How to Keep Your Outboard Looking Like New

A boat’s outboard motor(s) can often cost more than the boat itself, in both sticker price and maintenance and repair costs. Obviously it’s crucial to protect an outboard’s longevity with regular maintenance, but it’s also important to help keep it looking like new. 

This is especially true when it comes to resale value both for the boat and the motor itself. Keeping outboard engines looking like new isn’t all that difficult. Here at Boats.net, we’ve published many outboard maintenance articles and videos, but we haven’t touched enough on preserving the appearance of the motor itself. So with that in mind, here are some tips for keeping your outboard engine looking like new.

Wash and Wax Your Outboard Regularly

It’s highly recommended and pretty much standard practice to rinse and flush an outboard with fresh water after every use. But we’d be remiss not to mention it here.

You should be doing that already, as well as washing and waxing the outboard regularly with marine-specific cleaning products. That means never using dish soap or household cleaners, as they can remove waxes and other protective coatings from your outboard. Wash and rub down your outboard(s) regularly with soapy water and a microfiber mitt or sponge to remove dirt, grime and debris picked up along the way during each trip. 

With every wash, use some spray-on wax to preserve the engine’s shine. While spray-on wax is great as an added thin layer of protection, you should give your outboard a coat of paste wax with a clean, soft cloth every few months for a thick layer of protection. The cowling is usually the first thing we see on an outboard, so you’ll want to remove and replace any scratched, cracked or faded out decals to preserve its appearance.

Cowlings also protect the powerhead. Use a high-quality silicone spray to protect the rubber seal between the cowling and the engine pan, which helps prevent water from entering this area. Also, lubricate the cowl latches with a grease gun and marine grease so they don’t get stuck. 

Remove the cowling once in a while and spray the entire powerhead with corrosion inhibitors. Doing so not only prevents corrosion from eating away at its parts, but it also gives the powerhead a “like new” gloss and shine.

PRO TIP: Yamaha offers a variety of cleaning chemicals that are great for washing, detailing and protecting marine equipment  

Keep Your Outboard Covered

Another way to preserve your outboard’s appearance and keep it looking like new is by protecting it from the elements with an engine cover when it’s not in use. 

Exposure to sunlight can crack and fade an outboard’s finish. However, poorly fitted covers can rub against the outboard’s finish and wear it away. Make sure you get an engine cover made of breathable material designed to fit snugly over your outboard’s make and model.

Touch Up Outboard Paint

Abrasions in the paint job are a normal part of outboard use, but they leave it exposed to corrosion. So another way to keep your outboard looking like new is to touch up the motor’s paint or repaint it altogether. 

Inspect your outboard(s) often for nicks or scratches, and use matching marine engine spray paint to touch up the motor. Before painting the motor, prep it by using masking tape to cover up openings, then sanding down any scratches and applying a primer before the actual spray paint.

Do Routine Inspections

Other than regular cleaning, routine inspections of the condition of the outboard will help you catch things like cracks, peeling, corrosion and other damage before they get any worse.

Check everything connected to the outboard, including the swivel bracket, the tilt tubes and the entire transom mount for corrosion that could spread to the outboard itself. Keeping all areas related to your outboard clean and corrosion-free will help keep the motor itself looking like new.

Don’t forget to regularly inspect the lower unit, which spends a lot of time immersed in water and includes vital parts like the prop shaft and the propeller itself.  

Inspect the propeller regularly for cracks, dents, pitting and broken blades, and have it repaired or replaced immediately if you find any damage. You’ll also want to remove the prop and clean it regularly. While the prop is removed, inspect the prop shaft to make sure it’s straight and properly greased.

Keeping the propeller clean and well-maintained contributes to the overall appearance of the outboard. If you’re planning on selling your boat or just the outboard motor, make sure the entire motor (including the propeller attached to it) look like new so you can negotiate the best price for your sale.