Boat Engine Maintenance

Boat Engines: Keep Them Purring

by Fabian Toulouse

A boat's engine, like anything mechanical, needs regular
maintenance to keep it in optimal running condition. Not
practicing boat engine maintenance invites all sorts of
expensive trouble or on-the-water emergencies. Reading your
engine manual, you should make a handy boat engine
maintenance checklist and post it where you will see it
during boating season. While most boat engine maintenance
items can be done at the start or end of the season, a few
things must be checked regularly. Boat engine maintenance is
very little trouble, but handling engine repairs caused by
neglect is a major headache.

One very important item to replace routinely is the
impeller, a rubber or plastic component that cools the
engine by circulating lake water through it. The impeller
will take in impurities from the water and sometimes collect
grit or sand from being run aground. These contribute to
deterioration, as does time spent in storage. An impeller is
one part you do not want to have fail-it could mean
overheating and engine destruction. Therefore good boat
engine maintenance demands that the impeller to be replaced
every three or four years.

Before packing up your boat for the winter, you should do
some maintenance on your boat engine. Since boats do not get
as much action as automobiles normally get, their oil does
not need to be replaced as often. It should, however, be
changed at the end of the season. At the same time, fogging
oil should be added. When the final tank of fuel for the
season is pumped into your boat, it is wise to add fuel
injector cleaner. Otherwise, the fuel can thicken and clog
the motor. These are easy measures designed to prevent
unpleasant surprises when the boat enters the water in the
spring.

Reference your owner's guide for any boat maintenance
particular to your boat. Remember, an ounce of prevention is
worth a pound of cure. The last thing you want is to have to
repair a costly engine part or to get caught adrift after
your engine conks out. Good boat engine maintenance can keep
your engine running properly for years.

Before you start any repairs on your
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