Many people enjoy water activities especially during summer when the weather is good. If you’re one of those people, you probably have your own small boat as your transportation on the water. Paddling your boat is a fine way to manoeuvre it over the water, however, it may not be that efficient especially if you’re travelling across far distances or you have many things to do while on the boat.

To make your water adventure more convenient and fun, you’ll need an outboard motor to propel the boat. With so many models out in shops, choosing the right one can be a huge challenge. Here’s a simple guide on the factors you need to consider when buying an outboard motor.

Torque

Torque is the main force that helps push your boat where you want it to go. Different outboard motors have different capacities to produce torque. For instance, a six-cylinder motor is built to produce more torque faster than a four-cylinder type even though they have the same horsepower. If you want your boat to go faster easily, the six-cylinder type works best. However, if you only need calm cruising through the water, there’s no need for a stronger type.

Weight of the Boat

Aside from the motor power, you also need to consider the weight of the boat when choosing a motor. If you have a lightweight boat, there’s no need for a very strong motor since too much force will cause your boat to be unbalanced or tip over. For a heavier boat, you need a motor with stronger power such as a six-cylinder motor to push the weight through the water.

Fuel Injection

Just like cars, boat motors also use fuel injections to function. There are 3 basic types of fuel injection in boat motors. The carburate type is the oldest system and uses a tube that controls the flow of fuel into the cylinders. It is a cheap option, however; its fuel efficiency is not that good and not a smart investment for the long term. Direct fuel injection pushes fuel directly into the cylinders, making it the most efficient fuel injection type. Lastly, electronic fuel injection uses electricity to effectively control the flow of fuel and air into the motor.

Horsepower

The horsepower also plays a huge role in determining the right type of motor for your boat. It is actually dependent on the boat size. Small boats like canoes, dinghies, and other boats that are used on small bodies of water will do with 10 horsepower.

Light boats around 10-15 feet only need horsepower around 15 to 20 to move through the water efficiently. Bigger boats around 15 to 25 feet need 75 to 95 horsepower to power them. These vessels are commonly used for fishing and sailing. If you’re planning to use the boat to travel further distances, you need about 300 horsepower for faster travel.

When buying a motor for your boat, don’t just buy the strongest one. Be sure to consider all the basic factors to get the right one that suits your boat.