Outboard Doctor

Outboard Doctor WE COME TO YOU! Mobile Outboard Engine Maintenance Serving Lake Norman, High Rock Lake, Mountain Island Lake, Lake Hickory, and North Carolina's Crystal Coast.

08/15/2026

Seized Steering Arm on a 2012 production year Suzuki DF115A.

170 hours on a 2012 production year engine comes with unique challenges to keep an eye on, but the biggest issue is what I have to assume is the lack of annual service for 5 years!

I can’t overstate the need to have your engine serviced annually OR every 100 hours of service, whichever comes first.

If you do your own service, know where every grease zerk is located on your engine and use them! If they won’t take grease change them or use a tool to open them.

These engines are very reliable. If you take care of them, they will take care of you.

Latest find. Evinrude E-Tec G2 200. Was called out for a no start condition on a pontoon that sits in the water. Tilt tr...
08/01/2026

Latest find.

Evinrude E-Tec G2 200. Was called out for a no start condition on a pontoon that sits in the water. Tilt trim was in-op so we had to have the boat hauled by Sea Tow of Lake Norman. Nick and team did a great job getting the boat hauled out. Can’t reasonably get to the engine on an E-Tec with the motor trimmed down in the water.

We knew it wouldn’t start and could hear the starter trying to engage, but really didn’t know much until we could get the side chaps off and start working. Everything boat side was in good order.

After seeing the starter bendix engage, but not spin the motor over, out came the plugs and this is what we found. Water in the bottom left bank cylinder. The motor was locked up and the starter and flywheel were worn from over use with the motor locked up. Engine had been sitting with water in the cylinder for at least a month.

Customer had a low oil alarm while 60ish miles offshore. Luckily the boat was a twin engine and they limped home on 1 en...
06/24/2026

Customer had a low oil alarm while 60ish miles offshore. Luckily the boat was a twin engine and they limped home on 1 engine for about 6 hours.

The oil filter had a pin hole down by the seam. You can see the corrosion in one of the photos. I’ve never seen this on a Yamaha filter that was serviced regularly.

Also stated the port motor shift is really stiff. The shift rod bushing has a grease zerk that gets overlooked during service. This one might be beyond saving, but it got greased and exercised. To replace it, the power head has to be removed. And that gets expensive.

Deferring maintenance can get costly. Luckily, this one didn’t cost the customer a new powerhead, but it almost did.

Maintenance Matters!

We Come To You!

This is one example of why Yamaha recommends servicing the VST every 5 years or 500 hours, whichever comes first! This 4...
06/13/2026

This is one example of why Yamaha recommends servicing the VST every 5 years or 500 hours, whichever comes first! This 4.2L F300 had under 500 hours but is 10 years old. It’s a well maintained engine and boat, but the VST hadn’t been serviced.

Also included in the VST service is replacement of both filters/screens inside the VST as well as all o-rings and seals. And of course a thorough cleaning of the tank.

06/02/2026

Time for a 300hr service!

06/02/2026

Yamaha F300 Anode Replacement. Part of a 300HR Service.

This is why I always remove props and thrust washers during every service. It allows us to inspect prop shaft seals and ...
06/02/2026

This is why I always remove props and thrust washers during every service. It allows us to inspect prop shaft seals and catch things like fishing line before they compromise the seals and allow water in or even worse gear oil out! This one wasn’t too bad, but it still needed to be removed before it caused a big problem.

Annual Maintenance Matters!

Why is annual service so critical you ask? Here is one example, water in your gasoline will ruin your day and can hurt y...
06/02/2026

Why is annual service so critical you ask? Here is one example, water in your gasoline will ruin your day and can hurt your wallet also. Luckily, this center console had a boat side fuel water separator filter and it did its job, but it still needed to be changed before that water ends up in the engines fuel system. Most pontoon boats don’t have a boat side fuel water separator and the engine’s primary filter would have been overcome by this much water. Not only would it have ruined your day, but if you don’t get that water out of the VST, it can ruin the fuel pump also. The cost of the fuel pump and labor is well above the cost of an annual service. A simple service eliminates the additional expense and the loss of time on the water.

Things that shouldn’t be there for $1,000, Alex!
05/29/2026

Things that shouldn’t be there for $1,000, Alex!

05/25/2026

We are forever thankful to live in the greatest country mankind has ever known, an opportunity that only exists because of the sacrifices made by the individuals who have and do make up our nations military. To those that made the ultimate sacrifice, we can never repay our debt to you, our freedoms rest squarely on your shoulders. To your family and friends, we pray for peace, comfort and God’s grace.

May we never forget the sacrifices made to allow us to live in The United States of America.

Lance

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1077 Foxgate Lane
Mooresville, NC
28115

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