Home › Forum › Ask A Member › Propane outboard? › Re: Propane outboard?
I operate a boat and motor repair shop and work on outboards from fishing motors to 300 hp. Sometimes a customer will bring in an older fishing motor to see if I can get it going. Many of these people have looked on line at what it will cost for a new motor of the same hp, vs. fixing their old one. Many times they will want to fix what they have and continue to use it. I always have more time in labor than what I charge, but I enjoy getting them going. It is a real eye opener to work on one of the new plastic motors when you are use to working on say, a Light Twin. The carburetors are difficult to clean and the parts are expensive. Some of the Japanese four strokes I will sometimes decline even working on them, especially if they have been left sitting with ethanol in the fuel system. And as far as the new environmentally friendly outboard fuel tanks, well don’t get me started. I sometimes fail to see how all this is helping the environment.
I am skeptical about a propane powered outboard. However I would like to run one for myself and see. I did go with propane when I purchased a new portable generator. Its a Generac. I really like it. I have no problems with bad fuel and it’s ready when you need it. The only down side is it’s more expensive vs. the gasoline model.