I can remember working on engines very young. I was fortunate enough to have both a grandfather and father to teach me how to do things correctly and never stray away because things will just get worse. Repairing things your self is ok but doing it correctly is important. Inboard and outboard boat engines are some of the worse. I’ve tried to think of the both the most important ones as well as the ones that seem to be done wrong by many mechanics.

I’ll dive right in here and go with what seems to be wrong with most boat engines I work on. Tighten nuts and bolts to the correct torque. That’s right; each has a recommended torque setting. There is nothing worse than becoming the victim of another’s over tightened mess trying to complete a repair. Even worse, working on an aluminum outboard motor with steel bolts tightened making a perfect rounded hole. It is inevitable, someone will keep tightening thinking tighter is better. There is a reason that a torque amount is specified which doesn’t include turning until it can’t be turned any more.

So my next item will be to use the correct parts for the job. If working on a Mercruiser engine then use Mercruiser parts or those designed for it. There is nothing worse than getting into an engine to find a part from a Chevy or Cadillac inside a boat. They were never intended for marine use and should never be used in a marine engine. Even if they look alike they are still different. Also some parts are just plain unsafe for the boater as they are not made to coast guard standards. Always use genuine boat accessories and parts for the job.

Now we can talk about gaskets. What is with a gasket anyways? Well the intention of a gasket is to seal the surfaces joining to it. That’s right and those surfaces are usually clean, free of oil and grease, and ready for a new gasket. Gaskets are not miracle parts that can seal any surface and gasket sealer is no substitution for poor prep work. Taking more time up front will make the job go smoother and guarantee for a longer service life.

I can’t describe what I’ve seen here with sealer so thick it causes other problems and a difficult repair. One thing my father taught me when I was very young was to always use sealer on one side of the gasket if possible if you must use it at all. The gasket sealer is intended for a specific purpose and simply by using an enormous amount you won’t get a better seal. Always do the correct prep work and take your time.

Well I hope someone can use this information and take it to heart. Paying for a professional to do a repair is hard to do so doing things your self can save a lot of money if done right.

I prefer to purchase all of my Mercruiser parts over the internet at a great value.

I prefer to purchase all of my Mercruiser Parts at http://www.boatersontop.com/.

Author Bio: I prefer to purchase all of my Mercruiser parts over the internet at a great value.

Category: Advice
Keywords: Boat Accessories, Boat Parts, Mercruiser Parts, Yamaha Outboard Parts