A business using boats or selling boat motors must work directly with marine engines. The engines must be serviced and repaired, especially if they are older, used marine engines. This requires many replacement parts, tools and other supplies for marine engines.

The marine engine manufacturer can supply many parts you may need. However, independent suppliers may save you time and money if you find the right one. The parts needed for marine motors separate into three basic categories:

1. Mechanical parts to repair marine engines and keep them running

2. Parts and supplies needed to keep the engine fuel systems working

3. Electrical components for the engine batteries and marine engine electrical systems

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Locate a good supplier of mechanical marine engine parts

Anyone working with older, used or rebuilt marine engines needs a steady supply of mechanical engine components. You must know the difference between inboard and outboard motors and get the mechanical parts needed specifically for each, be it the engine gaskets, oil filters, carburetors or exhaust manifolds.

I recommend: BoatFix carries several engine parts, including replacement alternators, exhaust hoses, ignition systems, water pumps and outboard motors. Go2marine, a division of Mariner Supply, sells parts for diesel, inboard and outboard engines and organizes them by engine manufacturer for easy search access. Performance Product Technologies provides you with tips and guides for marine engine repair.

Find supplies to repair and rebuild fuel systems on boat motors

Engine problems may lie in the fuel system instead of directly in the motor. This requires working on the fuel pump, lines and filters, and you'll need the correct parts. You can also get supplies like gas tanks and fuel additives for your fuel systems to help them perform their best.

I recommend: Overton's stocks gear for fuel systems that includes gas tanks for above and below-deck storage, portable tanks, replacement filters and fittings and fuel additives. Iboats.com has replacement components for fuel lines, gauges and fuel fills along with portable gas pumps. Long Island Marine Surveyors provides information on the importance of maintaining boat fuel systems.

Purchase supplies to service the electrical systems on marine motors

Like any engine, the electrical system starts the whole marine engine. You must locate someone who can work with the boat's electrical parts as well as the mechanical ones. Remember that the battery and fuses not only affect the engine directly, but also parts like lights and the ship-to-shore system.

I recommend: Jamestown Distributors' electrical supply includes marine batteries, marine grade cable, battery boxes and replacement switches. Consumers Marine carries fuse blocks, circuit breakers, fuse kits and cables, along with batteries and battery chargers. Check out the Marine Survey Online for helpful articles on repairing electrical systems and other marine engine parts.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Stay consistent with your parts suppliers, especially if your business involves custom marine engine building. Knowing that every engine you build uses the same parts and components allows you to keep things simple and know you'll always have parts that work.

Boat motors are a primary concern in your business. They keep your recreational fleet on the move, or get your fishing customers out on the water, or help your tour business stay on schedule. In short, you need a fast and easy way to ensure your marine engines supplies are adequate and in good working order.

Whether you're buying brand new marine motors or servicing the engines you already have, there are many options available to you. Know what resources you can take advantage of and the range of choices you have in the following factors:

1. Select boat motors to handle the workload demands of your fleet.

2. Locate professional service facilities for repairs.

3. Consider in-house repair or replacement of broken engine parts.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Outfit your boats with the right marine engines

The boats in your business require specific types of engines. Smaller fishing or recreational vessels owned by a rental business would use outboard motors or stern drives, whereas a small touring or shipping business could have mid-sized boats that would need larger, heavier marine engines. In some cases, consider marine diesel engines, which will provide more power for carrying groups of tourists or product shipments.

I recommend: Mercury Marine is a marine engine manufacturer with a line of jet drives for recreational and sporting boats. Check out options for diesel marine engines at Perkins Sabre, or view a wide variety of outboard motors at iboats.com. Doug Russell Marine also sells various types of marine engines, including both inboard and outboard engines.

Repair your marine motors for a fraction of the cost of new engines

Save your business money by servicing your boat engines rather than replacing them. If your engines are getting old or not working in optimum condition, you can look into the feasibility of repairing them for much less than it would cost to purchase brand new engines, especially if you require numerous motors.

I recommend: Check Thomasnet, where you can search for boat engine repair services by state. You'll find services like those at Hughes Power Systems, where you can notify experts of your specific marine engine problem online.

Perform your own repairs with help from marine engine parts dealers

If you're handy with engine work, you can save a lot of money by doing repairs on your own motors. Many engine problems result from a simple broken or faulty part. Ordering the parts you need and installing them on your own is a much cheaper alternative to buying brand new engines or sending them to a repair center.

I recommend: Find the engine parts you need at MarineEngine.com or Lighthouse Marine Supply. Also, order an engine manual for your motors at Go2Marine for more help with repair work.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Look for used marine engines in good working order; they'll be far cheaper than new ones. Also keep in mind your own older engines that don't work or are outdated; you can salvage parts from used marine engines to replace the faulty parts on newer motors that otherwise work fine. If you're knowledgeable about the engines, this might be a cheaper solution.
• •  Keep local and state emissions laws in mind when shopping for boat engines. Some engines may not conform to laws in your area, so make sure your engines do and avoid penalties and costly re-outfitting.

When it comes to marine engines, whether outboard motors or inboard marine diesel engines, any repairs you can make on your own will save your business money. Marine engines education and training will also boost your knowledge of what to look for in new and rebuilt marine engines for sale.

Whether you want to learn how to work on used marine engines or know what to look for when checking out rebuilt marine engines, you have a few choices when it comes to where to find marine engines education and training. To learn how to repair marine engines you'll need to take one, two or all three of the following steps:

1. Research inboard and outboard motors on the web.

2. Get manuals and general books about boat motors.

3. Take a class in marine engine repair.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find a few trusted websites that offer advice on repairing marine engines

Having a few websites bookmarked that deal with marine engine repair can make your job much easier when you're in the middle of a repair. It's smart to know of at least one website with general repair help as well as a site that offers interactive forums where you can ask a question and get answers from others who have faced the same issues.

I recommend: Broke Boats has an extensive database of marine engine repair tips as well as a free monthly newsletter. For help with outboard motors, consult the repair tips section on MasterTech Marine. Check iboats for several repair forums dealing with all aspects of engine repair, both inboard and outboard.

Locate general and specific repair manuals for the marine motors on which you plan to work

You should also have your boat engine's manual. Many rebuilt marine engines and used marine engines no longer have repair manuals so you'll have to purchase one. While you're shopping, find one or two general repair manuals as well.

I recommend: Shop for manuals at Mariner Supply. To learn more about diesel marine engines, consider a book like "Know Your Boat's Diesel Engine," available through McGraw-Hill Professional. You can also contact the marine engine manufacturer directly, especially if your boat has a custom marine engine.

Consider getting formal training to work on boat engines

If you expect to do a significant amount of work on boat motors and diesel engines, then you may want to take a few courses in marine engine repair. While some schools offer two- and four-year degrees in marine technology, local trade schools and technical institutes offer programs designed for adult students.

I recommend: Search the Education-Portal.com database for nearby schools offering courses in marine engines education and training. Beelineweb.com has a directory of marine schools offering hands-on training.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Marine engines, both diesel and gas outboard engines, can be tough to repair, so don't be afraid to ask for help when you're purchasing marine engine parts or a rebuilt engine. Often times you'll get great advice from the person selling you what you need to make the repairs.

Diesel marine engines work in much the same way as other diesel engines. Diesel marine engines such as Volvo Penta, Cummins and Perkins differ from brand to brand but the principle behind the engine remains the same. Learning some basic terminology about these engines and the systems they employ, such as lubricating, cooling, electrical and fuel systems, will help you understand how a marine engine works. Use the diagrams and the articles to fully develop your knowledge of these basic terms relating to diesel marine engines.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Diesel engine

Marine diesel engines, like any other diesel engines, are internal combustion engines that use diesel fuel instead of gasoline. Diesel engines use heat generated by compression (rather than spark plugs) to burn fuel.

I recommend: The United States Department of Energy explains the principles behind diesel engines and how they work.

Camshaft

The camshaft in a diesel marine engine includes the camshaft, pushrods, rocker arms and valve systems, as well as other components.

I recommend: Engineers Edge has a labeled diagram and accompanying article that describes a camshaft.

Lubrication system

The oil pump, piston cooling, relief valve, oil cooling valve and piston cooling valve, oil filter, oil cooler and crankcase ventilation all comprise parts of the engine's lubrication system.

I recommend: The Maritime Park Association has an in-depth article that discusses the parts of a diesel marine engine's lubrication system.

Fuel system

A marine engine's fuel system has an injection pump, feed pump, centrifugal governor, injectors, relief valve, air filter and fuel filters.

I recommend: Don Casey explains how to maintain a fuel system on a diesel marine engine and, in doing so, describes each part of the fuel system and what it does.

Cooling system

The two main parts of the cooling system are coolant and a thermostat. Marine engines also use raw seawater to cool the engine.

I recommend: Diesel Power has a four-page article on a diesel engine cooling system. And, Long Island Marine Surveyor explains water cooling systems (both fresh and raw sea water) and how they work.

Electrical system

The electrical system includes fuses and a stop solenoid. Some industrial marine diesel engines do not have a stop solenoid. A solenoid has an iron core and becomes magnetized when an electrical current goes through it.

I recommend: Marine Parts Express explains what a solenoid does in addition to how fuses work on a marine diesel engine.