Outboard basics?

[clydeoutboards]

Hi

We have been asked to put on a training courses for a client lasting around 2-2.5 hours around the subject of the basics of owning an outboard.

So when you first got into boats and had no knowledge what would you have found helpful to know?

Dave

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by clydeoutboards

Hi

We have been asked to put on a training courses for a client lasting around 2-2.5 hours around the subject of the basics of owning an outboard.

So when you first got into boats and had no knowledge what would you have found helpful to know?

Dave

Type of 2 stroke oil, checking 4stroke oil, checking lower unit gear oil, checking engine mounts, bolting/clamping on, setting up remotes (cable adjustment), grease points, flushing,spraying under cowling, which way up to put it when you put one in a car, not getting the skeg higher than the powerhead....

[Dry Run]

The number for SeaStart!

[Poly]

I believe that BSAC run a course (1 day) on basic O/board maintainence - might be worth looking at their syllabus and working out what to drop.

Originally Posted by Dry Run

The number for SeaStart!

SeaStart doesn't cover ClydeOutboard's likely customers - but Clyde Sea Recovery (or something like that) does. Might be worth a chat to them to see what their most common faults at sea are. They may even be interested in a "joint" course to promote themselves - i.e.
- CO says here are the 'planned' maintainence things
- CSR says here are the quick fixes at sea
- CO reminds everyone how important proper servicing / winterising etc is, and how they should hand over much £ to him to do it.
- CSR reminds everyone how difficult it will be to fix anything that isn't trivial at sea and how they should hand over much £ to him to be on standby...

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Type of 2 stroke oil, checking 4stroke oil, checking lower unit gear oil, checking engine mounts, bolting/clamping on, setting up remotes (cable adjustment), grease points, flushing,spraying under cowling, which way up to put it when you put one in a car, not getting the skeg higher than the powerhead....

On my PB2 course we covered some very basics: how to drain water from fuel / carbs; how to remove and clean fouled spark plugs on 2 strokes.

Probably also a very simple "flow chart" for "it won't start". Is it in gear? Is the kill cord connected? Is the battery isolator off? I'd also possibly want to cover - how to diagnose and disable a faulty kill cord (maybe less of an issue on newer engines?) and how to pull start an engine using the emergency rope. If its small 4 strokes where someone will inevitably store it wrong at some point - how to clear the oil from the cylinder(s).

Finally, Dave, do you have experience in training? I would say at least 50% of the value in such a course would come from the quality / expertise of the trainer in training rather than his expertise as a mechanic. To be confident doing any of those things months later bobbing up and down in the sea - the student needs to get hand on with it - not sit in a classroom.

[jyasaki]

I'd add:

Checking the telltale on a regular basis. Clearing a restricted/blocked telltale.

Any unusual stuttering or coughing, or any alarm, shut down and investigate.

How to: Prop selection (i.e. use a tachometer)

How to: storing for planned non-use (fuel issues, primarily)


jky

[boristhebold]

What things to look for / check before running
How to clear the hold for the pressure sensor which tells you what speed your doing (a small pin is best)
How to check oil levels
Signs of things going wrong
How to flush engine through with water
How to clean engine stop corrosion or salt build up
Checks before starting over (any swimmers in the area)
Always wear the kill cord
How to start manually (pull cord)
How to check battery health
What plus go where
How to lubricate throttle/gear cables
General maintanance and service intervals
Safety

[clydeoutboards]

Thanks everyone for the replies. off to try and put it together!

[PeterM]

In gear start protection doesn't always work ( never assume) ...this will either ruin your day or your boat or both .......

Especially with a pull start you can easily fall out on starting (even if its in neutral) and you can also fairly easily hit someone behind you with your 'pull' and knock them out/over the side.

[Rogue Wave]

I woulda thought a few minutes on corrosion /electrolysis would be cool. Defo worth pointing out that leaving part of the skeg in the water cocentrates the damage

fuel hygiene

cable/ battery hygiene

what spares are actuallu useful..ie is a spare choke better than a spare plug ( 2 strokes obviously) for examplr

pull starting

scuse caps

[SPR]

The RNLI do a good leaflet:

http://www.eesc.org.uk/content/rnli-...ety-guide.html

They also do the complete sea safety guide, that has a lot of useful information including the leaflet and interactive CD.

Contact you local Lifeboat station and ask for copies esp. the complete sea safety guide.

All downloadable from RNLI or from the club website linked above.

I report the downloads each month to my DSSM & LSSO.

if your local station can help let me know and I will arrange for some to be dropped in to you or local station...

S.

[SPR]

incase you ever found this:

http://www.bsac.com/core/core_picker...at+Maintenance

S.

[stew]

Qwerty

[clydeoutboards]

Originally Posted by stew

Qwerty

?????

[SIBer]

Things I taught myself from here, you tube and the manual
How to connect & pump prime fuel line
How to start from cold and warm up
The air bleed screw(!)
Emergency starting if starter cord breaks
Stopping & running fuel out of carb
How to adjust steering and throttle stiffness
What to get serviced and when
Shallow water running
Where to get the owners manual