Choosing The Right Engine and Boat
Choosing The Right Engine
Choosing the engine (or propulsion system) for your boat is very important. Both the weight and the
horsepower will have a major impact on the performance of your boat. If you have an underpowered boat, the engine will work twice as hard, giving you poor performance.
Now, we will take a look at the motors available for boats and vessels:
Outboard motor
An outboard motor is very popular and very useful on small boats. These motors are very light, powerful, and extremely quiet. Normally mounted on the transom of a boat, there are boats available that offer a motor well or even a bracket to mount the motor to.The entire motor will swivel about, providing easy steering as the turning propeller pushes the stern
about. Outboard motors come in many different sizes and horsepower can use different types of fuel.
Sterndrive
These motors are also known as I/O engines and normally heavier than outboard motors. Consisting of an engine mounted inboard and a lower unit attached to the transom, these motors offer power and versatility. You can also tilt the motor up and down to help provide boat trim while you cruise.Inboards
On boats that are over 26 feet in length, these motors are very popular. Similar to the stern drivemotor, the inboard motor is mounted inside the boat towards the center, giving you a good weight proportion.
Inboards connect directly to the transmission, then on through the hull of the boat. Then, the shaft is attached to a propeller which will turn and propel the boat. The shaft is fixed and doesn't
swivel around. Therefore, a rudder is mounted behind the shaft and propeller to help deflect the
flow of water which provides your steering direction.
Jet drive
Jet drive propulsion systems have a big advantage - no propeller to cause damage or injury to those in the water, including marine life. Normally, they are inboard engines that will take in water that flows through a pump, powered by an impeller.Then, the water is discharged at very high pressure through a nozzle that will propel the boat. To provide steering for the boat, the nozzle will swivel. For personal watercraft, a jet drive is a way to go.
Read Also: Finding The Perfect Boat and Inspecting Your New Boat
Keep in mind that when power isn't being applied, jet-driven boats will lose steering, as the stream of water that propels the boat won't be there. Therefore, always keep any part of your body away
from the pump intake - and never operate these types of boats in shallow water.
Choosing The Right Boat
The first thing you should know when choosing a boat is that no single boat will do everything. If you are looking for a boat that inspires confidence, don't expect it to shine in light air. Boats that are exciting to sail on the weekends aren't the ideal boats for a passage through the ocean.
You shouldn't expect to find quick acceleration and load carrying capacity together with the same boat. You can buy a boat now to race or fish, then sail around later - as you can only do one or the other with a specific type of boat.
The logic for choosing the right boat is determining how you plan to use the boat. Think about why you want to own a boat, what you plan to do with it, and how you plan on using it.
For some, beauty is the first consideration. For sailboats, beauty is very important, as you'll spend a majority of time floating and sailing around, with many people looking at your sailboat. With people looking at your vessel, you want to make sure that it looks nothing short of amazing.
If you are planning to race instead of a cruise, then speed is your primary consideration. There are many cruising sailors out there who simply can't be happy unless their boats are moving very fast. The ideal boat for speed demons is those that can cut through the water, creating plenty of waves.
Fishermen, on the other hand, want to look towards fishing boats. Trackers and other boats that are designed for fishing are ideal here. Fishing is one of the most popular boat activities, meaning that you'll have plenty of boats to select from.
Read Also: Finding The Perfect Boat and Inspecting Your New Boat
When it comes down to it, selecting the right boat is up to you and what you plan to do with it. Take
your time, weigh your options, and you'll have the right boat before you know it.
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