Mistakes to Avoid Making With Your Outboard Motor

Boats equipped with outboard motors are very common, because outboards are a convenient and practical way to add power to your boat, whether or not it has a motor already. However, it’s very easy to make mistakes as a new owner of an outboard motor if you don’t know what you should be doing to maintain it and use it properly. Here are some of the mistakes you’ll want to avoid.

1. Not Reading Your Manual

One common mistake that outboard owners make is that they never even open their owner’s manuals. If you don’t at least look through the manual, you’re not going to be able to fully understand how your motor works and how to properly maintain it. Keep your owner’s manual handy and refer to it often.

2. Using Bad Fuel

If you don’t use the right fuel type for your particular make and model of outboard motor, you’re going to have problems. Yes, fuel can be expensive, but trying to use low-octane fuel when your motor needs high-octane fuel may cost you more in terms of the loss of efficiency and potential damage to the motor over time.

3. Ignoring Corrosion

Since outboard motors spend a lot of time in or near water, they’re exposed to the elements and can suffer from corrosion if you’re not careful. Keep an eye on your motor and try to keep it as dry as possible. The motor should never have water enter its inner workings, and you’ll also want to wipe off salt from the motor if you boat in the ocean.

Stop by our dealership in Clackamas, OR, to view our current stock of new and used outboard motors for sale. Portland Marine & Electronics is proud to be your ABYC and NMEA certified Oregon outboard motor dealer, serving greater Portland, OR, and Vancouver, WA.