How to buy a boat engine or motor
Choosing the right type of engine and propeller for your boat is very important. The engine’s weight and horsepower will have an impact on the performance of your boat. Matching the correct size and pitch for the propeller will enable your boat and engine to achieve the maximum performance for which it was designed. Our team will guide you in these selections, but knowing what questions to ask is essential to getting exactly what you want.
Types of Outboard Engines
An outboard motor is mounted on the boat’s transom outside of the hull at the stern, or back of the vessel. An outboard’s gear case and propeller is submerged during operation but can be tilted out of the water when not in use. This prevents unnecessary corrosion or marine growth and makes them ideal for salt or freshwater use. To steer an outboard, the engine is pivoted on its mount, directing the propeller’s thrust. Today’s outboard motors range in horsepower from 2.5 HP to over 350 HP per engine. But a few are now available boasting over 500 horsepower.
In the past, outboards were typically conventional two-stroke engines, but manufacturers have since switched to environmentally friendly low-emission engines which include direct fuel injection (DFI) two-stroke and four-stroke designs. Conventional two-stroke engines required oil to be mixed with gasoline to lubricate the engine, while DFI two-stroke engines and four-stroke engines require the oil and gasoline to be separate. Modern low-emission marine outboard engines, in addition to running quieter and smoother, are more environmentally friendly, as the exhaust they emit is virtually smokeless compared to conventional two-strokes.
New outboards meet stringent new EPA emissions regulations that also serve to make them much more fuel efficient than early outboards. Some manufacturers use a “four-stroke” engine design and others use a modern two-stroke design called direct fuel injection(DFI). Four strokes are much like your auto engine and have an oil reservoir and a dipstick to check the levels
Two stroke engines use targeted injection that draws oil from a reservoir to oil critical parts of the engine during operation. The oil is consumed with the fuel leaving no residue. Modern low-emission marine outboard engines run quieter and smoother and with virtually smokeless exhaust when compared with engines of fifteen years ago.
Four Stroke Outboards
Four stroke outboard marine engines are today’s most popular choice of power. They are primarily fuel injected engines although the smaller engines are still carbureted. They offer extreme reliability and great fuel economy. Four stroke motors are quieter and last longer than any engine offered in the past and are by far the easiest to operate. The newest technology makes them lighter than ever before and boaters really love them.
Direct Fuel injection (DFI) Outboards
Fuel is injected directly into the combustion chamber and ignited by the spark plug. The fuel spray from the fuel injector is highly atomized and quickly lowers the temperature of the combustion chamber, allowing for increased engine power, low fuel consumption and low emissions. Direct fuel injection results in no fuel priming, quick engine starting, and precision engine speed and performance across the operating range of the engine. Many of today’s most sophisticated automotive engines use a combination of DFI and four-stroke designs.
Electronic Fuel Injection(EFI)
Fuel is injected into the incoming air for each cylinder, just prior to the intake valve of the engine. The fuel spray from the injector contacts the hot intake valve, cooling the valve and increases the vaporization of the fuel prior to being introduced into the combustion chamber. A spark plug then ignites the fuel air mixture. Electronic fuel injection results in no fuel priming, quick engine starting, low emissions and fuel consumption, and robust engine performance across the operating range of the engine.
Carbureted Fuel Induction
A carburetor is the most basic type of fuel induction system and is a cost effective way to control the fuel delivery to the engine. However, some modern 4-stroke outboard engines outfitted with carburetors are calibrated to meet all applicable exhaust emission standards and offer greatly improved fuel economy over older 2-stroke carbureted engines.
Gas Sterndrive Engines
Automobile Engine Onboard
Marine gas engines are automotive engines modified for use on the water. Gasoline stern drive and inboard engines range in horsepower from 135 HP to over 1000 HP per engine and are used in a variety of boats
Inboard Engines
Inboard engines have the engine and transmission mounted within the hull of the boat, under the deck. A drive shaft extends through the hull and a propeller is mounted on it to drive the engine. Steering is accomplished by using a rudder.
Jet Boat and Personal Watercraft Engines and Propulsion