Custom Marine is your Outboard Engine dealer.

Whether you’re outfitting a new boat or repowering an old one, finding an excellent outboard engine for your boat is a task that should be handled with care. With so many outboard engines for sale (and only more coming to market every year), it can be challenging to determine what style of boat motor suits you.

At Custom Marine, we answer inquisitive boat owner’s questions (and more) every single day! Our mission is to offer you the best boating experience you can find, and that doesn’t stop at the boat. We offer a wide range of outboard engines from big-name companies like Yamaha , Suzuki and Mercury, ensuring you have plenty of options to choose from.

Choosing Custom Marine

Finding the right outboard engine for you can be a trying task, especially when there are a vast number of outboard motors on the market to choose from! But when you trust Custom Marine, our skilled boating experts can help you pick the right engine for your boat.

At Custom Marine, we’re dedicated to offering our customers the best of the best for their season. We’ll guide you through the process of picking out an engine and ensure that it suits your boat, and our full-service department will help maintain it in the peak condition you need to get the most out of your boating season. Our inventory changes frequently, so don’t hesitate to stop by our in-person location to find the best outboard engine for you.

What is an Outboard Engine?

An outboard engine is a propulsion system installed outside the boat rather than inside it. This offers more space within your boat, as the necessary engine to power it forward remains outside. These engines are most common because they are easy to service and can be even more easily removed for storage and replaced in the event they die. However, this comes at the expense of larger wakes, which might cause problems for you or other boaters, such as increased fuel consumption, discomfort for passengers, or environmental impact.

Types of Outboards

When it comes to outboard engines, there are a number of different styles you can find on the market across various brands. These styles can offer different experiences for boaters, as well as require different maintenance. Some styles are more suited to specific sizes of boats, so it’s essential to be informed.

4-Stroke vs 2-Stroke

These types of engines are differentiated by the number of stages they must undergo to produce a power stroke.

A four-stroke engine requires four steps (ignition, compression, power, and exhaust) and is considered far more fuel-efficient as it only consumes fuel once the four steps are complete. These engines are much more durable and can produce less noise while in operation. However, this comes at the cost of being far heavier and more costly to repair.

Meanwhile, a two-stroke engine is lighter and takes up far less space, but at the cost of requiring far more fuel for its two-step process. It achieves this two-step process by combining the ignition and compression into one step, as well as the power and exhaust into another step.

Gas Power vs Electric Engine

The initial difference between a gas-powered boat engine and an electric boat engine is obvious. One uses gas, while the other uses electricity to power itself. Less obvious are the other differences that set them apart. While the electric engine is more expensive up front, the cost of gas, in the long run, will lead you to pay far more with a gas engine. Electric engines also tend to be cheaper to maintain and repair, as there are far fewer moving parts compared to the complex systems of a gas-powered boat motor.

Long Shaft vs Short Shaft

The difference between a long and short shaft is the height of the transom the shaft is meant to go on. For a transom measuring 15 inches, a boater should aim for a short shaft outboard motor. For transoms measuring 20 inches, a long shaft should be chosen. Failing to have the proper size can lead to an increase in drag if it is too long, and it can lead to a loss of power and overheating if the shaft is too short.