How to Protect Your Engine and Reduce the Need for Sterndrive Repairs

If you want to avoid costly sterndrive repairs, you need to get your engine serviced on a regular basis. When you bring the boat in for servicing, the mechanics will let you know if anything is wrong, and repairing things before they get out of control can help you save money in the long run. Beyond that, you may want to try the following tips.

Pay Attention to Alerts

Like cars, most modern boats have built in alerts. Unfortunately, it can often be hard to see the alerts. In particular, the LED lights may not show up in the glaring sunlight. To make your alerts visible, cover the dash with a small shade.

Alternatively, invest in an audible alarm. Make sure it has a decibel level that you can hear over your motor.

Don't Just Pay Attention to Alerts

That said, you can't just rely on your boat to give you alerts that something is wrong with the stern drive or any other part. Instead, you also need to pay attention to your boat. If you hear unusual grindings, squeaks or other issues, take some time to investigate the issue.

Don't Run While Out of Water

When you're taking your boat out of storage for the season or if you're buying a used boat from someone, it can be tempting to turn on the motor to see how it's working. Running the sterndrive on dry land usually won't hurt it, but that can damage the impeller. Wait until you are in water to test out the motor.

Use Quality Oil

The oil you run through your boat's engine is essential to its functioning. If you don't want your engine to run dry and break down, it's critical to have oil. However, you should always try to use the oil recommended by the manufacturer of your engine. Don't use cheap, inferior oils, or your engine may pay the price in the long run.

Be Careful of Fishing Lines

If you do a lot of fishing, make sure to reel in your fishing lines and pick up broken lines. This is critical if you want to protect the fish and wildlife in the area from injuries, but in addition stray lines can also wrap around your engine and lead to all kinds of trouble.

Invest in Quality Anodes

If you have an outboard motor, there will be anodes in it. These help to protect the motor against corrosion, but they don't work as well if they are cheap. When replacing them, make sure you opt for quality even if it costs a little extra.

And don't forget that if you do need sterndrive repairs, they should be handled quickly. Don't procrastinate or it could cause more issues further down the line.