Outboard Engine

The basic outboard marine boat motor is of two stroke design. This is due to the weight of the motor being less. The power of a two stroke motor is also higher versus a comparable weight four stroke motor. As emissions became tighter direct injection two stroke engines have been produced. They still have low weight and alot of power but are very complex. Direct injection two stroke outboards are actually very clean motors and get excellent fuel economy similar to four strokes. As the technology of four strokes evolve, they have become much lighter and have flooded their way into the market. Although pricy four strokes are very popular and are getting closer to the weight and power of two strokes. Outboard motors started as two strokes with lower weight found on much smaller boats than boats produced today. Today it is not uncommon to see a 250 horsepower motor on the back of a bass boat! Many offshore boats may have twin 250 hp or 225 hp outboard motors on the back! Most mid sized ski boats generally use 115 or 150 horsepower outboards. Small john boats generally use 5,15 or 25 hp motors. Small skiffs use anything between 25, 40 and up to 115 hp outboards.

 

The mid sized motors were the first to transform to four stroke motors. Now four strokes are available in any size. Outboard motors come in many cylinder configurations such as single cylinder, two cylinder, three cylinder, inline four cylinder, v-4, inline six cylinder, and v-6 outboard motors. Outboard motors hang on the back of the boat called the transom. Smaller motors use a tiller handle to steer, and larger boats use cable or hydraulics to steer the boat and motor. The fuel tank is located in the floor of larger boats and a portable tank in smaller boats.