Some of the most common boat engine issues and electrical problems our service teams have to deal with are preventable with basic maintenance and checks that you can easily do yourself. Here are three boat engine troubleshooting areas to monitor and address, especially if you’ve just bought a boat.
- Boat engine starting and electrical issues can often be traced to old batteries. Stretching the age of batteries beyond five years is false economy, and that assumes they have been maintained properly. One of the smartest ways to save yourself headaches is to replace batteries as soon as you buy a used boat, unless they are almost new. Consider investing in newer types of batteries, like sealed AGMs, to limit maintenance needs going forward.
- Bad fuel is another cause of boat engine issues, especially if a boat has been sitting for a length of time without being used. Fuel filters should be changed at least annually, and a Racor fuel/water separator can be added if you don’t have one. Use some fuel additive that mixes with water because almost all fuel tanks end up with water in them over time.
- Raw water cooling pump impellers should be changed regularly, and spares kept aboard. In most cases the pump is accessible and the impeller can be changed yourself when the engine alarm goes off. If you get stuck in a weedy area it is a good idea to look at your intake strainer to see if it has weeds in it. Watch the water flow out of your exhaust to see that the flow is still strong. A dry-sounding or barky exhaust is a warning that the engine is not receiving enough cooling water. Shut down right away and check.
