Motor check and fuel

The maintenance section of this workbook explains the typical service and checks your motor will need. Before each trip, a good idea for outboard motors – particularly older ones – is to attach a flushing device and test start the motor (before leaving home).

Fuel for the trip

You can work out your likely fuel consumption from your vessel’s history. Record the hours the motor runs for on a trip and the litres needed to top up the tank; divide the hours run into the litres use and this gives you a litres per hour (lph) consumption rate. To calculate the minimum litres needed for a trip; multiply the litres per hour by the estimated duration of the voyage.

For example

• If you travel for 2 hours and require 10 litres to top up the tank (10lt divided by 2hr = 5lph) your fuel consumption is 5 litres per hour.
   
• If you intend to travel on a 4 hour voyage and use 5lph (5lph multiplied by 4hr = 20lt) you will require 20lt for the voyage.

Reserve fuel required

Fuel consumption varies greatly, especially with a change in the sea conditions. Aim to carry
50 per cent more fuel than you expect to use for your planned length and distance of trip. If this means you have to carry spare fuel in a portable container, use an approved one and make sure you have a means of transferring the fuel, such as a funnel.