Find Out Why Your Boat Motor Is Losing Power

Boat motors are generally built to last. However, whether it's an outboard or inboard motor on your pontoon, fishing boat or speed boat, your boat motor may pick up a few problems down the line. General wear and tear and faulty boat motor components are typically the culprits behind a failing boat motor. And the loss of power is among the problems you may face with your boat motor. A stalling boat motor or one that's losing power is unreliable and can affect your boating experience. Therefore, knowing the reason behind your boat motor's loss of power goes a long way in helping you make the required repairs early. With that in mind, here is why your boat motor could be losing power.

Spark Plug Issues

Faulty spark plugs and spark plug wires are the most common culprits behind boat motor power loss. Fouled, corroded and damaged spark plugs and spark plug wires fail to produce a strong spark needed to ignite your boat engine. Oil, fuel, carbon, dirt and other debris are some of the components that can foul your spark plugs and spark plug wires. You can clean or replace your spark plugs, depending on how they have been fouled. However, it would be best to replace the spark plugs as soon as possible for severe damage, including excessive fouling, corrosion, breakage and other forms of damage.

Compression Issues

Your boat engine requires the right amount of compression to complete the combustion process. Generally, compression problems originate from faulty components and issues like leaking valves and worn cylinders and piston rings. Therefore, inspect your valves, piston rings and cylinders for any damage and repair or replace them as recommended.

Bad Fuel

The right type and amount of fuel will always determine your boat motor's performance. Therefore, fuel issues, including bad fuel, can cause loss of power. Start by checking whether you are using the recommended type of fuel for your boat and replace if not. If you have the right kind of fuel, confirm how recently you used your boat. This is an important step because fuel may go bad or become stale after days of sitting in your tank, common when the boat is in storage. Typically, fuel that sits idle in the boat's tank encourages condensation that affects the combustion process. You will need to refuel your boat to solve the problem. In addition, you can also add fuel treatment before storing your boat with fuel in the tank. However, remember that the treatment you add must be designed for storage for the best results. For more information, contact marine engineers.