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What Is An Outboard Engine Survey?
An outboard engine survey is an in depth mechanical inspection of the engine(s) on a boat or yacht. This is not an inspection that just any surveyor can perform. To conduct a proper mechanical survey on marine engines the surveyor needs to have professional marine engine technical training, factory specific engine training, hands on mechanical experience, (service, troubleshooting, and repair), and continuing education on the engines the surveyor is inspecting. Without proper education, experience, and mechanical knowledge of the engines many things can be missed which can cause an owner or a prospective buyer of a vessel thousands of dollars in unseen damages, overdue maintenance or even the replacement of a faulty engine that appeared to run properly.
As a certified marine engine technician in many different outboard and inboard engines, I can inspect the engines in detail. I understand how they work and what to look for to give my customers a detailed assessment of the engines I am inspecting. This includes a list of the findings and recommendations based on the results of the sea trial and inspection.
The inspection process and testing of the engine's components during a marine engine survey are the following:
Sea trial (running the engines at wide open throttle, backing the outboard engines down, and hard over turns to inspect the steering assembly)
Compression testing
Borescope viewing of the cylinders and pistons
Inductive testing of the ignition systems
Infrared thermal imaging of the powerheads and lower units to ensure proper temperature anomalies throughout the outboard engines while running
Computerized marine engine diagnostics (includes dynamic testing, static testing, and component activation of the engine's components (to learn more about marine engine diagnostics click here)
Inspection of the steering assembly
Inspection of the outboard engine's electrical actuators or hydraulic systems
Oil analysis to search for unusual wear metals and foreign substances in the engines
Testing of the fuel to search for phase separation, excess water or Ethanol in the fuel
Proper rectified and regulated voltage to insure the engines are charging the batteries when running
An overall visual inspection of the engine to look for things such as galvanic corrosion, back probing, worn timing belts, proper belt tension, proper wiring connections, improper previous repairs, etc.
If requested or recommended, I can conduct more advanced inspections and testing during the marine engine survey or analysis. I can also provide diagnosis or determine the mechanical failures. These advanced inspections and testing I can perform are the following:
Digital data testing (on NEMA 2000 and CAN bus data systems)
Stray current testing
Battery load testing
Vacuum testing
Leak down testing
Electrical parasitic draw
Carbon monoxide testing
Fuel analysis
Coolant analysis
Mechanical failure analysis
*Note: Advanced engine inspections require more effort, time, analysis, and sometimes disassembly of the engines. Typically these advanced services require extra charges.
As a SAMS® Accredited Marine Surveyor, I can of course conduct full hull surveys with the outboard engine survey needed for financing, insurance underwriting, and for pre-purchase decision making. Every inspection includes a detailed written report with photos and infrared thermal images.
My SAMS® Accreditation can be verified here.
Below are some of the findings from marine engine surveys and engine failure analysis work I have conducted in the past:
Marine engine diagnostics showing the RPM profile on a Yamaha outboard engine
Contaminated and phase separated gasoline taken from the fuel rail of a Yamaha outboard engine
Leakdown testing of a Yamaha 350 HP outboard engine
Using an oscilloscope to look at digital data in a NEMA 2000 backbone to search for corrupted data
A leaking head gasket causing oil to leak into the cylinder
Inspecting ignition coils and spark plugs during an outboard engine survey of a Mercury Verado
A seal leak inside of the powerhead of this Mercury Verado outboard engine caused oil to mix with sea water and filled inside the air intake
A borescope photo of water leaking into a cylinder of a Mercury Verado powerhead from a bad head gasket
Metal filings in a cam shaft plane bearing from a lack of oil that caused engine failure in a Yamaha 2.8 liter engine
Infrared thermal imaging on triple Yamaha outboard engines
Overheading cables in a busbar while powered up
A starboard bank thermostat not opening up all the way in a Mercury OptiMax powerhead
As you can see from the photos above, a proper marine engine survey or analysis can save a prospective buyer or owner thousands of dollars and unnecessary headaches. These inspections give peace of mind and more than pay for themselves.
I am currently certified on Yamaha, Mercury, and Honda outboard engines and MerCruiser inboard engines. I have specific factory and technical trade school training on Evinrude, and Suzuki outboard engines and BRP, Yamaha, and Volvo gasoline inboard engines. I attend yearly annual training from factory training schools throughout the United States.
My combined training, education, and technical certifications can be found here.
Please contact me if you would like to arrange a marine engine survey or engine analysis at (561) 255-4139 or via my contact page here. I would be more than happy to discuss it with you and can combine it with a pre-purchase and valuation survey for a prospective buyer.
Capt. John Banister, AMS®
SAMS® Accredited Marine Surveyor
ABYC® Standards Accredited
ABYC® Gasoline Engines Certified Technician
Yamaha Certified Outboard Marine Technician
Mercury / MerCruiser Certified Technician
Honda Certified Outboard Engine Technician
USPAP® Certificate on Appraisal Standards
ITC® Certified Level III Master Thermographer
USCG Licensed Master Captain
Member SAMS®, ABYC®, IAMI®, & NFPA®
Articles About Outboard Engine Surveying and Infrared Thermal Imaging
I was interviewed by Mike Smith, a writer for Power & Motoryacht Magazine about the process of surveying outboard engines in February, 2021.
I was interviewed about the thermal imaging technology I use in marine surveying and its effectiveness by Professional Boatbuilder Magazine in February, 2015. The interview was featured in their magazine.
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