Checking the oil level in a four-stroke outboard is about as basic as maintenance gets, and should be part of the “pre-flight” routine of every outboard owner. But I’m guessing many outboard owners go an entire season without lifting the cowl, because our boats–like our road vehicles–are so reliable …

Your outboard’s Power Trim and Tilt unit changes the outboard’s thrust angle during operation for maximum performance of both your outboard and your boat. It’s electro-hydraulic, meaning an electric pump moves hydraulic fluid upon command from the operator, tilting the thrust angle out or in. It’s p …

Choosing a Boat PropellerThe optimum boat propeller for your particular application is one that will allow your boat's engine - with your normal load aboard - to develop full-throttle RPM within the engine manufacturer's recommended maximum RPM range.Recommended RPMEvery engine manufacturer states t …

Outboards start like a car; just tilt ‘em down and turn the key. At least newer ones do. But it wasn’t always that way. There was a time when you had to know how to start your engine. Carbureted two-strokes can be fussy, especially when cold.Now, there’s still plenty of carbureted two-strokes in ser …

Any owner seeking the last bit of speed from an outboard-powered boat should grab a yard stick. Not to measure boat speed, but to gauge the mounting height of the outboard motor on the boat transom. Rest the yard stick or another suitable straight edge along the keel on the bottom of the boat so tha …