Your Guide to Outboards: Chapter 4

Gear That Provides the Finishing Touch

Power trim is a perfect example. If it's not standard on your engine, we recommend it as a worthwhile option. It is the most useful accessory on any outboard. With the push of a button, you can trim the engine for the best ride and performance. It also makes it easy to tilt the outboard for trailering, beaching the boat or shallow-water operation (just don't run with the lower unit out of the water).

Far-ranging fishermen and long-haul cruisers should consider installing a fuel management system. Often called a fuel-flow gauge, these instruments calculate how many litres per hour (lt/hr) the engine is burning and display the total amount of fuel used. More sophisticated devices also show how many litres are still left. Add a Global Positioning System or paddlewheel speedo to your boat's fuel management system and get a readout in kilometres per litre. This information allows a skipper to determine his most fuel-efficient cruising speed, and helps maximise his boat's range.

Best food forward
A foot throttle (similar to the accelerator in your car) is another worthy accessory for high-performance boats. Couple the foot pedal with a steering-wheel-mounted trim control, and you can hold the wheel with both hands while still having full control over trim and throttle functions.

Outboard upgrades
When used for trolling, the entire outboard becomes an accessory. Most electric-start models have an alternator that maintains the battery's charge and supplies power for electronics and livewell pumps. If your manual-start outboard isn't equipped with a charging system, fret not - alternator kits are offered for most engines.

(Many manual-start engines can also be upgraded with an electric-start kit.) For small outboards, a simple electrical system is available. Called "lighting kits," these are suitable for powering navigation lights, but are not intended for battery charging.

If you're installing an auxiliary outboard (as discussed in Chapter 1), three types of mounting brackets are available. Fixed-mount brackets set the engine behind the transom, leaving enough room to tilt the lower unit out of the water when the auxiliary isn't needed. Adjustable mounts allow you to raise or lower the spare outboard vertically. You can also buy an automatic mount that raises and secures the auxiliary at the flip of a switch - which is a huge help for fishermen who sometimes deploy their trolling motors dozens of times each day. Remote steering is available via tie-bar kits that attach the auxiliary to the main engine. Alternately, an auxiliary outboard can be fitted with a "joystick-style" electric-steering kit that allows remote steering from anywhere in the boat.

Fuelish thoughts
Many smaller outboards use portable 20lt fuel tanks, and while this is usually satisfactory for outboards of 25hp or less, larger, permanent tanks add range and convenience. Fuel tanks are available in plastic or metal, in a multitude of shapes and sizes. Be sure yours is installed with proper ventilation and in accordance with all applicable safety standards.

Adding a water-separating fuel filter is cheap insurance against contaminated petrol. Although petrol stations aren't immune, fuel docks are particularly susceptible to storage tank contamination. Clearly, the best time to clean your fuel is before it's pumped aboard - but that's not always possible. Canister-type filters protect your outboard from tainted fuel. Always carry a spare filter.

Another way to ensure years of trouble-free operation is to flush your outboard immediately after boating in brackish or salt water. "Ear muffs" and flushing kits allow you to run fresh water through your engine via a garden hose; five minutes should be sufficient to flush impurities from the cooling system. Make sure it's getting an uninterrupted supply of water, however, because without water circulating through the block to dissipate heat, cylinder head temperatures can rise to the melting point.

On the trail
While trailering, we recommend using an outboard support. This removable, wand-like device fits between the trailer and the outboard's lower unit. It keeps the engine from leveraging against the transom as your rig bounces down the road. This neat piece of gear is a must-have on longer trips, especially those that involve travelling on unsealed roads.

Finally, make sure your engine stays on the transom with one of the many special outboard locks that are available. While you're at it, buy a prop lock, too, so your rig is ready to go boating whenever you are.

Your Guide to Outboards