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Does Boat Engine Noise Baffle You?
In his book entitled “Outboard Engines: Maintenance, Troubleshooting, and Repair”, Edwin R. Sherman suggests taking the “listen, look, and feel for trouble” approach.
Performing a quick visual check according to the boat engine’s service or owner’s manual may help to spot any trouble. Sherman suggests:
1) Ensuring that fuel is getting to the carburetor;
2) Looking for any signs of corrosion especially near the head gasket where corrosion is common; corrosion can also be a sign of electrical problems;
3) Looking for possible engine block paint discoloration which can be a sign of overheating;
4) Looking for possible kinks or fraying of a fuel line or wiring;
Sherman goes on to suggest pinpointing boat engine noise can easily be done by using a simple screwdriver as follows. “If you put the handle of a long screwdriver to your ear, you can use the tip as a probe to isolate the source of abnormal noises to within an extremely small area,” Sherman explains. He advises to be cautionary of moving parts within the engine as well as hazards that could grab a hold of your hair as you listen.
It’s also important to know the usual sounds that your boat engine makes when it’s shifting from forward to reverse or turning hard-over from one side to another; in this way you can identify any abnormal noises. According to Nigel Calder, author of ‘Marine Diesel Engines: Maintenance, Troubleshooting, and Repair,’ engine noise and/or a knocking sound could be a case of worn bearings.
If the problem with your motor started suddenly and it chugs along and spurts, the problem could be contaminated fuel. Bob Bradley’s Marine Services, Inc., Las Vegas, advises to “never buy gas at a service station when the tanker truck is filling up their tanks” as the pressure from the incoming fuel mixes the already present water in the tank with the gas causing contamination. Once the gas has settled back to the top of the tank (as it’s lighter than water), the fuel will work as it normally would.
If you’d like to know about environmental and safety compliance in regards to your boat engine noise, read the ‘Guidelines for Boat Noise’ at the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) website.
If you’d like to get out of the ‘boat engine noise baffles me’ stage, Outboard Engines: Maintenance, Troubleshooting, and Repair is available for USD $21.94 at Amazon; a second edition of the book published in 2008 is also available for $17.13. Marine Diesel Engines: Maintenance, Troubleshooting, and Repair can be purchased at Amazon for $18.45.
Search Marine Fuel .com’s marina database to find a marina in your area that can help with repairs.
Sources:
Outboard Engines: Maintenance, Troubleshooting, and Repair
NMMA
Bob Bradley’s Marine Services, Inc.
Marine Diesel Engines: Maintenance, Troubleshooting, and Repair
