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Understanding Your Boat Engine

If the engine of your boat isn't well maintained, you may soon find yourself stranded on the water or unable to set out on a voyage. We hope that the things we have posted here will help you to understand the engine on your boat. The articles, which have all been written by amateur boat owners, will help you to recognise the signs that your engine needs attention, understand the process of engine reconditioning, and recognise the importance of using the correct type of fuel. Armed with this knowledge, you will be able to hit the waves without having to worry about how the engine will perform.

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Understanding Your Boat Engine

Top Signs That Marine Engine Mounts Need Replacement

by Susan Long

The engine mounts on your boat are probably the hardest working hardware in the engine room. Their primary mission is to isolate the vibrations produced by a roaring engine from a boat's body. Most importantly, engine mounts reduce vibration noise and improve comfort. Thus, it is essential to keep marine engine mounts in excellent condition. However, the components wear out with time and lose their ability to isolate outboard engine vibrations. Knowing the signs of worn-out mounts allows for timely replacement, preventing risky and excessive vibrations. Here are signs of worn-out marine engine mounts.

Increased vibrations 

As mentioned earlier, mounts act as separators between an engine and a vessel. However, as the mounts wear out, an engine gets closer to a boat's body, leading to easy transfer of vibrations. Therefore, when you turn on the ignition and feel excess vibration from an engine, you should consider replacing the mounts. It is the first and most obvious sign that an experienced or amateur boat owner should watch. If you do not address the issue fast, engine mounts will continue losing their anti-vibration properties, making time on a vessel uncomfortable. Thus, you should be aware of the different noises your boat makes so that you can establish increased vibrations caused by worn mounts.

Visual Wear 

Engine mounts are metallic and susceptible to gradual wear caused by various factors. Thus, routine inspections are necessary to identify visible wear signs, including corrosion, cracks, detachment, and permanent deformations such as compressions. Since marine mounts are only effective when rigid, deformations and wear adversely affect their grip on a boat's engine. Therefore, if you notice any of these signs during routine inspections, it is critical to arrange for the immediate replacement of marine engine mounts. At times, wear starts inside the threads of bolts and nuts of a mounting system. Thus, it is advisable to occasionally unscrew and unbolt fasteners and inspect them for signs of wear. Most importantly, ensure that fasteners are dry before fastening them back to avoid corrosion.

Impact Noises 

A boat's engine is typically heavy, and mounts are crucial in preventing it from bumping onto the body. However, as the mounts begin to wear or suffer from catastrophic damage, you start to hear impact sounds coming from the engine area. The noises are common when you increase cruising speed and when you stop. It is because worn mounts increase an engine's inertia, causing it to bump into adjacent components. Replacing engine mounts eliminates impact noises and prevents damage to a vessel's body and other parts.

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