What Do You Have To Check When It Comes To Boat Engine Maintenance?
If you happen to own a boat, chances are that it’s one of the most expensive possessions you have. Whether you use it regularly or not, it therefore makes a lot of sense for you to ensure that you facilitate proper boat engine maintenance to reduce the risk of it losing value. There are many steps you need to take when doing this, but one of the most important is to maintain the engine properly. This is the heart of any boat, and any unaddressed problems with the engine are likely to not only expensive but also very difficult to fix in the long run. Proper maintenance will reduce this cost while at the same time making it easier to fix. During the maintenance of the engine, there are specific things you need to look out for. Some of these include:
The quality of the mounting points
The combination of vibration and exposure to too much water could lead to the degradation of any mounting point. This usually results in the engine becoming more unstable, which increases the chances of a malfunction. During the regular maintenance of the boat engine, you should make a point of inspecting the mounting points thoroughly.
If you notice any problems including wearing of the material, you should consider taking steps to correct this before it becomes a bigger problem. The solutions for this vary depending on the severity of the damage and the type of mounting that your boat has. Your best bet is to consult a specialized mechanic with lots of experience in this field.
The quality of the fasteners
In addition to that, you also need to check the fasteners to make sure that they are still of high quality. Degradation of the quality of the fasteners will lead to too much vibration, which will in turn damage the engine components as well as the rest of the boat. Some of the specific issues you need to address include:
Are the fasteners all there? If not, you will definitely need to replace the ones that are lost.
Is there a need for an upgrade? For instance, you could replace your current fasteners with aluminum hex nuts or titanium socket head cap screws to reduce weight while maintaining the strength of the fasteners. You will need to buy these from reliable vendors to be assured of quality.
Are some of them damaged? If so, you will need to find a way to remove them and have them replaced.
Is there any loosening? All the fasteners associated with the engine need to be fastened to a specific torque value. If this is not done, it could lead to increased wear.
In addition to all the above, you also need to make sure that the internal workings of the engine are also optimized. If not, this will only accelerate the wear in the engine, and can also lead to increased fuel consumption. In most cases, the best way to have this assessed is by consulting an engineer who has experience with boat engines. They are usually in the best position to take it apart and examine all the internal parts for any damage or malfunction.
