Outboard Motors

About outboard motors

An outboard motor is a small combustion engine with propeller integrally attached at the stern of a small vessel. Its use is to propel the boat through the water.

General use:
By the definition of outboard motor, we know it is used for the propulsion of boats.  However, outboard motors also provide for the steering control of the vessel. Outboards are designed to pivot over their mountings. This then controls the direction of the propeller. The part where the propeller is attached is referred to as the transmission leg and it acts as a rudder, with or without the propeller providing power.

Kinds of outboard motors:

There are many types of outboard motors as well as numerous manufactures. Small outboard motors weighing as little as 26 pounds or 12 Kg can provide ample power to propel a small dinghy approximately 9 or 10 mph through the water. These small motors are extremely portable, have integral fuel tanks and controls mounted to the motor along with a tiller, which is used for steering.

If you are interested in something with more power, several manufacturers have produced
large outboard motors that can power a 30 foot vessel or longer. Some manufacturers even produced quite electric outboards. Electric outboard motors are used for bass fishing in the US, in areas where their quietness and zero emissions are required such as bird and fish sanctuaries, and in several other areas. Another form of outboard motor is diesel. However, because of their weight and their cost, they are not very popular.

History and developments:

Today, outboard motors are very commonplace. Back in 1864, the first outboard motor was a pedal driven device. Before 1900,Europe had an outboard steam engine. American Motor Co., of Long Island, New York manufactured a gas-powered outboard motor in 1896, the named it the American. However, Cameron B. Waterman built the first outboard motor accepted by the American public in 1905. On April 23, 1907, he was issued patent number 851,389. Watermans twin-flywheel design is still used in several single cylinder European motorcycle engines.

Outboards have mostly used two-stroke cycle engines. This is mostly because of their reliability, and low cost. However, these engines produce high emissions. Because of environmental concerns, the four- stroked cycle outboards have gained popularity, predominantly for lower-end machines. High-end outboards have remained two-stroke because of their fuel injection meet emissions standards.

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