Choices When Purchasing Outboard Motors

Using outboard motors allows boats to have a propulsion system. The motor contains a propeller or jet drive, gearbox and engine. They are mostly lightweight and easy to attach to the outside of a boat. This allows smaller boats to have power when needed.

Whit outboards, the boater is able to guide the boat around using a pivoting motion. The engines are capable of thrusting the craft as needed in the water. Since they are small, they easily removed. This makes storage and repairs easy for owners.

The mobility of the engine allows it to be tilted up in shallow water to help prevent damage. The small outboard usually has up to fifteen horsepower. It is adhered to the boat by clamps. They usually have a pull type system to start and have a tiller to control the steering. A built in throttle and gearshift control is attached directly to the engine. Going up to about ten miles an hour, they are used in small crafts such as dinghies and canoes. Sometimes they are used as an auxiliary power source with sailboats.

Outboards also come in larger sizes. The larger ones are bolted to the transom. The controls are usually at the helm. These motors will have up to 135 horsepower and have the capacity to power crafts that are 18 feet or longer.

Outboard motors can be powered several ways. There are electrical powered ones that are used on small crafts where sometimes gasoline motors are prohibited. They also can be used as a backup for larger crafts. They are used mostly where quietness and zero emissions is needed. Diesel motors are also an option, but they are rare due to the weight and the cost. There is also pump jet propulsion. This is not as efficient as the others, but they are great in shallow water due to there being no propeller to worry about damaging.

With so many choices of outboard motors, the boater has to decide which one is best for them. Choosing the correct one can make boating fun and relaxing. After all boating is supposed to be enjoyable, not stressing.