| In the boating world, there are few things so | | | | Outboard - From as little a 3 Horsepower up to |
| frustrating and disappointing that having a boat | | | | 300 Horsepower, outboard engines are mounted |
| with too little power. An underpowered boat is | | | | onto the transom of a boat. Since the whole |
| very inefficient from a fuel usage perspective, it | | | | engine and drive train is a single unit which turns |
| will tend to 'push through' the water rather than | | | | by the steering, they provide very good |
| planning off on top of it, and the boat simply will | | | | maneuverability. Outboard engines come in 2 |
| not perform as it should. Before you buy any | | | | stroke, which must burn oil mixed in with the fuel, |
| boat, you must ensure that the main propulsion of | | | | 4 stroke, which burn gasoline buy itself and a |
| the boat is adequate for you intended uses. | | | | variation of the two called Direct Fuel Injection |
| Marine Engines basically come in 4 types: | | | | (DFI) which is a hybrid. 2 Stroke engines normally |
| Inboard/Outboard - They are called this since the | | | | desirable in very high speed applications, like bass |
| engine, much like an automobile engine, is mounted | | | | boats and 4 stroke engines are used most often |
| inside the hull of the boat below decks and the | | | | in applications where power and quiet are more |
| drive unit is mounted on the stern of the boat | | | | important, such as cruising. |
| with a drive shaft encased in a boot which goes | | | | Water Jet - Several manufacturers are producing |
| through the stern of the hull. Such engines are | | | | water jet engines which utilize and inboard |
| standard on most runabouts, deck boats, and | | | | mounted engine (normally a 2 stroke engine to |
| small cabin cruisers. The engine can range from a | | | | obtain high RPM's) with a high speed water pump |
| small 4 cylinder, 100 Horsepower all the way up | | | | that pushed a jet of water out of the transom |
| to an 8 cylinder, 400 Horsepower, with several | | | | through a jet nozzle to propel the boat forward. |
| others in between. The outdrives are either single | | | | Water Jet engines are not particularly efficient, |
| propeller or dual, counter-rotating propeller types | | | | although they can be very fast and responsive. |
| and are mounted onto the transom of the boat. | | | | Jet powered boats are typically difficult to |
| The dual prop tends to provide more 'traction' and | | | | maneuver at low speeds around docks and traffic |
| power, particularly in accelerating from a stop. | | | | since they actually have no neutral gear. They are |
| The outdrives can be tilted up or down to | | | | either in forward or in reverse and the only way |
| compensate for differing boat load conditions and, | | | | to enjoy a true 'neutral position' is to turn the |
| since the whole outdrive turns from side to side, | | | | motor off. |
| steering an maneuverability in greatly enhanced. | | | | All power boats except the Water Jet type, |
| Inboard - The traditional inboard propulsion system | | | | employ a propeller to cause the boat to move in |
| is commonly found in flat bottom ski boats | | | | the desired direction. All propellers are rated by |
| intended to produce as little wake as possible as | | | | their pitch and diameter. The performance of a |
| well as in very large cabin cruisers. In an Inboard | | | | boat can vary widely by differences in the pitch |
| configuration, the engine is mounted to the hull 6 | | | | of the propeller. Generally speaking, a higher |
| to 8 feet forward of the transom and ahead of | | | | number pitch will have more 'bite' in the water and |
| the transmission and the propeller shaft runs | | | | provide more rapid acceleration from a standstill |
| through the hull at an angle and the propeller is | | | | but will not go as fast at "Wide Open Throttle' |
| located under the hull near the transom of the | | | | (WOT). You should consult a marine dealer to |
| boat. Since the propeller is fixed, the steering is | | | | determine the propeller best suited for your |
| controlled by a rudder which is normally mounted | | | | desired performance. |
| just aft of the propeller. Inboard boats with single | | | | Please be certain that, whatever boat you |
| engines lack steering control when proceeding in | | | | choose, that you make certain that you have |
| reverse. When 2 engines are mounted side by | | | | adequate power to propel your boat, with a full |
| side, this 'twin screw' configuration provides | | | | load, as you expect it to. To be certain, you must |
| maximum maneuverability as well as the safety | | | | test ride the boat in the water under varying |
| factor of having a second engine in case of the | | | | speeds, loads and conditions. |
| failure of one engine. This is particularly important | | | | Get right engine and drive combination and you will |
| in oceangoing boats. | | | | be having many a great cruise! |