A Guide to Outboard Engines

Outboard engines have been used on small boats for decades and an outboard engine is a very good and cost effective way of powering a boat. Inboard boat engines are very large and heavy, whereas outboard engines are small and light which means they are perfect for dinghies and other small boats. An outboard engine also has the advantage of being removable, meaning that they can easily be switched between boats and be taken off for maintenance or replacing outboard parts. Read on to find out more about outboard engines.

Outboard Engines Info

• Outboard engines come in a number of sizes and power outputs ranging from small units suitable for dinghies and other small watercraft to very large models that are used on offshore powerboats for high performance.



• The most common outboard engines for sale are the smaller variety which. These outboard engines provide the correct amount of power for small boats. An outboard engine like this is also light which means that it is easily moveable and won’t affect the handling of the craft too much. A small outboard engine such as the Honda BF 2.3HP fits this description perfectly and is suitable for a wide range of boats. This outboard engine for sale is also extremely well priced.

• An outboard engine is also a big advantage over other boat engines in that the outboard engine is mounted on a point that swivels meaning it also serves as the rudder, negating the need for more complex control systems.

• Outboard engines can come in a number of configurations including 2, 3, or even 8 cylinder engine blocks that provide huge amounts of power. Obviously, larger outboard engines become much harder to move both while sailing and between boats. The large majority of outboard engines for sale on Mailspeed Marine are four stroke, single cylinder models.

• An outboard engine also has advantages over inboard boat engines as they are much easier to maintain and to replace outboard parts. Because most of an outboard engine is above the water level, outboard engines are very easy to access to repair. Outboard engines can also be lifted out of the water when not in use to prevent the build up of seaweed and other growth on the propeller, something which is not possible with inboard boat engines. An outboard engine such as the Suzuki DF5 standard shaft is a good all round outboard engine.



• It is also possible to get propeller-less outboard engines that are known as pump jets and they take in, and then expel the water to produce thrust. These outboard engines are fairly rare but are excellent for use in shallow water where a propeller outboard engine could become tangled.

• Electric outboard engines are also available. These boat engines, such as the Torqeedo Base Travel 401 are fairly quiet and are very good as a backup outboard engine, on waterways where petrol boat engines are not allowed, or on small boats that are used for fishing.


• Outboard parts such as engine covers or outboard engine carry bags are very good additions to protect your outboard engine.