Boating Lifestyle

How Do I Choose The Right Engine

Choosing the right engine for your boat will depend on the activities you want enjoy. For example, if you’re planning on doing waterskiing or wakeboarding the right engine depends on how many people will typically be in the boat as well as the skill level of the skier/rider. Someone who is a beginner needs more engine power to get up on the water than someone who is experienced. Just be sure to talk to you dealer about all your needs and follow the manufacturer guidelines to get the right boat and engine combination. You don’t want to underpower or overpower your boat.

The most important thing to take into consideration first, is "What is it the best choice for your boating activities and location?". There are 4 basic engine types for you to consider; jet drive, inboard, outboard and stern drive. Here are a few notes on each. Jet drives tend to be found in boats that are designed for family fun. They are the best engine for dealing with clean, shallow water. They offer lots of fun at speed because the will turn sharp and typically have enough power to zip the family around the water or pull a tuber. So if your primary purpose for the boat is to go fast, whip around, park on a sand bar and get out to swim, and generally spend time with the family on the boat then Jet drive is an excellent choice. In contrast, the Outboard is the choice of fisherman. The outboard is great for going from point A to point B. This is perfect for fisherman, because they typically leave the dock and head to their fishing hole. Then they turn off the motor and sit with their fishing partners and fish. The 4 stroke outboard tends to be the most fuel efficient motor of any category. It also tends to cost the least upfront. It is the most popular style motor in the world thus making it easy to find parts and maintain. If your primary purpose is fishing and being economical then outboard is an excellent choice. Inboards offer the most torque and performance. They are found in boats that need power. You find inboards in serious water sports boats and boats that are larger and need plenty of power to push them through the water. If your primary purpose is high end water sports or high end performance then Inboard is an excellent choice. Stern drives are the second most common category behind outboards. Stern drive is the combination between outboards (it has an outdrive) and inboards (it has a standard inboard block) Most people see the boat and call it an inboard, when in actuality it is not an inboard. Stern drives are perhaps the most versatile. It offers the benefits of an outboard because the outdrive works as a rudder and steers the boat. If you are looking for a boat that is a combination of fishing and family time then stern drives are an excellent choice. Here is a link that will give you some additional information on choosing a motor.

To ensure that you have the best engine for your boat you should always follow the boat manufacturer guidelines for what engine is the best suited to that particular boat make and model.

Much like a car, the fuel efficiency of any engine is dependent on several factors such as the driver’s handling, activities being enjoyed, boat hull and weather conditions as well as the actual engine construction. Work with your dealer to determine the right engine for your boating needs (both the activities you want to enjoy as well as the type of boat you are in). You want to be sure that the engine is best-suited to these and to make sure that you don’t underpower or overpower your boat. Once you have decided on your engine, I’d suggest also that you have a look at the Fuel Efficiency Tips page on DiscoverBoating.ca so that you know how to operate your engine as efficiently as possible, whichever engine type you select.

Also, take a look at this link from DiscoverBoating.ca for more details and helpful information about purchasing a boat.