Types of Boat Engines Explained

Think of yourself on the water participating in sport fishing or spending a long weekend with your family on a boat, and suddenly the engine breaks down!! How does it feel? Annoying, right? A machine is one of the essential parts of a vessel. It's crucial to select the proper boat motor as per your vessel type and specifications.

You can find several names and options when you search for trusted fishing boat dealers near me or top-rated boat engines. Here, we'll highlight the main types of motors and their key parameters.

How Many Types of Boat Engines Are There?

Before choosing a motor, you need to know about the primary types of engines and propulsion systems. Your nearby marine professional or expert technician can help you by answering your technical and non-technical queries. The four main types of boat engines are outboard, inboard, jet drive, and sterndrive.

1. Outboards

As their name suggests, outboard motors are mounted on the transom and outside the boat hull. That is the reason they are called outboard engines. Such a unit contains the motor, gearbox, and propeller. Boaters use the engine to power and steer the vessel through the waters.

It will help if you move the motor side to side for steering and up & down for trailering and trimming. You can use the hand tiller to steer small boats and the steering wheel to navigate large vessels. Such a type of engine makes the vessel plane swiftly. Most people prefer outboards for water sports, boating, and fishing boats. Based on your vessel specification, you can choose from 2.5 HP to even 600 HP Mercury outboard motors in Canada.

2. Inboards

These engines are mounted inside the hull. The inboard engine is generally a four-stroke automotive application modified to use on the boat. It contains a rudder located behind the propeller. You can even maneuver its movements using the steering wheel. Inboard engines create predictable waves easily. Wakeboarders also like it the most. That's why this engine is often used in a boat associated with water sports activities. Vessels requiring high horsepower and torque can get the maximum output from inboard engines.

3. Sterndrives

Sterndrive motors have the mixed abilities of both outboard and inboard engines. That's why users also call a sterndrive an inboard/outboard. You can mount a sterndrive inside a boat hull like an inboard engine. Besides, it is attached through the transom, similar to a lower gearcase part of an outboard motor. This type of engine is commonly used in pleasure boats. Boat dealers also recommend sterndrives for applications requiring higher torque and horsepower.

4. Jet Drives

Jet drives use the water to propel and steer the vessel. Such a motor drives an impeller having a similar pattern to a propeller but with a sharper design. It also generates thrust to operate the boat. Jet drives do not contain exposed propeller blades. They can perform well in shallow water conditions.

How to Choose the Right Boat Engine?

To select a suitable motor for your vessel, you must consider two primary factors. The first is the size of your boat, and the second is the fuel delivery system.

Boat Size

You need to check the weight and dimensions of your vessel before going through the options of repowering. You can consider all the parts, passengers, fuel, and storage capacity of the boat to calculate the weight. You can look for the specific inboard, sterndrive, jet drive, or outboard motors for sale in BC that match the maximum horsepower mentioned in your boat ratings.

Fuel Delivery System

You can find three fuel delivery systems in the market: electronic fuel injection, direct fuel injection, and carbureted fuel system.

The carbureted fuel systems can be available initially at the lowest costs. However, you might get decreased fuel economy and high emissions than the rest. Direct fuel injection boat motors can provide both – good fuel economy and low emissions. Electronic fuel injection systems offer benefits like excellent throttle response & power while providing uniform air & fuel distribution.

Conclusion

Knowing about boats and engine types can help you make better decisions while purchasing your marine equipment for the next boating and fishing seasons. If you love to stay around the vessels and engines, you can think of a career as a maritime service technician. You can hook on with the marine apprenticeship programs from an institute in BC. They can help you get theoretical and hands-on knowledge about boatbuilding, engines, and repairs.

Suppose you are looking for a good boat outdrive for sale or a trusted marine repair service provider on the Pacific West Coast. In that case, you can connect with our Alberni Power & Marine team. We are the largest boat and boat motor dealer on Vancouver Island. With an experience of over three decades, we offer a customized, full range of boat repair and repowering services.