If you have an outboard motor, chances are you have a starting battery hooked up to allow you to start your engine. If your boat has radio, lights, fish finders, and other accessories, you may also have a deep-cycle battery or two for powering these accessories. If your outboard has an alternator, it will be …
There are a lot of things to think about before you hit the water. If your boat has an outboard motor, or you’re planning to have one installed, one of these considerations is how deep that motor should be in the water. If the motor is raised to high or lowered too deep, you may …
If you’re looking to buy a new outboard motor for your boat, you may be scratching your head at the prices. Sure, everything is expensive these days, but you never expected a boat motor to cost quite so much! So now, you may be wondering: why are outboard motors so expensive? Great question! In this …
If you’re new to the world of boating and outboard motors, you may or may not have heard about fogging your engine. You know it’s important to prepare the engine for storage, but what does fogging have to do with that? What is engine fogging, and is it really necessary to fog your outboard motor? …
Far past are the days when oil is oil and gasoline is gasoline. Industrial optimization has resulted in a world full of specialized products manufactured and labeled for specific uses. While obviously using products with the devices they were designed for is ideal, sometimes life doesn’t work out that way. When circumstance demands, how different …
You’ve identified damage to your outboard motor’s lower unit, and you’re wondering if it’s possible to still hit the lake this weekend. Or maybe you’ve just purchased a used outboard and the lower unit is missing. Or perhaps you haven’t yet installed a newly-purchased outboard and you’re wondering if you can run it without the …
Sometimes, it’s necessary to take the outboard motor off your boat. Maybe you’re replacing it with a new motor, or moving your existing motor to a new boat. Whatever the reason, you need to know how to take an outboard off of a boat in the most efficient and practical way possible. Keep reading! In …
You’re enjoying a fantastic summer day on the water, taking in the sun and catching loads of fish. Then, your worst nightmare happens. Your outboard motor dies. Maybe it dies while you’re attempting to start it up, or while you’re shifting from one gear to the next. Whatever the circumstances, you’re stranded out in the …
If you’ve been boating for any amount of time, you probably know to expect the unexpected. One of the problems you may run into is an outboard motor that won’t start. There may be any number of reasons for this failure, but most likely you have a dead battery or a damaged starter. If one …
So, you got yourself a spanking new outboard motor! Congratulations! Now how do you mount the thing on your boat? More importantly, what size bolts do you need to mount your outboard motor? Installing your outboard – and especially doing it right the first time – is essential. Getting the right size, length, and type …
Most outboard motors have to be used with a battery. Maybe you’re just starting out with a brand new outboard motor, or it’s time for you to buy a new battery for the first time. How do you know what kind of battery to buy? What is the best type of battery for an outboard …
If you own an outboard, chances are that your goal as a boater is to get back in the water as soon as possible. To even be asking this question probably means that you’re having trouble with your outboard’s thermostat. Or maybe you’ve been given advice by a fellow enthusiast that running your engine without …
You just bought a brand new outboard motor. Perhaps you’re hoping to save a little money by not using a battery with it. Or, perhaps your battery failed and you’re wondering if it’s okay to run the outboard without a battery. Will the motor even run? Will attempting to run it without a battery cause …
Your outboard motor needs a new battery. You’re looking at all the different options available and you begin to realize: choosing a battery isn’t as simple as you thought. There are so many different types and sizes, but which one will work best for your motor? It’s important to choose a battery with enough cold …
If you’ve spent any time looking at the engines of your car, lawnmower, or chainsaw, you probably saw that an air filter was one of the components. On the other hand, if you’ve ever looked at your outboard motor, you may have been surprised that you couldn’t find any air filter. After all, don’t all …
Nissan outboard motors were discontinued in 2014. A lot has happened since then. Still, they seem to be pretty popular even today. So you’re probably wondering: “How good are Nissan outboard motors these days?” Don’t despair! Even if it’s been several years, this article was written specifically to give you an accurate idea of where …
You’re ready for a day out on the water, but your outboard motor won’t start. The quickest and most obvious solution is to reach for a can of starter fluid. But are you supposed to use starting fluid on a boat engine? Is it okay for both 2- and 4-stroke motors? When and how should …
So you’re out on the water, enjoying a nice, relaxing day of fishing when BAM! Your outboard motor backfires. Not only will a backfiring engine scare all the fish away, but it could be a sign of various underlying problems. So, you may be wondering: what causes an outboard motor to backfire? And what should …
So you’re out on the water, enjoying a day of boating, when your outboard motor randomly decides to trim up on its own. Or, even more creepy, you may be at home, not even touching your boat, when the motor trims up. What causes this unusual self-trimming? Keep reading to find out more. Why Does …
You just bought a new outboard motor for your boat. You’re ready to head out to the lake and start testing it out. Just one question: how do you get it there safely? Of course, you could install it on your boat and transport it, boat and all, to the lake. But if your boat …