If you love being out on the water in your boat, you know there are few things in life that bring you greater pleasure. However, what may start out as a relaxing and fun day on the water can come to a quick halt if your boat’s engine becomes waterlogged. Should this occur, you will be going nowhere fast and may be staring at some very expensive repairs once you get back to shore. To make sure your boat’s engine does not get waterlogged, here are some tips you can use before hitting the water.
Flush the Engine
If you like to take your boat out onto saltwater, flushing the engine regularly with fresh water will actually prevent waterlogging. If you don’t flush it, debris and salt can build up in and on the engine, leading to corrosion of engine components designed to prevent waterlogging.
The Power of Silicone Spray
Along with installing new marine engine mounts that will keep your boat’s engine at a proper level just barely above the water’s surface, don’t forget about the power of using silicone spray regularly. Several times over the summer, remove your engine’s hood, apply a spray to the power head, and then replace the hood. This will ensure the plastic and rubber components of your engine do not crack, tear, or rot away, which if it happens means water can more easily damage various engine parts. To keep your engine in prime condition, it is recommended you apply silicone spray after every three or four outings on the water.
Protect the Engine from Sunlight
When your boat is not out on the water, this does not mean you don’t have to worry about waterlogging. In fact, how you store your boat can make a big difference in this area. Since day after day of hot sunlight will rapidly begin to break down rubber and plastic components on your engine, invest in a heavy-duty canvas that blocks harmful UV rays from reaching your engine.
Replace the Marine Engine Mount
When it comes to the waterlogged engines, it is sometimes due to the lack of mount support. The engine mount is what holds the engine in place while the boat moves through choppy water. If your boat frequently gets waterlogged, it’s likely that you should install new marine engine mounts.
Keep it Greased
Finally, invest in a grease gun so that you can keep your boat engine’s moving parts working as easily and efficiently as possible. Should even the smallest moving part in your engine start to decline in performance, it could start a chain reaction that eventually results in your engine becoming waterlogged.
Since the last thing you want is to find you and your boat stalled on the open water, use these preventive maintenance tips on a regular basis. By taking care of your boat’s engine, you’ll have little to worry about in terms of waterlogging.
