that revolves, needs to be exactly the right shape to cut through the water and provide the essential pressure to drive the vessel, and a worn propeller will result in loss of power, as the blade is cutting through the water is slightly out of shape, due to wear, which has an impact on the performance of the motor. If your outboard is in need of replacement, there are affordable mercury outboard motors and engines for sale in Southampton, and with a range of new and used units, there will be something just right. The propeller would typically be changed after 1,000 hours of use, as the continued friction with the salt water erodes the metal blade surface, wearing it away.
Motor Overheating
Cooling is an essential component to the outboard engine, which it derives from shooting water through specific channels, so an extended stationary session could result in overheating, and the best way to eliminate this is to get on the move. There are online suppliers of all things marine, and they would offer a comprehensive repair and overhaul service, which would include diagnostics. If you would like some further reading on the importance of cooling an outboard motor, there are informative blog posts you can refer to.
A Benchmark Lifespan
Like anything else, an outboard motor is designed to perform for a set number of hours, and with rigorous testing, the manufacturer can reliably predict the motor’s lifespan, and while small repairs will often be necessary, if the motor is very old, it might be wise to replace it with a modern energy efficient unit. If you are at all unsure about the condition of your outboard, call in the experts, who will be able to carry out a thorough inspection, and in the event, it is better to replace the unit, they would be able to source any make or model you require.
Weak Water Outlet Flow
Caused by a damaged or worn propeller, this is an easy way to notice a malfunction, as the water streaming from the outlet will be visibly less than normal. If you see this, it is time to change the propeller, and while you’re at it, the motor should be fully serviced.
Boating is great fun, but we must always remember that the outboard motor endures some heavy punishment, and with regular servicing, your power unit will always be ready for action. If you have recently relocated and are not familiar with an outboard repair centre, an online search will point you in the right direction, and then you can enjoy those treasured weekends at sea with your family.
