For a litany of reasons, you may have to consider replacing a boat’s engine. Sometimes a lack of maintenance from a previous owner finally catches up and there is a catastrophic failure. Sometimes the water pump fails, the head gasket blows, the exhaust melts and the engine seizes. Perhaps you feel like the boat is underpowered or losing power.
There’s a lot to consider when changing out an engine. Here are some things to think about to ensure that your repower is a smooth one.
WHICH ENGINE?
In the event of an unexpected failure, the best-case scenario is that there is still a direct replacement engine available, or at least a close update. This scenario will require the fewest changes in your engine room, assuming everything else is in good shape.
If you are increasing horsepower or using a different engine, we’ll have to do quite a bit of measuring and calculating. Substantial weight or horsepower changes might also merit engaging a naval architect to avoid problems.
Make a list of the positives and negatives of each possible replacement engine. Horsepower, weight, physical dimensions, fuel efficiency and parts availability are all important considerations. Some engines are short and squat, while others are long and tall. One may not fit without drastic changes to the space, while the
