Equipment Outfitters

Aboard a small powerboat, the most likely problems you’ll encounter will involve the engine. While it seems foolish, your first checkpoint should be the fuel tank to make sure that you actually have fuel. Don’t rely on the gas gauge. It may be wrong. Tap the tank or rock the boat to see if you hear fuel sloshing in the tank. If you do have sufficient fuel, try some of the other steps suggested below.

Problem: Starter boat motor works but engine won’t start
Boat Engine not getting fuel			Check boat fuel supply Make sure boat fuel valve and fuel tank vent are open Check boat fuel line for leaks Remove and clean boat fuel filter
Boat Engine flooded			Let boat engine sit for 20 minutes with ignition off Crank boat engine with throttle fully open (and choke open, if manual) Try normal boat starting procedures
Boat Engine overheats			Allow boat engine to cool Check cooling boat water intake and remove any obstructions Tighten boat water pump belt on inboards and check impeller Check cooling boat water hoses for leaks Check boat oil and refill as needed Check fresh water cooling boat tank on inboards and refill
Lack of spark			Remove wire from one plug, hold it carefully 1/4 inch from boat engine block, crank engine once. If there is no spark or a pale yellow spark, open the distributor cap and check for corrosion or moisture. A solid blue spark means the boat ignition is working; test each plug separately.
Fouled spark plugs			Examine the boat plugs for carbon or debris and clear the tips Replace plugs if engine still does not start
	Problem: Starter does not operate
	Low battery			Turn off all boat lights and allow 30 minutes for battery to recover Clean boat battery posts and connections Check boat battery cells and fill with fresh water Tighten alternator belt on inboards
		Problem: Engine stops suddenly
		With noise			Possible damage: broken piston, valve, timing chain
		Without noise			The problem is likely electrical. Inspect wiring and test for spark.
		With sputtering and coughing			The problem is likely boat fuel. Check for fuel reaching carburetor.

Changing the Boat Propeller

Even the most alert powerboat skipper may occasionally ding the propeller on a floating object or in shallow water. The result may be a small boatnick in the blade (which can be filed down) or it may bend the entire blade, in which case a spare boatpropeller should be installed. On outboards and sterndrives, this is a simple matter once the drive unit is tilted upwards so that the propeller is accessible above water.

Before starting, lock the tilt mechanism and turn off the ignition so that the drive unit cannot be lowered accidentally.

With pliers, bend the ends of the cotter pin straight and pull it from the hub. Unscrew the hub, being careful to save the thrust washer behind the hub. Remove the damaged propeller, replace the boatsheer pin where appropriate and insert the new propeller. Replace the thrust washer, screw on the hub snugly and align the hub and shaft holes. Replace the boatcotter pin and bend back the ends.

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